Gubernatorial candidate Les Otten visits the Irregular for a chat before his meet-and-greet at the Orange Cat Café last Wednesday. Later that evening he spoke to the public about his Jobs For Maine campaign at the Herbert Hotel in Kingfield. (David Hart photo) KINGFIELD — Leslie B. Otten models his life after his own personal hero, his father.

The 2010 gubernatorial candidate said from the office of the Irregular last Wednesday that his dad’s perseverance has created a theme for his campaign. He also said he’s been a mentoring influence throughout his business career.

At the age of 51 Albert Ottenheimer, a successful European industrialist had two things working against him. Although he owned one of the largest steal manufacturing facilities in Nazi Germany, he sat down with Adolph Hitler face-to-face in 1937 and refused his request to make bombs to aid his efforts. “That was strike number two,” Les Otten said, “strike number one was that he was Jewish by birthright. All you need is two strikes and you’re in jail.”

Fortunate events led to Albert fleeing Germany, eventually to America where he started a business all over again at the age of 51.

He did what he believed in, Otten explained, he didn’t buy into Hitler’s plan and did not think Germany should take control of the world. He gave up all he had because of his beliefs.

Otten said this taught him that no matter what happens, you have to move —always onward. “Nothing worth doing is ever easy but you must have perseverance –-you can’t quit and you can’t give in. That is the theme of my campaign and my vision for Maine: Always Onward.”

Albert started a new small business in New Jersey where he had 15 to 20 employees, a significant change from the thousands he employed in Europe.

“I learned two really great lessons. One is you need to be resilient when you get knocked down. You have to be willing to stand back up again. And you have to stand up for what’s right.”

“He dealt with ‘life-or-death’ at a very basic level and stood up for what he believed in with the right thing to do.”

Otten said he may never face the intensity of such decisions in his life, but his father’s decisions have played a huge role in his business and now his political career.

Albert was married in 1948 and Les was born in 1949.

At the age of seven a neighbor introduced Les to skiing, which became a lifelong passion.

“When I was 10 years old my dad was 73. We didn’t play catch –-we sat at the diner table and talked about business, politics and the world.”

In 1972 Les Otten was changing gear oil, welding parts together and running a cutting torch at Killington holding a business degree from Ithaca College. As a lift mechanic in Vermont he was making $2.25 an hour.

He said he was lucky to get into a management training program which led him to take over management of a very small skiway in Newry known as Sunday River at the young age of 24.

In his desire to expand the mountain, his vision did not match that of the owners. This led to his purchase of Sunday River in 1980 for $132,000; the resort had four employees at the time. This was the beginning of an empire that led to thousands of positions under his oversight.

Over the years Otten grew Sunday River to one of the most successful resorts in the east with nearly 600,000 skier visits annually.

Otten eventually formed American Skiing Company which purchased resorts all across America including Sugarloaf. In 1997 ASC went public with Otten holding 50 percent of the stock.

After the ups-and-downs of resort ownership in the ski industry such as lack of significant snowfall for consecutive years, unworkable capital partner decisions and investor relations, the company was dismantled a few years ago and resorts were sold for record prices.

Otten said his ventures were not unsuccessful, jobs still remain in tact, resorts still operate at expanded capabilities and if he could, he’d do it all over again.

“It’s been a very interesting career in the ski business. I learned an awful lot about doing business and being in business in Maine in the 37 years that I’ve been here,” Otten explained.

In February of 2007, Otten resigned as director of the American Skiing board.

In 2002 Otten finalized a deal to be the lead partner in purchasing the Boston Red Sox. Together with investment banker John Henry and television executive Tom Werner, a bid package was developed for $700 million to buy the franchise. As vice chairman he held that minority ownership through two world championships, a feat that had not been accomplished since 1918.

“I sold my interest in the team in 2007, but not before leaving my mark on the baseball industry by saving Fenway Park,” Otten said.

Otten explained that Major League Baseball required all bidders to include a plan for a new ballpark and to dismantle Fenway.

“One of the first things I looked at and realized when looking at the Red Sox was the brand. Fenway Park was an integral part of the brand of the Red Sox… Fenway Park was almost as important as the Red Sox name itself,” he said.

Six other bidders were following the path to tear Fenway down, but Otten got an architect, saw renovation potential and convinced MLB and city officials to save the park. It was he who believed that Fenway Park should stay and be renovated and not destroyed.

“We won the bid not only because we were the most money, but we understood the brand and the value of Fenway Park.”

In 2007 Otten made an attempt to get back in the ski industry but fell short in a bid process to reacquire Maine resorts.

It was then when he continued his thoughts about getting into energy and/or politics.

In 2008 Otten formed Maine Energy System whose primary mission was to support a transition from foreign oil to renewable energy. The company sells wood pellet machinery and distributes wood fuel throughout New England. “I believe Maine’s energy future relies in Maine and not outside of Maine.”

Otten started many other business ventures which are still profitable today. He’s also a founder or co-founded of dozens of charitable and non-profit organizations over the years including Western Mountains Alliance and an organization that later became the Maine Chamber Alliance.

As an extensive art collector and contributor himself, he was a chairman of the Portland Museum of Art.

Otten co-founded Maine Handicapped Skiing and the Cromwell Center for Disability Awareness.

In 2008 he was appointed chairman of Governor Baldacci’s Wood-to-Energy Task Force as well as served, sponsored and/or founded many other organizations.

This past fall Wes Otten was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.

Also this fall, Otten announced his candidacy for governor and is promising a rigorous campaign.

Otten is a family man who raised his own three children with his wife, Christine, but also helped raise and put four nieces and nephews through college.

Watch the Irregular for Les Otten’s political opinions and views and how he feels he can make a difference in Maine’s future.