A newspaper ad showing a picture of Rep. Troy Jackson (D-Fort Kent) asleep in the House chamber is causing a stir in Maine’s northernmost district.

It also may become an issue in Jackson’s current bid for the Senate – not for the content itself but for the initial explanation he gave.

Jackson is running for Senate District 1 against Danny Deveau (R-Cyr Plantation). The seat is being vacated by John Martin (D-Eagle Lake) who is termed out and going back to the House.

The ad shows Jackson asleep, with the text accusing him of missing votes and voting to raise taxes.

Jackson told WAGM in Presque Isle that the House wasn’t in session when the picture was taken, and it was when he was suffering health problems and awaiting heart surgery. Deveau told the station that he had nothing to do with the ad.

Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston (R-Montville) said that the Senate Republicans were speaking with Frank Weatherhead of Caribou, who purchased the ad, and also talking to the individual who took the picture.

She said the House was in session when it was taken, they have another shot that shows the screen behind him.

This makes it an issue for the Senate Republicans – that he lied about the circumstances of his nap.

“Why say that if it wasn’t true,” she said.

House majority leader Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) said that the Democrats have pictures of people from both parties sleeping in the chamber, but won’t use them. With the new cameras in the House, staff or anyone watching online can take a picture if someone is one screen sleeping.

“Debates get long, and many representatives get tired,” Pingree said.

She added that she was disappointed that someone would use this against Jackson, given that he had a serious health problem at the time.