Aaron Blaschke Rowden

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 108
Age: 30
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Juris Doctor
Family: Married
Hometown: Fairfield

Political experience

Fairfield Town Council 2014-Present

Why are you running for office?

I grew up in Maine and want to see the state thrive. After attending Georgetown Law, I chose to return home to get involved in civic life because I want to give back to my community. The past six years have shown me that new leaders and ideas need to come forward to help the state remain vibrant and beautiful.

• Income Tax: Gov. LePage would like to lower Maine’s income tax rate and eventually eliminate it, by increasing the state’s sales tax and expanding it across a broader range of goods and services. Do you support this proposal?
  • No

    I believe that a moderate income tax is necessary to achieve budget stability in the most equitable manner possible.

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • Other

    I believe that this the so-called gun show loophole should be closed and that private sales brokered on websites such as Craigslist or across state lines should be subject to background checks. However, casual sales between friends or family members should be subject to less restrictive measures so as to maintain the responsible traditions of gun ownership in the state.

• Minimum Wage:
  In light of the ballot question facing voters this fall, do you support raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 an hour by 2020?
  
  • Yes

    I believe that the minimum wage should be a meaningful reflection of the cost of living. I believe that a gradual increase to $12/hr over a period of years balances this need with the need not to shock businesses with sudden and unpredictable increases.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • Yes

    Marijuana prohibition has been a failed social experiment that has led to a generation of high youth criminalization, expensive yet ineffective law enforcement priorities, and disparate enforcement across communities. Legalization will allow the state to regulate and tax this product rather than costing the state millions of dollars each year.

• Addiction/Overdoses: Do you believe the state is doing enough in response to the rise in heroin/opiate addiction and overdoses? If not, what else should be done?
  • The state must change its approach to the heroin epidemic. State policy should focus on treatment to dry up the market for opiates, and prisons and jails should be configured to keep dealers out of the general population. Dealers should also face special administrative measures while incarcerated focused on disrupting their communication with other dealers and breaking their contacts so they cannot simply return to dealing after completing their sentence. Finally, we must restore revenue sharing so that local police can devote the resources necessary to handling the problem on a daily basis.