Augusta, Maine — Yesterday in Bangor, Maine Democrats called out Bobby Charles for supporting Trump’s war in Iran that’s raising heating oil costs. According to the Maine Department of Energy Resources the cost of heating oil has gone up 80%.

At the press conference, State Representative Amy Roeder shared that her cost has nearly doubled. The cost for retired union electrician Chuck Fraser to fill up his 255 gallon tank went from $840 in February to over $1,500 in October.

Bobby Charles posted several social media statements in March supporting Trump’s war in Iran.  

Spectrum: Democrats highlight high heating oil prices, criticize Bobby Charles for initial support for Iran war
By Susan Cover

• Maine Democrats are drawing attention to heating high oil costs and blaming Republicans for supporting the war in Iran that is driving up prices.
  
  
• “My own budget plan went up by $200 a month, that’s nearly double what I was paying before,” said Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor). “And I don’t know about you, but it is very hard for me and my very tight budget to find that extra $200 a month.”
• Roeder and retired union electrician Chuck Fraser shared their stories in Bangor on Wednesday at an event organized by the Maine Democratic Party.
• According to the Maine Department of Energy Resources, the statewide average cost of heating oil was $5.96 a gallon statewide as of Sept. 28, the latest figures available.
  
  
• Roeder and Fraser criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles for saying in March that he supported the war in Iran but later changing his position.
• Fraser, a resident of Newburg, said he and his wife bought home heating oil in February for $3.29 per gallon. A month later, the price was up to $4.59. He said he checked Wednesday, and a gallon of heating oil in his area is now $6.03.
• “Our tank holds about 255 gallons,” he said. “Filling it today would cost over $1,500. Filling that same tank in February cost $840. That’s $700 more dollars to fill the same tank.”
  
  
• As retirees, Fraser said he and his wife are on a fixed income and that many people are wondering how they will heat their homes this winter.
• When asked whether state governors can have much impact on overseas wars, Roeder said voters should know where everyone stands.
• “I think it’s very important to the voters, in terms of, do my values match this candidates’ values,” she said. “Does this candidate speak the same language that I speak?”

WABI: Maine Democrats call out Bobby Charles for his views on the war in Iran

• On Wednesday the Maine Democrats hosted a press conference to call out Republican candidate for governor Bobby Charles on his views regarding the war in Iran.

• They say the war has had a negative impact on Mainers citing a survey from the Maine Department of Energy Resources showing the average price of heating oil is up 80% from a year ago.

• While Maine Democrats acknowledged the Governor of Maine would have no power to end the war in Iran, they attacked Charles for not staying consistent in his viewpoint on the war.

• “For me, what’s the most upsetting about Bobby Charles is he won’t stand by his original comments. Like I said, his values have changed with the wind. And Hannah has been consistent. She has been outspoken against the war. I have been outspoken against the war. Most of my colleagues have been outspoken against the war. I think it’s most important to know that when you’re electing somebody to be governor, you’re electing somebody who has principles that they’re not afraid to stand behind,” said Rep. Amy J. Roeder.