DEER ISLE — Lobster boat Captain Julie Eaton has announced she is running for Maine State House of Representatives for District 134. 

District 134 represents the towns of Frenchboro, Swans Island, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Stonington, Deer Isle, Cranberry Islands, Vinalhaven, Isle-au-Haut, North Haven and the Marshall Island Township.

She will run as a clean elections candidate as a Democrat with special emphasis on fishing issues, the opioid crisis and supporting small businesses in the coastal communities along her district, a news release noted. 

“Our coastal communities are a unique and special place to live and our way of life is worth fighting to protect,” said Eaton in the release. “The people who live here deserve someone in Augusta who will always put them first above any other interests.”

Eaton has earned her living from the ocean for over 30 years and has captained her own boat for over 25 years, per the release.

“She believes in hard work, integrity, and perseverance,” the release said. “Eaton understands the need to keep our youth in Maine and strongly believes that we need to train youth in the trades to provide good-paying jobs and much needed skilled labor in positions like electricians, diesel mechanics, plumbers and all aspects of the trades.”

“Although fishing is definitely the biggest economic driver in our communities, it takes us all to make our communities function and the trades are a very important part of this,” said Eaton in the release. 

“Eaton also understands the need for good roads to transport the millions of pounds of lobster and shellfish to market in good quality as well as the need for highspeed internet and reliable cell phone service as well in communities in her district in order to support and grow small businesses,” the release read.