"I want people to know I, too, understand the effect of $4 a gallon heating oil and $3.50 a gallon gas," said Thomas, who owns and operates a firewood business in the town of Ripley. "Making some of the elected officials in the Maine Legislature understand the tough impact of rising fuel and food costs - especially in rural Maine - is a real fight," said the two-term Republican lawmaker.

Thomas' opponent in the general election is Democrat Tammy Lockhart of Dexter. Neither candidate is facing opposition in the June primary.

During his second term in office, Rep. Thomas served as a member of the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor.

Thomas sponsored a number of bills including a measure to use 20 percent of the sales tax on automobiles to repair roads, a bill to make licensing farm vehicles less difficult, a bill to make it easier for Maine people to purchase fuel efficient cars and a bill to reduce interest charges on some of the state's unfunded liabilities. Rep. Thomas added that he has traditionally voted against higher taxes or fees.

"Representing District 24 is rewarding, and I'd like to continue my work," said Thomas, a former Ripley selectman. "I believe new jobs, not new

Rep. Doug Thomas's campaign Web site is http://dougthomas.org and he can be reached by phone at 277-3017 or by e-mail at firewood@tds.net"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the SVWeekly.com and is used here with permission."