Volume CXXXIII, Number 7 October 26, 2001 f

Woodcock announces candidacy
MATT SPOONER
STAFF WRITER

Bowdoin graduate Tim Woodcock '74 recently announced his candidacy to represent the 2nd District of Maine in the United States House of Representatives. The Bangor native explained that economic hardships, coupled with increasing domestic problems, sparked the former city councilman's bid.

Bowdoin alumnus Tim Woodcock ‘74 and another distingushed Bowdoin graduate, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen ‘62. (Courtesy of Woodcock for Congress)

"I've worked in politics as well as health and social services and I'm cognizant of the needs that are facing the people [of Maine]." "We're facing change and we need to prepare for it."

Politically active for over 20 years, Woodcock's interest in politics took root at an early age when, as a child, he watched the Kennedy-Nixon race of 1960. "That was such a seminal victory for someone whom I had great admiration for. I think that race energized a lot of young people," he said.

Still, Woodcock had no plans on going into politics during his time at Bowdoin College. A member of fraternity Phi Nu, Woodcock graduated with a double major in French and History, as well as "an unalloyed confidence in the value of a liberal arts education."

After receiving a J.D. from the University of Maine, Woodcock was first drawn to politics as he followed the Watergate hearings, during which he observed the participation of former Maine Congressman William Cohen '62. Woodcock was so impressed with Cohen that he went to Washington to work for the Congressman until 1983, first on his campaigns, then as an aide and finally heading a small senate committee.

After a brief respite from politics in Bangor, Woodcock returned to Washington as a federal prosecutor in 1989 where he was called to serve as an associate counsel during investigations of the Iran-Contra scandal.

Upon returning to his native city, Mr. Woodcock took an interest in local politics and served two terms on the Bangor city council. He also served on the boards of various developmental, health, and service organizations. In his involvement in regional politics, Woodcock said he has become increasingly aware of the grave economic crisis facing the 2nd district, and it was that crisis which sparked his decision to seek the Republican Party nomination.

"The district has an abundance of natural resources and resolute people, but in the last ten years there has been a sharp drop-off in opportunity due to the changing economy. Little has been done to plan for the changes the new economy will create," Woodcock said.

"Northern Maine has traditionally had a terrific advantage in logging and other industries due to its natural waterways and coastal access. In recent years, though, the industries that have been the mainstay of our economy have begun to fold and there is not enough opportunity to attract youth. What we're seeing is a mass emigration of an entire generation. The implications of this are staggering."

"Teenagers and young adults are leaving to find jobs elsewhere," Woodcock explained. "As a result, populations are declining and there is an unbelievable strain on the economy." The falling population and stagnation of the economy have had widespread degenerative effects. The district's infrastructure has become increasingly expensive to support and so in the last few years the property taxes for a dropping population have risen astronomically.
The district has aged demographically due to the emigration of the young generation. Traditionally, the area had many young people due to the labor it attracted.

As a result of the demographic changes, health-care premiums and Medicare costs are rising and becoming unmanageable for rural areas with disappearing economic backbones.

"Maine is in another period of economic transition," he said. "The problem is that we have no plan to deal with it and the situation has reached a point where it's unrealistic to speak about long-term solutions without first reinvigorating the economy.

In the past, the federal government has evaluated economically distressed regions and coordinated the giving of aid. I think that's what needs to happen here."

Woodcock also acknowledges that the problems facing the 2nd district do not end with economics. "There is also a wide-range of domestic issues that need to be dealt with. Also, after September 11, Maine has been put in a unique position. In recent years border funding has decreased in spite of increasing traffic from Canada. In the wake of [the attacks] we will need to find a balance between commercial needs and national security."

In the face of the challenges, however, Woodcock remains optimistic. He noted that this is not the first transition that the economy of northern Maine has undergone, and, despite those transitions, the area has regained its prosperity. "It will take work," he admits, "but if proper measures are taken, life will be breathed back into the economy. Bowdoin's emblem is the eastern sun, and that symbol remains very much a part of Maine."