PORTLAND — The lead officer for the Maine Heritage Policy Center said at a luncheon Thursday he was leaving the organization to manage the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican candidate and Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers.

Lance Dutson, the executive director of the nonprofit Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative education and policy think tank with ties to the administration of Gov. Paul LePage, told a group gathered for a presentation on the media he missed politics and was excited to be involved in a campaign again.

 Peter Anania, the president of the MHPC’s board of directors, made the announcement at DiMillo’s, a waterfront restaurant and lounge in Portland.  

Dutson has extensive political experience.

“He has served as online communications consultant for U.S. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.  He has also served as communications director for the Maine Republican Party, and most recently, communications director for Maine Speaker of the House Robert Nutting,” according to Dutson profile on the MHPC’s website. 

“Lance is an outstanding leader with a sharp political mind,” Summers said in a written prepared statement issued Thursday afternoon. “His skills and experience will be an incredible asset to my campaign for U.S. Senate. This will be a challenging race, and Lance will help lead us to victory in November.”

In the same press release Dustson said,  “I couldn’t be more excited to work with him and his campaign team toward a big win on November 6.  Mainers need a senator like Charlie to represent them in Washington, D.C.”

Dutson’s replacement will be announced Monday and is arriving from another state, Anania said.

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