Political experience

I served two terms in the Maine House before my election to the Senate. Throughout my tenure, I have sat on the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee, most recently as Senate Chair. I also serve on the Judiciary Committee, the State Workforce Board and the Citizens Trade Policy Commission. I have been invited to co-chair the Legislative Caucus on Aging in the next legislature.
2016 American Legion Legislator of the Year
2016 Jim McGregor Government Service Award
2016 Elizabeth H. Mitchell Housing Leadership Award
2013 Minuteman Award

Why are you running for office?

Maine faces many difficult challenges and needs strong, effective leadership now more than ever. I am running for reelection to the Maine Senate because I consider it a great honor to be an advocate for people in my community in the Legislature. Having served in the House of Representatives and the Senate, I have a strong track record of working with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges we face. In fact, I was named one of the most “bipartisan legislators in Augusta” by the non-partisan Sunlight Foundation in 2014. I have enacted numerous pieces of legislation addressing human trafficking in Maine, including creating an Affirmative Defense to the crime of prostitution for victims. I have also fought to keep property taxes low and to secure additional funding for public education, as well as expanding alternative education for those who don’t thrive in traditional classroom settings. My lead poisoning prevention bill was recently fully implemented, with Maine becoming the first state to adopt and enforce federal lead standards to better protect some of our most vulnerable children.

Maine has a long tradition of taking a practical, commonsense approach to public policy issues with Maine women like Margaret Chase Smith, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins leading the way. I have looked to these extraordinary women as strong role models during my time in Augusta. I take a pragmatic, compassionate approach to representing the people of Senate District 30 and have earned a strong reputation as a hard working, thorough and thoughtful legislator who is always willing to listen to and work with others.

• 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?
  • Other

    I am not certain that the complete elimination of Maine’s income tax is the answer to all of our economic challenges, but I would definitely support lowering the income tax in order to spur economic growth, attract more entrepreneurs to Maine and keep existing businesses here. Over the past several years, Maine has made enormous strides in lowering its tax burden, and that is why I am concerned about Question 2 on this year’s ballot. If passed. it would impose a three percent tax on small businesses and high income earners (those making more than $200,000). Economist Charles Lawton recently described this idea as “disastrous” for Maine’s economy. We can find better school funding solutions than imposing onerous taxes that will surely hurt Maine’s businesses and drive more people to become “summer people.”

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • No

    I believe it is important to note that Maine has one of the highest rates of gun ownership per capita in the nation and yet we have a remarkably low rate of gun violence. I support laws that protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners in Maine. I presented an amendment to the recently passed concealed carry law that would have required firearms sellers to provide safety information to those legally purchasing handguns. It also directed the State Police to post Maine’s handgun laws on their website for easy accessibility. I believe this year’s ballot measure goes too far in limiting transfers of firearms, such as hunting rifles, among family members and friends, even for a weekend hunting trip.

• 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?
  • No

    As Chairwoman of the Legislature’s Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee, I worked for two years on a bipartisan proposal to gradually increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour. I believe the ballot initiative to raise the rate to $12 will be harmful to Maine’s economy. It will raise the cost of doing business which will mean fewer job opportunities for our younger workers who are just entering the labor force and for some disabled people, as well, particularly outside of Cumberland and York counties. The referendum mandates too much, too soon for job providers and would likely be an enforcement nightmare for the Department of Labor and a source of confusion to small business owners because it introduces indexing, meaning the wage will change annually in perpetuity. I am confident we can find a better solution in the Legislature.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • No

    I support the use of marijuana for medical reasons, but I have several concerns about the referendum question that would allow recreational use. Maine’s law enforcement community and many educators have publicly come out against it, questioning the wisdom of legalizing another mind-altering substance when we already have so many people who abuse alcohol. Because marijuana remains in the body for long periods of time, the business community has many questions as well. It is not clear what their rights will be if a drug-tested employee tests positive in a state with legal recreational pot. It’s possible they smoked before work and it’s possible they smoked a week before at a party. There is no way to tell. Until these questions have been settled, I am personally uncomfortable endorsing full legalization.

• 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?
  • I do not believe we are doing enough to combat the rise in heroin addiction and overdoses in our communities. Every death linked to substance abuse disorder is a tragedy for the user’s family, friends and for all of Maine. Particularly with an aging population like ours, we cannot afford to lose a single young person. I am proud of the steps the Legislature took during the last session to limit the prescription of opioids, add more drug agents to the streets and increase resources for addiction treatment and prevention. We need to continue to review the innovative community-based programs that are working and replicate them, while ending those that are ineffective. We also need to ensure that our young people have hope in their own future. Hopelessness is the most dangerous precursor to drug addiction. Many of the kids that turn to drugs are from difficult backgrounds, but they can learn resilience. Reaching kids before they self-medicate means plugging them in to effective education and keeping them engaged with extra-curriculars, job training, community service or work that they enjoy. It can be a lot of work, but their success will often end a vicious cycle of abuse.