AUGUSTA - Anna D. Blodgett of Augusta has announced her intention to seek election in November to the Maine House of Representatives for District 56, which includes part of Augusta.  She is running for the seat vacated by Kimberly Silsby.

Blodgett grew up in coastal downeast Maine and graduated from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.  She graduated from Husson College in Bangor and moved to Augusta in 1970.

Blodgett has served the citizens of Augusta for more than 25 years in various roles for the City.  She worked for 15 years as Director of Parks, Cemeteries, and Trees before retiring in 2006.  Blodgett states “I  always look at ways to improve things and hope to continue my public service at the State level as a problem solver and a good listener.” 

In her role as Director of Parks, Cemeteries, and Trees, Blodgett demonstrated this philosophy by focusing on quality of life projects for children, in which she replaced three playgrounds in the city with new colorful and innovative playgrounds.  Blodgett also wrote and received a grant to place trees in the medians on Western Avenue and worked to improve the holiday lighting and flower gardens throughout the City.  For 10 plus years, Blodgett organized the Fourth of July Parade and the fireworks for the City of Augusta.  She has spent time educating and serving the people of the community in her role as cemetery director and served on the Bicentenial Committee in 1997.    

Blodgett believes we need tax relief, solutions to the high cost of energy consumption, better paying jobs for people who want to stay in Maine, affordable health insurance for everyone, and more creative ways to provide fiscal management of our State’s monies. 

“I am running to represent the citizens of District #56 because I believe that I can bring common sense and a vision of “The Way Life Should Be” to an even higher level.  I am dedicated to public service and have been fortunate to be in a position to make a difference in many small ways in Augusta.  I now want to expand my involvement and represent the people in District #56 and the State of Maine to the best of my abilities.  We need good paying jobs in Maine and especially in Augusta, our Capital City.  Environmental issues are very important to me, as well as quality of life from birth to death.  I welcome the opportunity to tackle the issues that are so important to all of us, and I will work very hard to listen to my constituents to achieve this.”

In addition to her work experience she is presently involved in the following:

• Board of Directors of the Friends of Lithgow Library

• Augusta Planning Board

• Kennebec Historical Society

Blodgett lives in Augusta with her husband Mike, a University of Maine graduate, a retired State employee, and now an IT consultant.  He served three terms on the Augusta Board of Education.  They have two grown children who both graduated from Cony.  Todd, a graduate of Stonehill College in MA,  and Megan, a graduate of St. Joseph’s College of Maine, both live and work in the Portland area.  The Blodgetts have two granddaughters, Maeve and Maya.