About Justin
Not a politician.
A problem solver.
Born in Bethel. Built a business. Raising a family in Topsham.
Running because Maine deserves better.
Where I Come From
Bethel, Maine
I grew up in Bethel — a small town in the western Maine mountains where everybody knows your name and your business. My father left when I was six. My mom raised me on her own, working at Sunday River and running retail to keep us going. We didn't have much, but we had the mountains.
I spent my childhood skiing and mountain biking. The outdoors wasn't recreation — it was the thing that kept me grounded. School was a different story. I didn't fit the mold. Didn't do great in the classroom, but I aced every test they put in front of me. I got my GED in 2006 and tried college for a couple of years. It wasn't for me either.
What I found instead was technology. I taught myself to code, and that changed everything.
“Nobody handed me a playbook. I figured it out — and that's exactly the kind of thinking Augusta needs more of.”
What I Do
Building Things That Work
I founded Don't Panic Consulting to help small and medium businesses grow through technology — cybersecurity, automation, digital transformation. The kind of practical problem-solving that keeps the lights on and the doors open.
I also built software specifically for tradespeople — plumbers, electricians, contractors — because I saw firsthand how much time they waste on paperwork instead of doing the work they're good at. When you spend your days helping small business owners navigate technology, you start to see the same patterns: talented people drowning in complexity that doesn't need to exist.
That's true whether the complexity comes from software or from government. The fix is the same: simplify, automate, get out of the way.
Where I Serve
Topsham Is Home
My family and I chose Topsham because it felt like a place where you could put down roots and actually matter. Not just live somewhere — but be part of something.
I serve at my church, where I lead the media team and the men's ministry. It's the kind of unglamorous, show-up-every-week work that holds communities together. You don't do it for credit. You do it because your neighbors need it.
That same instinct is what's driving me to run. Not ambition. Not ideology. Just the stubborn belief that when something's broken, you should try to fix it.
Why I'm Running
Because Frustration Isn't a Strategy
There wasn't one moment. It was a thousand small ones. Another CMP rate hike. Another family in Sagadahoc County wondering how they'll afford property taxes. Another friend at BIW worried about the next contract. Another small business owner buried in permits.
At some point, complaining about it stops being enough. You either do something or you accept things the way they are. I'm not built for acceptance.
I'm running for State Senate because the people in District 24 deserve someone who understands what it's like to build something from nothing, to make payroll, to lie awake at night doing math on bills. Not a career politician. A neighbor who's been through it.
Ready to meet?
I'd rather have a conversation than give a speech. Let's talk about what matters to you.