Dorothy Caldwell

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 131
Age: 67
Occupation: Licensed clinical professional counselor, semi-retired
Education:MEd, and CAS in Counseling
Family: Married to Art Washburn, two grown children, two grandchildren
Hometown: Penobscot

Political experience

I have not been elected to political office before. Most of my leadership experience has been at the grassroots level, and I believe leadership should be shared as much as possible with folks who are competent and conscientious. I was chair of the Next Step Domestic Violence Project as it first formed and in its first year; co-chair of the Master Gardener Advisory Committee of Hancock County Extension, and co-chair for two terms on the Bucksport Provider Network Subcommittee, part of the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition.

Why are you running for office?

I believe we must do what we can to respond to the issues that impact the quality of life in our homes, communities, state, nation, and planet. I have learned from both my volunteer and professional experiences and have developed skills to help create positive change. I want to take this experience to our state government, to help it better respond to the needs of its citizens all across the economic spectrum.

• 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

    The income tax needs to reflect the realities of Mainers all across the economic spectrum, in a fair and balanced way. The “trickle down” theory has proved to be invalid. Getting the details right on any changes is important because of the impacts they may have on job creation.

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

    I would expect the legislature to refine the law to remedy any unintended consequences from its enactment, if passed.

• 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

    The more Mainers we have making a living wage, the fewer Mainers we will have needing welfare to survive.

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

    The issues of marijuana use and its legal consequences if convicted, must be addressed. A meta analysis of all studies on its human impact over time could help guide us in this, plus a thorough look at and remediation of all unintended consequences re. its cultivation and sale if legalized, and the legal penalties for its possession if it is not legalized.

• 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?
  • All police officers and first responders should have ready access to medication to counteract overdoses. Effective treatment is vital, and should take priority over criminal prosecution for possession unless the quantity indicates one is dealing it. The state is not doing enough until all those addicted have affordable and science-based treatment options available to them, and the myriad reasons people become vulnerable to getting addicted are addressed.