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Contributed by TeamDean08 2008-01-22

Portland — PORTLAND - 1st District Congressional Candidate Dean Scontras released a list of business leaders who are supporting his bid to win the Republican nomination. The list (below) includes over 50 prominent Maine and national business leaders endorsing Dean's candidacy.

"President Reagan was once asked the difference between a big business and a small business," said Scontras. "His response was that a big business is what a small business would become, if only the government would just get out of the way. I am proud to have such a diverse group of business leaders supporting my campaign message of the need for government to get out of the way of business."

"Being pro-business is a core Republican principle, and it has been the foundation of this campaign," continued Scontras. "This list of supporters consists of business leaders from across the state, both large and small businesses, from multiple vertical markets - tech, finance, hospitality, manufacturing - from Maine and across the country. While a typical politician might roll out a list of legislators who support them, or boast of union endorsements, these are people who are part of the economic engine, people I have personally met, people whose support I have earned the old-fashioned way."

"The last thing we want is to send someone to Washington who had a hand in crafting the current Maine economy," said Steve Smith, owner of MeetingHouse Mortgage. "Dean gets it. He understands that government is not the solution to our economic challenges, but more often is the cause of many of the most costly challenges."

"If you are a business owner in Maine or America today, you are engaged in a competition. You compete against other businesses, against other countries. The last thing you need is to compete against onerous government regulations and punishing tax codes. Our government should not prevent small businesses from becoming big businesses," said Scontras. "As the European Union deregulates, we are going the other way. American is losing its competitive edge."

"It is important that the next generation of congressmen understand the nuances of the modern, global economy," said Kurt Bertone, a Brown University graduate, former Bell Labs executive and founder of numerous global technology companies. "Dean will be a representative who has worked for small and large businesses that reach across the globe. We must understand the new pressures of a rising India, China and Europe. Dean has made a career in that environment. That's the sort of thinking we need."

As part of his announcement, Scontras has invited other members of the business community to join his business coalition by e-mailing him at dean@teamdean08.com.

For more information on the Dean Scontras for Congress Campaign, please visit our website, www.teamdean08.com or call campaign manager Michael Pajak at (207) 807-0994 to schedule an interview on this issue.

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Business Leaders Endorsing Dean Scontras

Bill Ryan

Former CEO, TD Banknorth

Jim Gorman

LL Bean

Jeff Harris

Partner, Harris Golf

A.G. Spanos

Owner, San Diego Chargers

The Honorable Joe Bruno

CEO, Community Pharmacies

Jeff Kane

CEO, National Distributors

Peter Bennett, Esq.

The Bennett Law Firm

John Bridge

Former CEO, Bridge Corp.

Denis Sparangis

Owner, Eggspectations

John Babb

Owner, J & S Oil

Mike Mastronardi

Business Consultant

Al Noyes

CEO, Walsh Publishing

Jerry Ade

President, Ade Property Management

Chris Lynch

Realtor, Sotheby's

Don Rivers

Owner, Rivers by the Sea

Greg Cloutier

Realtor, Old Orchard Beach

William Scarborough Jr.

Northland Construction

Jay Kane

V.P., Oakley Networks

A.J. Steffenberg

Critical Analysis, IBM Software Group

Dan Bouzianis

Owner, Alagonia, Inc

Tina Ambrose

Owner, The Oaks - An Art Gallery

Phineas Sprague

Retired Energy Executive

Howard Patten

Owner, Patten Construction

Maureen Hemond

Owner, Len Libby Candies

Vince Neault

Owner, Provident Concrete

Mike MacNaboe

CEO, Symphonix

Chase Bailey

Former Chief Scientific Officer, Cisco Systems

Pat Rocheleau

Owner, Rocheleau Custom Homes

John Hathaway

President, Aw Shucks Maine Lobster

Margaret Fenderson

Manager, Big Rock Ent.

David MacMaster

Owner, Butler and MacMaster Automotive

Tom Chase

President, Littlefield Brothers

Steve Smith

President, MeetingHouse Mortgage

Jeff Forbish

Owner, Noell's Café

Gary Koch

Former CEO, AirPlus Limited

Don Macaulay

Owner, Faircrest Motel

Andrew Siegel

Co-Owner, When Pigs Fly Bakery

Jim Cronin

Owner, Resource Marketing

Kurt Bertone

VP Product Management, Convergence

Ed and Sheila Bull

Owners, Rhumb Line Resort

Dr. James Faulkner

Faulkner-Teguis Orthodontics

James Heavey

Financial Advisor, Wendell and Reed

Jimmy Simones

Owner, Simones Hot Dog Stand

Mary Schiavoni

President, Speech Pathology Associates

Barbara Hill

Owner, Kennebunkport Designs

Terry Elsemore

Owner, Fractional Strategies

Jeff McCarthy

Partner, Northbridge Venture Capital

Michael Werner

Partner, Flagship Ventures

Dave Schaeffer

Founder, CEO, Cogent Communications

Allan Hillman

Owner, The Wireless Zone

Dr. Cynthia Battel

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of Mid-Coast

James Duclos

Owner, Saco Bay Web Design

Jefferey Marshall

Owner, Marshall Brothers Landscapers

Brad Bradstreet

Financial Services Manager

Lori Solari

Owner, Spa at River's Edge

"The decisions being made in Washington, D.C. right now are more important to Maine's economy than anything going on in the private sector."

- J. Scott Moody, vice-President of Policy and Chief Economist, The Maine Heritage Policy Center

It is in the spirit of Scott's observation that I am running for Congress. It is with the support of business leaders like those listed here that I will go to Washington to represent Maine's Next Generation economy. To join the list of business leaders working to bring bold, new ideas to our economy, e-mail me at dean@teamdean08.com.