Chris A. Johansen

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 145
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired Law Enforcement Officer
Education: Some college
Family: Married, two grown children, three grown grandchildren
Hometown: Monticello

Political experience

I’m not new to the political process, but I am new to being a candidate. I’ve held leadership roles in various organizations throughout my life. I would like to bring some of that leadership to the House of Representatives.

Why are you running for office?

To keep the businesses we have in the state, we need to get our finances and regulatory climate under control. With this Governor, the opportunity to fix this presents itself. I would like to be part of that effort. I’ve lived through 18% interest rates for the first home I purchased here in Maine… The choices we make today will affect our children and grand children. It’s time to make some decisions and perhaps some hard choices to make our state economically sound for a better and steadfast future. A future that will provide the next generation the base to build upon for generations to come.

• 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

    It’s my understanding of the Governor’s plan on taxes is to not RAISE one to lower the other. The way I understand it, the Governor’s plan is to reduce spending to lower the income tax rate. I fully support the Governor’s plan which is to rely on reducing spending to reduce taxes.

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

    Background checks as proposed are about control not about safety. We need to enforce the laws we already have on the books, not make criminals out of law abiding citizens.

• 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

    Forced raising of minimum wage would put many young people out of work. More businesses in the state would create better work climates and wages will rise on their own. The only reason this could be necessary is because we’ve driven our businesses out of the state creating a situation where there are way too many employees for a limited number of jobs, creating the conditions we have now. By forcing businesses to raise their wages, the businesses may be forced to reduce their work force, creating even more issues with unemployed workers in Maine.

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

    I have no strong opinion on this either way. My personal preference would be no. My concerns would be with access by children if it is more readily available in homes.

• 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?
  • No, the state needs to have vigorous law enforcement, interdiction (discovering and stopping the drugs as they come into the state) and finding better methods of rehabilitation for those addicted. Success rates have to change, and the methods now being used are not enough.