Third Shift
Bath Iron Works is the backbone of Sagadahoc County. It needs a champion in Augusta.
Mike clocks out of Bath Iron Works at 11pm. Third shift. He walks to his truck in the dark, past rows of cars belonging to people he's worked alongside for years. His dad worked this yard. His grandfather helped build destroyers during the Cold War.
BIW isn't just Mike's job. It's the economic engine of an entire county — thousands of families whose mortgages, grocery bills, and kids' futures are tied to whether the next contract comes through.
Lately, the contracts feel uncertain. And housing costs keep pushing families further from Bath, turning a tough shift into a longer commute on top of everything else. Mike doesn't need a politician to explain the economy to him. He needs one who'll fight for the place that keeps it running.
The Problem
When BIW struggles, the whole county feels it
Bath Iron Works employs thousands directly and supports thousands more jobs throughout Sagadahoc County and beyond. It's not just a shipyard — it's the economic foundation of the region.
Defense contracts require advocacy at every level of government. Without champions in Augusta pushing for state support and workforce development, Maine risks losing ground to other shipbuilding states.
The skilled trades pipeline is thinning. Experienced workers are aging out, and not enough young people are entering welding, pipefitting, and electrical trades to replace them.
Rising housing costs in the Bath-Brunswick corridor are pushing working families further away, adding commute time and expense to already demanding jobs.
“This isn't about abstract economic policy. It's about whether the families who build America's warships can afford to live near the yard where they build them.”
Ideas Worth Exploring
Fighting for the jobs that built this county
These aren't campaign promises — they're conversations we need to have. Real change takes coalition-building, and I want to bring these ideas to the table.
Advocate for defense contracts at the state level
Maine's congressional delegation fights for BIW in Washington, but Augusta has a role too — workforce training, infrastructure, and state incentives that make Maine competitive when the Navy decides where to build.
Invest in trades education
We need more welders, pipefitters, and electricians — not just for BIW, but across the economy. Expanding vocational programs and apprenticeships is an investment that pays for itself in good jobs.
Address housing affordability in the corridor
Workers shouldn't have to choose between a 90-minute commute and a paycheck. Reducing barriers to housing construction and supporting workforce housing initiatives would help families stay close to where they work.
Support the broader defense supply chain
BIW doesn't exist in isolation. Dozens of Maine businesses supply parts, services, and expertise to the shipyard. Strengthening the entire supply chain strengthens the yard.
This matters to you?
Then let's do something about it. Every yard sign, every conversation, every bit of support moves the needle.