A Cumberland suds guru is the latest Democrat to announce plans to take on Maine’s senior senator, though the jury’s still out on whether beer goggles are to blame for choice.
Dan Kleban, who three months ago said he was considering a run at Republican Susan Collins, has now put a head on it.
Kleban, a former attorney who owns a Freeport beer company, says he is in the Democrat primary race – along with two others who have raised over $1 million each (Graham Platner and Jordan Wood) as well as a handful of less viable candidates – hoping to oust the five-term senator.
“With rising prices, attacks on Medicaid and so many of our values being trampled on, too many people in Washington aren’t doing what’s right for Maine,” Kleban said in his announcement.
“Like so many hardworking Mainers and Americans, I was laid off when the Great Recession hit,” said Kleban.
“Meanwhile, executives at the big banks who crashed our economy walked away without facing any consequences.”
“I was pissed,” he added, becoming the first Maine political contender to use the ‘p’ word in his kickoff. “So my brother and I started Maine Beer Company not only to make good beer, but to live by our Do What’s Right motto that crooks on Wall Street never understood.”
“For us, Do What’s Right has meant paying a living wage from Day One, covering 100% of health care costs and providing retirement benefits for our full-time employees, and sharing our success with the community. It meant taking action on climate and environmental sustainability – giving 1% of our sales to nonprofits addressing climate change, promoting conservation, and integrating clean energy practices into our business. People thought we were crazy, but we proved we could build a company that’s a force for good.”
He charged that “Collins is not doing what’s right for the state, and hardworking Mainers are literally paying the price – housing, health care, groceries and electric bills are all too high and getting worse.”
Kleban closed with the popular disclaimer: “I’m not a politician. I’m a guy who loves his family and was blessed to start a business in the state that gave me so much.”
