OXFORD – Rep. Caldwell “Caldie” Jackson has announced he is seeking reelection to the Maine House of Representatives in District 80, which includes Buckfield, Hebron, Otisfield and Oxford.

A longtime resident of Oxford, Jackson said in a written statement that he thinks state government is not addressing the real problems facing Maine citizens, especially people living in rural areas.

“State government’s priority should be addressing the real problems facing Maine citizens, not spending its time on projects that don’t benefit the citizens of our state. We should be lowering energy costs, lowering taxes and addressing the shortage of housing options for our seniors, veterans and working families to make Maine a better place,” he wrote.

“We still have not fully addressed our mental health challenges that continue to go unmet, workforce training and education programs must remain a priority to grow and expand our economic landscape, and we can not continue to provide ‘Band-aid’ solutions to our homeless, to include our veterans — Mainers are kind and compassionate, we have the capacity to be a role model in addressing this on-going crisis.”

When Jackson ran for office two years ago, he said he did so to help “our family farms, small businesses, educators, health care workers, first responders, and many others who needed our support after a difficult couple of years. They still struggle with the rising cost of living in Maine. Government needs to do a better job responding to the real-world challenges faced by people with limited means, retirees, veterans and people living on a fixed income.”

Jackson serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

A former deputy commissioner and economic development specialist for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and former Oxford County commissioner, Jackson serves on the Oxford Board of Selectman.

A longtime member of the Oxford County Fair, he is a member of the board of directors.

Jackson and his wife, Diane, own and operate Jackson’s Green Spot, an on-site farm stand offering fresh produce and a variety of canned and baked goods. The couple have three adult daughters and eight grandchildren who reside in Maine.