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Stanley J. Gerzofsky

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Jason W. Bergquist

STANLEY J. GERZOFSKY (D)

AGE: 63 ADDRESS: 3 Federal St., Brunswick PERSONAL: Single, one child EDUCATION: Associate's degree, Pasadena City College OCCUPATION: Former owner and current consultant for a furniture manufacturing business POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: House of Representatives since 2001

JASON W. BERGQUIST (G)

AGE: 38 ADDRESS: 4 Rocky Hill Drive, Brunswick PERSONAL: Married, three children EDUCATION: Law degree, John F. Kennedy School of Law, bachelor's degree, John F. Kennedy University OCCUPATION: Manufacturing manager POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None WEBSITE: Bergquistforstatesenate.com

The Senate District 10 race to represent Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell and Pownal is a three-person race, though one of the candidates has not been campaigning.

The race features Green Party candidate Jason Bergquist, Democrat Stan Gerzofsky and Republican Cody Gillis, who did not return calls for this story and who has not had time for any significant campaigning, according to party officials.

The seat is being vacated by Senate President Beth Edmonds because of the state's term limits law.

Bergquist said he is running because he believes state government has not been responsive to people who are becoming frustrated by the economy and the challenges it poses.

Bergquist says he favors universal health care and a single-payer system, but says the decision to seek an increase in the beverage tax to help pay for the Dirigo Health state-sponsored health insurance program didn't include enough input from business owners and doesn't overhaul the current system.

The school consolidation process doesn't resemble the initial goal of the initiative and could cost some towns money and lead to school closures, he said.

Bergquist said the state should do more than help small businesses get started, and help them grow as well. He favors creating a "green zone" at the Brunswick Naval Air Station once the Navy leaves in 2010-2011, when alternative-energy companies could get incentives to locate there and to hire Maine college graduates.

Gerzofsky has represented Brunswick in the House for four terms and is co-chairman of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Select Committee on Joint Rules, and the House Rules committees. He cannot run for the seat again because of term limits.

Gerzofsky said he has been working to plan for the redevelopment of BNAS since before the base was listed for closure. He worked to get a satellite campus of Southern Maine Community College to open there, with a specialization in wood composite technology and nursing.

The college will complement a cluster of composite-based manufacturing businesses that are targeted to locate there, he said.

Gerzofsky said the state and federal governments will have to help the redevelopment with start-up capital and marketing.

He has spoken on the floor of House about the importance of expanding high-speed freight rail service through Brunswick to other parts of the state. Once the tracks are upgraded to support freight and the businesses that can benefit, passenger rail service will follow, he said.