The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Remick French is a Scarborough resident and retired technology executive who spent over 40 years building and leading businesses.
I first came to Maine in the early 1990s, when my wife and I moved here for work and began building our life together. In September 1995, our daughter was born here — a moment that forever tied us to this state.
We lived at Higgins Beach and later bought a home in Broad Cove in Cape Elizabeth. At the time, I was building a business in the pulp and paper industry, opening a district office to support Maine’s mills. We hired a local team and, over three years, grew the business nearly 400%. It was one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.
What made it special wasn’t just the work, it was the people. Maine has always been defined by hardworking, honest individuals who come together to solve problems and get things done. That culture left a lasting impression on me.
But by the mid-1990s, the paper industry began to change. Mills closed, jobs were lost, and like many others, we were forced to leave the state to pursue new opportunities. While my career flourished, something was missing. No matter where we lived or how successful things became, we always felt a pull back to Maine.
We returned every summer. In 2006, we bought a small cottage at Higgins Beach, and for years it became our place to reconnect — with friends, with family, and with the life we once had here. In 2022, as retirement approached, we made the decision to come home for good.
Since returning, we’ve been reminded why Maine is so special. The sense of community, the quality of life, and the people have only strengthened our belief that this is one of the best places in the country to live.
But we’ve also seen something concerning.
Maine has become far more expensive than we expected — and for many families, increasingly unaffordable. Today, Maine ranks among the states with the highest tax burdens in the country, has some of the highest electricity costs, and continues to see healthcare expenses rise faster than many states. At the same time, home prices have climbed to levels that are out of reach for many residents.
Even more troubling is the lack of economic growth. Maine has experienced little sustained growth over the past two decades and continues to rank near the bottom nationally. Not surprisingly, many young people are leaving the state — not because they want to, but because they don’t see the same opportunities we once had.
That is what concerns me most.
Our children love Maine as much as we do, but they are struggling to find a path to build a life here. If that doesn’t change, Maine risks becoming a place people visit and retire to, but not a place where young families can grow and thrive.
At the same time, Maine has an incredible and often-overlooked advantage: thousands of people who already love this state enough to invest in second homes and return year after year. With the right approach, we can turn that connection into something more — encouraging investment, supporting small businesses, and creating new opportunities that benefit communities across the state.
That’s why I’ve been paying closer attention to the candidates stepping forward with ideas to address these challenges. One who stands out to me is Jonathan Bush. What resonates is not just his background building and scaling businesses, but his focus on execution — lowering costs, improving efficiency, and creating an environment where jobs and opportunity can grow. Whether one agrees with every proposal or not, the emphasis on economic growth and affordability reflects the kind of practical, results-oriented thinking I believe Maine needs right now.
For me, this isn’t about politics — it’s about outcomes. We came back to Maine because we believe in what this state represents. But preserving that way of life requires action. It requires leadership that understands how to create opportunity and ensure Maine remains a place where the next generation can succeed — not just visit.
