Political experience

2012-2014 Maine State Senator District 25

Why are you running for office?

I believe in serving my community. It is why I chose to work in my chosen field. For over 20 years I have worked with families, adults and children in the health care, mental health care and school settings. I see first hand every day the struggles and accomplishments the people of Waterville and Oakland experience. I want to put my experience of listening to people and finding solutions together to work for this community.

• 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

    Previous tax reform plans have attempted to broaden the sales tax to new goods and services and failed. I believe in targeted tax cuts for working families and senior citizens rather than elimination of the income tax. Eliminating the income tax for the highest earners in Maine would cause the sales tax to hurt middle and low income residents harder than it does now.

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

    I support this for one reason. Right now someone who could not pass the backround check at a firearms dealer or a store because they have a criminal record can purchase a gun in a private sale. I don’t think criminals should have access to a firearm.

• 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

    If someone works full time they should be able to support their family. They should be able to afford food, housing and other essentials. The current minimum wage is not enough to afford the basics. This increase is can help people avoid homelessness and stay employed.

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

    Regulating and taxing recreational marijuana can increase revenue for the state. The state benefits from the sale of alcohol through taxing it and this helps fund necessary state services. We can do the same with marijuana.

• 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 the state is currently doing enough to address the opiate addiction problem. I believe we need to address both the law enforcement and treatment angles. In the past few years some treatment programs have closed due to a lack of funding. In addition, Maine is one of the few states that has not expanded Medicaid. As a result, less people have access to quality health care, including substance abuse treatment, when they need it. This impacts families across all income levels and across the state. We need to make sure that those who need and want treatment, get it.