This fall, state Rep. Heather Sirocki, R-Scarborough, will face a challenge from Democratic candidate Dwight Ely for the House District 28, which covers part of Scarborough.

The Current asked each candidate one question to help voters decide whom to support at the polls.

Dwight Ely

Age: 67

Address: 5 Elysian Way, Scarborough

Occupation: A berry farmer specializing in raspberries. Prior to becoming a full-time farmer, I was a teacher and administrator at Cape Elizabeth High School and a vice president for retirement planning at E.F. Hutton in Portland. I am also a Vietnam veteran.

Political experience: Scarborough Board of Education

Q: How do you plan to make a difference for your communities if elected to the Legislature?

A: During the summer and fall I have had the opportunity to knock on hundreds of doors in Scarborough asking citizens for their vote to represent them in the Maine House of Representatives. On porches across this town, I have heard three consistent concerns –

1) Why can’t the governor and the Legislature work together? 2) What can we do about property taxes to keep Scarborough affordable? and 3) How do we create more jobs?

First, citizens have a right to be frustrated by the gridlock in Augusta. Gov. LePage has vetoed more bills than any governor in Maine’s history. A small group of very conservative legislators, including my opponent, have consistently voted to sustain these vetoes. This has enabled and emboldened the governor to approach the Legislature with an attitude of confrontation, rather than with a spirit of compromise. This has not served Maine well.

For example, moderate Republicans proposed a compromise that would have allowed Maine to participate in the Affordable Care Act and thus receive about $350 million a year, or almost $1 million every day in health care cost reimbursement from the federal government. This would have created about 3,000 Maine jobs. Unfortunately, the governor and his supporters rejected this compromise. I would have supported this compromise.

Second, all property taxpayers across Maine have a good reason to be concerned. Looking closely at the governor’s biggest tax cut you’ll see that it was paid for with the biggest tax shift. Specifically, the governor’s budget cut the revenue sharing program to towns and Scarborough lost 50 percent or $1.5 million.

In addition, the circuit breaker program, a property tax relief measure for low-income earners, was cut by 50 percent and required school budgets to assume costs for teacher’s pensions. And, local property taxes rose in direct response to these tax shifts. They can and should be reversed.

Many bipartisan solutions have been proposed that can undo the damage done by the governor and his followers. We simply need to elect a governor, senators and representatives that believe in setting aside partisan politics in favor of cooperative problem-solving.

Finally, with three children of my own, I also worry about job growth in Maine. I believe that the best way to promote job growth is to market Maine’s quality of life. However, I will support all ideas that can create jobs and preserve Maine’s heritage for our children.

My experiences as an educator, farmer, business consultant, veteran and husband have all taught me the wisdom of the old adage, “two heads are better than one,” and I promise to work with all parties to find solutions to Maine’s problems.

Heather W. Sirocki

Age: 54

Address: 32 Glenndale Circle, Scarborough

Occupation: State Representative/Administrative Assistant

Political experience: House of Representatives and Member of the Health & Human Services Committee, two terms, first elected 2010

Q: How do you plan to make a difference for your communities if elected to the Legislature?

A: Members of my community tell me that improving our economy is their primary concern. The good news is the statewide unemployment rate has fallen from 7.9 percent in 2011 to 5.5 percent in July of this year. And, with the creation of thousands of new private sector jobs, the unemployment rate in Cumberland County is now close to 4 percent.

While many reforms are making a difference, there is more work to do. Scarborough is a bustling town with more than 1,000 small businesses, and the job creators I speak to find themselves hindered by Maine’s high cost of energy, excessive regulations, workforce issues, high income tax rates and expensive licensing fees.

To lower energy costs, I will continue to support lifting the cap on hydropower so that our state can increase access to this affordable, clean, reliable and renewable energy source. I also support lowering our income tax, which will help retain and attract a higher skilled workforce.

Scarborough voters also have concerns about wasteful spending and abuse of our welfare programs. As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, I co-sponsored efforts to stop fraud and abuse with such initiatives as not allowing the use of welfare debit cards at establishments that provide adult entertainment, sell alcohol or engage in gambling.

I will also, once again, support comprehensive welfare reform that enforces the appropriate use of benefits and job placement programs, which will ultimately assist individuals as they transition from dependence to self-reliance.

With our rapidly aging population, the future needs of our elderly and those suffering with varying forms of dementia require attention. Adult day services, respite care, assisted living and long-term care are all important and they need to be adequately funded. Of special interest to me are adult day and homemaker services that help families stay together and assist individuals so they can remain as independent as possible.

As a former member of the Substance Abuse Services Commission, it is also troubling that almost 1,000 babies were born drug-affected last year in Maine. Our high rate of substance abuse is evidence that Maine has a serious problem involving both prescription and illicit drugs, that’s why I have and will continue to support the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.

Serving as a state representative from Scarborough is a responsibility that I take seriously, as evidenced by my 100 percent attendance record. I have also never missed a committee vote. As a legislator, I base my votes on facts, researching the issues and listening to my constituents.

Dwight ElyHeather W. Sirocki