Eric Rojo

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Eric Rojo

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Maine, 1983

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1967 - 1998

Personal

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Entrepreneur

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Eric Rojo (Republican Party) ran for election to the Maine State Senate to represent District 8. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Rojo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Eric Rojo was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1998. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine in 1983 and a military citation from National Defense University in 1991. His career experience includes working as an entrepreneur.

Rojo has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• University of Maine Alumni Association
• US Army Field Artillery Hall of Fame, inducted
• Maine Veterans Farmer Association
• Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
• Combat Helicopter Pilots Association
• Maine National Guard Association, founding member
• Association of the United States Army
• Special Forces Association
• Latino Education Fund Washington DC, treasurer
• Old Town JAYCEES
• Old Town Rotary Club
• Frank Devlyn International Rotary Club, founding member
• Reserve Officers Association
• American Legion post commander, Post # 2, Mexico City
• Reagan Alumni
• Interamerican Defense College, alumni
• Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, past commander in chief 62
• Sons of Union Veterans

Elections

2022

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Maine State Senate District 8

Mike Tipping defeated Eric Rojo in the general election for Maine State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Tipping (D)	52.8	8,317
		Eric Rojo (R)	47.2	7,421

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,738
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 8

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Mike Tipping in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Mike Tipping	62.1	1,354	0	Advanced (1)
		Abe Furth	37.9	827	0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,181
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 8

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Eric Rojo in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Eric Rojo	54.3	789	0	Advanced (1)
	Submit photo	Grace Ann Tibbetts	45.7	665	0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,454
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Eric Rojo completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rojo's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Retired Army Colonel, flew helicopters in Vietnam, served 31 years as part of the Maine Army National Guard, the Army Reserve and the Active Army. Served in the department of Energy in the Regan Administration. Have worked and served in many states and countries dealing with subjects such as detecting and stopping government corruption, particularly in budgets and purchasing. Work as a Risk Manager in many areas. Conducted the Post 9/11 preparedness survey for the State of New York in the areas of all energy sources and the chemical industry.

Returned to Maine, to my home town of Old Town (OTHS '66) with the idea of being a farmer and teach at the University of Maine, my Alma Mater. Bought a farm in Lincoln, transfered to the Lincoln American Legion and VFW and rejoined the Maine Republican party where I had served in the State Committe in the 80s and worked with Bill Cohen and Olympia Snowe. With redistricting was asked if i would run for the new senate seat. Said yes as I am willing to serve the people of Maine and go what is necessary to ensure progress an not continue to go backwards are we are now.

I have many years of service and experience that will contribute to making Maine better for our people, not the establishment

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Let my experience work for you
• the people of Maine first, all, not just party
• lower and eliminate taxes that burden Mainers and only feed a growing government

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Veterans, Farmers, rural Maine, the elderly, the young who need better education options and more industry to hire them so they will no longer have to leave Maine. Define proper options to reduce electricity and energy costs so people do not have to make a choice between heat and food.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Ulisses S Grant, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan

Lincoln kept the union (two of my gratgranfathers fought for the Union)

Grant consolidated the Union victory ensuring the end of slavery and enforcing their freedtom in the south, chased the KKK and the Democrats who have been the slave promoters and the cuase for sessesion.

Regan won the cold war without a shot and got the US back on track as the great county we have been until the last 2 years

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Mr. Smith goes to Washington

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

listen to all the people in our district, attend to their intersts and concerns, look for finding and obtaining real solutions and stop adding money to the problem

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Good listner and a sense of humor and duty

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

serve the people who elect us and make sure to eliminate hurtful legislation and only pass what will in fact meet this effort. Legislate for the sake of being there is full of waste and ego trips

What legacy would you like to leave?

a better State of Maine

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

see the Batista goverment fall and Fidel Castro enter Havana as a fake libertator, 13 years old

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

washing floors at the University of Maine while finishing my last semester at Old Town High School 1966

What is your favorite book? Why?

the Little Prince, a simple and valuable perspective of a good life to live with and for others

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Merlin

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

sunrise, sunset

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

dealing with injustice and government arrogance

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

focus on the need of our citizens, not their egos or personal agenda

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

create good jobs, attract large business that will employ more Mainers. Develop energy from our wasted biomass

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

there is no balance or checks

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

no. Business and real world experience are most important. Government is not the place to start learning

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

of course. There must be a collegiate relationship regardeless of party afiliation

What process do you favor for redistricting?

over regulation and mandates that tell people how to live their lives according the know nothings in goverment

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Energy, veterans, farmers, environment

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Joe Sewall and Sheldon Hanington

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

not at this time, my focus now is just Maine and mainers

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

when visiting a lady on fixed income who was a regular at the American Legion Bingo on Friday, she was asked why she stopped coming? She can no longer afford 80 dollars a month for her entertainment

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

yes, oversee and grant only for a real and not a policial emergency

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

yes, important to have a dialogue. We Americans agree on about 80% of important issues and can find middle ground, avoiding the extremes at both ends and not losing civility

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2022 Elections

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Candidate

Maine State Senate District 8

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Maine State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Matthea Daughtry

Majority Leader:Teresa Pierce

Senators

District 1

Susan Bernard (R)

District 2

Harold Stewart (R)

District 3

Bradlee Farrin (R)

District 4

Stacey Guerin (R)

District 5

Russell Black (R)

District 6

Marianne Moore (R)

District 7

Nicole Grohoski (D)

District 8

Mike Tipping (D)

District 9

Joe Baldacci (D)

District 10

David Haggan (R)

District 11

Glenn Curry (D)

District 12

Anne Beebe-Center (D)

District 13

Cameron Reny (D)

District 14

Craig Hickman (D)

District 15

Richard Bradstreet (R)

District 16

Scott Cyrway (R)

District 17

Jeffrey Timberlake (R)

District 18

Richard Bennett (R)

District 19

Joseph Martin (R)

District 20

Bruce Bickford (R)

District 21

Margaret Rotundo (D)

District 22

James Libby (R)

District 23

Matthea Daughtry (D)

District 24

Denise Tepler (D)

District 25

Teresa Pierce (D)

District 26

Timothy Nangle (D)

District 27

Jill Duson (D)

District 28

Rachel Talbot Ross (D)

District 29

Anne Carney (D)

District 30

Stacy Brenner (D)

District 31

Donna Bailey (D)

District 32

Henry Ingwersen (D)

District 33

Matthew Harrington (R)

District 34

Joseph Rafferty (D)

District 35

Mark Lawrence (D)

Democratic Party (20)

Republican Party (15)