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Man on a Mission

The RECORD recently emailed Republican Representative Brian Duprey a few questions on politics and religion, and on the matter of same-sex marriage in particular.   You can read Representative Duprey’s responses below.  Representative Duprey is the courageous third-term legislator who is the State House’s most faithful defender of traditional marriage.   Here, Representative Duprey announces for the first time that he is willing to run against Senator Olympia Snowe in next year's Republican primary. The RECORD is proud to be the first publication in Maine to provide you with this information.

Q. Representative Duprey, could you give us a brief biography?

A. I’m the State Representative for District 39, Hampden, Newburgh, and Dixmont. This is my third term, and I’m the Lead Republican on the Labor Committee. I’m married to Carol, and we have five children - four girls and a son, ages twenty, seventeen, nine, four, and three. I’m the owner of Little Angels Daycare and Preschool, the largest child care center chain in Maine, with over forty employees. I’m a member of Bangor Baptist Church. I am a Junior Church Director, and a professionally trained counselor who teaches an eight-week marriage enrichment course called “Dynamic Marriage,” a twelve-week Bible study course for couples called “Dynamic Love” and a twelve-week Bible study course for the entire family called “Dynamic Families.” I am also President of the Board of Directors of the First Step Pregnancy Resource Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Bangor.  I have been on the board for over four years.

Q. How did your Christian faith influence your decision to become a member of Maine’s House of Representatives?

A. I ran for the Legislature because I was concerned about the direction in which the state of Maine was headed. I want to make Maine a better place for my children and grandchildren. My Christian faith gives me the strength to carry on day after day.

Q. How do you integrate prayer into your political service?

A.  I ask God for guidance daily. He helps me get through trying times, and there are plenty of them.

Q. What does the phrase “One Nation under God” mean to you?

A. It means that a citizen is free to worship or not to worship. While we are truly a Christian nation, we are very tolerant to people of other faiths.

Q. Is one political party more Christian than the other?

A. There are many good Christian Democrats. What confuses me are the Catholic Democrats or anyone of the Christian faith who is “pro-choice” The Bible is clear on the  sanctity of human life. Yet this seems to have no meaning to many legislators.

Q. Should we amend the Constitution to protect marriage? If so, why?

A. Marriage is under attack by extremist judges who want to legalize homosexual marriage on the basis of equal rights. Marriage has been the bedrock of our society for thousands of years. And the Bible is clear on the issue of homosexuality.

Q. Are you going to seek higher office in the next few years?

A.  I am considering running for the Senate against Olympia Snowe. If I can raise enough seed money to kick off a credible campaign, I will take the initiative and run. I will be watching her voting record very carefully. If she votes against President Bush’s judicial nominees, or tries to block the President’s agenda, it will speed up my decision to run.

Q. How can Maine restore sanity to how it treats babies in the womb? Right now about 2500 are killed each year in Maine.

A. The “pro-choice” forces in Augusta are a powerful lobby. At any given time, there are three or four full-time lobbyists walking the hallways to convince legislators not to restrict a “woman’s right to choose.” At most, you will see one or two part-time lobbyists fighting for life issues.

Q. Can you persuade the Governor to drop his homosexual rights bill? What do you think of that bill? Is it right for the Legislature to put the League in the position of having to do another people’s veto?

A. I am not exactly on speaking terms with the Governor, so I am sure I cannot persuade him to drop this issue. He is pretty set on pushing this idea this session. What I have a problem with is passing this bill without sending it out to the people for ratification.  I think the Governor will do whatever he wants. He has had a history of ignoring the will of the people to pass his agenda through. The Legislature has the right to do what it wants, but the Governor and all Legislators are accountable to the people for their actions.
 

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The Christian Civic League of Maine

70 Sewall Street

Augusta, Maine 04330

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