The Issues

Tim Nickels – Fighting for District 85 and for Maine

Making Maine Affordable Again

Tim Nickels believes hardworking families in District 85 are being stretched too thin by rising costs in every direction.

Maine is currently one of the highest taxed states in the country, ranked 5th overall, and Tim knows that must change. He is committed to lowering the tax burden on families, seniors, and small businesses so people can keep more of what they earn.

He is also focused on reducing energy costs, which have become a major strain on household budgets. Tim has personally experienced this reality. Over the past few years, his own electric bill has nearly tripled.

Tim believes Maine must take a serious look at how energy policy is impacting affordability. That includes reevaluating costly subsidies that drive up rates, such as certain solar subsidy programs, to ensure energy policy is fair, sustainable, and not placing unnecessary burdens on ratepayers.

At the same time, Tim supports exploring a broad, forward-looking energy strategy that includes innovation and new technologies, such as advanced nuclear energy and hydrogen, alongside the responsible development of Maine’s energy resources.

His goal is simple: lower costs, increase stability, and bring common sense back to Maine’s energy policy.

When families can afford to heat their homes, drive to work, and pay their bills without constant stress, Maine becomes a place where people can stay, build, and thrive.

Education & Putting Students First

Tim Nickels believes every child deserves a strong education that prepares them for their future, whether that’s college, skilled trades, military service, or entering the workforce.

He believes it’s time to get back to the basics: reading, writing, and math. Core academic skills must be the foundation of every student’s education so they can succeed in whatever path they choose.

Tim also believes we must remove politics from the classroom and refocus schools on education, not ideology. Parents and local communities should have a strong voice in what and how their children are being taught.

Maine’s education system once ranked among the best in the country, #1 or 2 in 1990's. Today, it has fallen to #41 in 2025. Tim believes this decline should be a wake-up call. We must do better for our students, teachers, and future generations.

He is committed to ensuring schools are safe, focused, and supportive environments where teachers can teach and students can learn without distraction.

When we return to strong academics and local accountability, we give the next generation the tools they need to succeed, and the reason to stay and build their future here in Maine.

Public Safety & Supporting First Responders

Tim Nickels has spent over two decades in public safety, and throughout his career, he has worked side by side with law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS professionals. He understands firsthand the demands of the job, the long hours, the difficult calls, and the responsibility of protecting lives in moments of crisis.

For Tim, public safety isn’t theoretical; it’s personal. He has seen what it takes to answer the call when others are running away from danger, and he has seen the toll it can take on the men and women who serve.

Tim believes strong communities are built on a foundation of public safety. When people feel safe in their homes, on their roads, and in their neighborhoods, families can thrive, and businesses can grow.

He is committed to ensuring law enforcement and first responders are fully supported with the training, equipment, staffing, and resources they need to do their jobs effectively and safely. That means investing in the people who protect us, not cutting them short or politicizing their work.

Tim is also deeply concerned about how politics has increasingly made it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs. Over time, shifting policies, increased restrictions, and a lack of coordination between agencies have created unnecessary barriers for officers on the front lines.

He believes cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement is critical. When agencies are forced to work in silos or are restricted from sharing information, it doesn’t just reduce effectiveness, it creates real officer safety risks. Tim believes that protecting those who protect us must always come first.

He will always stand with Maine’s first responders. That includes ensuring they are respected, supported, and never used as political leverage. Tim believes we must rebuild trust, restore cooperation, and remove unnecessary interference so officers can focus on what they were trained to do: protect and serve.

Because at the end of the day, Tim knows this truth from experience:

When first responders are supported, communities are safer. And when communities are safer, families can live without fear.

Tim Nickels believes government should serve the people, not itself.

He is running because too many Mainers feel like their voices are being ignored in Augusta. Decisions are being made too far from the people they affect and too often without real accountability for how they affect families, workers, and small towns like those in District 85.

Tim believes public service should mean exactly that, service. Elected officials should be accessible, transparent, and willing to listen to the people they represent. When the government stops listening, it stops working.

He is committed to bringing common sense back to leadership in Augusta by focusing on transparency in decision-making, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and greater oversight of government programs to ensure they are actually delivering results for Maine people.

Tim believes every tax dollar should be treated with respect. That means asking tough questions, eliminating waste where it exists, and making sure spending priorities reflect the real needs of working families, not bureaucracy or political agendas.

He also believes accountability means local voices matter. Towns and communities in District 85 should not be overridden by distant decision-makers who don’t understand the people or places affected by their policies.

Tim will always prioritize listening first, acting second, and representing the people of his district, not political pressure or special interests.

Because at the end of the day, Tim believes a simple truth:

When government is accountable to the people, trust is restored. And when trust is restored, communities are stronger.

Accountability in Government