Wedding Officiant Stars in Scathing Ad Against Maine Senate Hopeful Troy Jackson
A man who had his wedding officiated by Senate candidate Troy Jackson appears in a new ad backing incumbent Susan Collins, criticizing Jackson over a cellphone tower deal.
A Maine man, Ronnie Pelletier, who had his wedding officiated by Senate hopeful Troy Jackson during the pandemic, has appeared in a new advertisement endorsing incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). The ad criticizes Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, over the placement of a cellphone tower in his hometown of Allagash.
Pelletier, a firefighter, claims in the ad that Jackson became involved after he had discussed potential tower locations with company representatives. According to Pelletier, the tower was eventually built on property owned by one of Jackson's relatives, despite an alternative location on town-owned land being considered. "Make of it what you will," Pelletier states in the ad.
Telecom companies typically pay rent for tower locations, with monthly rates for rural towers ranging from $500 to $1,000, according to industry data. It is unclear how much Jackson's relatives may be earning from the tower.
Robert Parsloe, owner of Wireless Partners, LLC, the company that installed the tower, disputed Pelletier's suggestions of undue influence. Parsloe stated that the company found a willing landowner and that the decision was not connected to Jackson. He noted that the company considered various sites, including the schoolhouse lot, but ultimately chose the location that was available. The tower was erected during the pandemic, addressing previous sparse cell service in Allagash that required residents to route calls through Canada.
Allies of Jackson have also refuted Pelletier's account, asserting that Jackson did not exert improper influence on the tower's construction. Jackson grew up in Allagash, a town with a population of 234 near the Canadian border.
Pelletier's ex-partner, Lana Pelletier, is Jackson's second cousin, sharing great-grandparents, according to The Maine Wire. This familial connection has been previously reported.
Pelletier also gained national attention for an interview with MS NOW, where he criticized Jackson's performance in a debate against Collins. He suggested Jackson appeared insulted and did not handle pressure well, predicting that Jackson might struggle in his broader campaign against Collins.
Recent polling indicates a close race between Collins and Jackson. A RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls shows Collins with a narrow lead of 0.2 percentage points. Collins has a history of exceeding poll predictions in past elections, notably in 2020.
