Political experience

State Senator, District 33, Maine – 1 term
Senate Chair, Energy, Utilities & Technology Committee – 1 term
Waterboro Selectman – 2 terms
Chairman, Board of Selectmen (Waterboro) – 1 year
Selectman Liaison, 20-year Comprehensive Plan (Waterboro) – 2 years

Why are you running for office?

Two years ago I was asked to run for Maine State Senate. I decided to do so because I was fed up with Washington-style politics, which I feared were heading for Maine, including entrenched partisanship. This is clearly still a problem on a national and state level and I am committed to continuing my efforts to make inroads. To do that, I need the continued support and confidence of the voters. I am Senate Chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, which plays a critical role in building our economy while protecting our environment. However, there are additional critical issues that are central to the health and wellbeing of our citizens. We need the parties to work together to address these issues. I have made significant gains for bipartisanship by reaching across the aisle to work on issues, not politics. I want to continue the in-roads I’ve made for bipartisanship in order to ensure that Maine has the leadership it needs to build a strong future.

• 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

    Like so many issues we face, this is multifaceted. District 33 in York county borders New Hampshire, which has no sales tax. The businesses in my Senate district that collect sales tax believe an increase in the sales tax would definitely hurt their business more than the existing sales tax does now. Additionally, the majority of working class and retired people I speak with are not in favor of a higher sales tax.

    Eliminating one tax and increasing another is not the solution to increased economic growth for Maine. Of course, being from a border region affects my thinking on this issue, but the big picture requires statewide solutions as much as possible and I believe we have to ask some really hard questions of ourselves and the state….. To generate more wealth and increase the flow of money for all, we need an educated, trained, skilled and competent labor force. Are we producing that? If not, why? Many employers say today’s workers do not meet the requirements they need. Why?

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

    I feel that this referendum is poorly written, and will result in an ineffective law. We need to enforce EXISTING gun laws nationwide, especially in cities where this is a major issue. It’s clear that enforcement is a major issue. New laws, without enforcement, are useless rhetoric, and I don’t think we need more of that. Maine has been fortunate in that we haven’t experienced the gun violence problems that Chicago and other major metropolitan cities have experienced. I’d like to see us figure out how to enforce existing laws before putting new burdens on law abiding citizens. Do we actually NEED this law? Or do we need to use our existing laws and infrastructure more efficiently? Yes, we need action, but let’s be smart about it.

• 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

    I believe that labor demand, a competitive environment, and the skills and personal work habits that workers bring to the job are what should dictate compensation. I routinely hear from employers trying to hire workers that they are disappointed that applicants lack the basic work habits, people skills and ability to accomplish basic tasks. From what I hear, most employers are willing to train and foster employees who are willing to work, as they should, thus increasing their earning power. We must invest in each other. I just don’t see how it’s good economic polity to guarantee an incompetent and unwilling worker $12/hr.

    At the same time, I fully recognize that too many working people are struggling financially. If you are providing an honest day’s work, housing and feeding your family should NOT be a struggle. I believe that employers need to reward good workers accordingly, and that we as a state need to ensure that our graduates are prepared for work.

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

    This is a difficult issue for me. Having taught and coached for 35 years, I have witnessed an increased use of marijuana among teenagers and parents individually AND as a family. Marijuana use is becoming more and more socially acceptable.

    Knowing the damage caused by alcohol abuse and misuse, would I vote to legalize alcohol today were it still illegal ? I hope not. I recognize that many feel comparing marijuana to alcohol is inaccurate and that marijuana is “not as bad” as alcohol. Does this make it “good?” I’m not sure.

    I DO support the medical benefits of marijuana, and Maine does cover this under current law. However, at this time, I don’t believe Maine has appropriate and necessary policies and procedures in place to regulate the use – and misuse – of legalized marijuana. More work is needed before we legalize.

• 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, I don’t believe that the state is doing enough to address the rise in heroin and opiate addiction and overdoses. The rising numbers of overdoses shows that we are not. This is why, during the last legislative decision, I spearheaded a bill to to return the reimbursement rate of methadone medication assisted treatment centers to pre-2010 rates – to ensure that more Mainers struggling with addiction and looking to enter recovery have access to treatment including medication assistance and counseling. I did this in the face of opposition from my own party.

    Addiction is an illness, one that tears apart families and communities, and we need to do everything we can to help people looking to escape its terrible clutches. This is about the health and safety of our communities, plain and simple. Delayed action means more emergency room visits, crimes, children being placed in protective services, overdoses, incarcerations and deaths. Simply put, the safety and overall wellbeing of our constituents and our communities is at stake.