Eleanor Espling

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 65
Age: 43
Occupation: Self Employed
Education: Business Degree from the University of Southern Maine
Family: Married with Four Children
Hometown: New Gloucester

Political experience

I have served the people of Maine in the legislature for three terms as a state representative. Prior to that, I served on the town of New Gloucester’s Budget Committee and also served a term as chair of that committee. I currently serve on the New Gloucester Public Safety Committee. In my first two terms in the legislature, I served on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. I currently serve as the Assistant Republican Leader in the Maine House.

Why are you running for office?

The best ideas for making Maine a better place come from the friends and neighbors who live and work in this great state. My desire in running for office is, not to be an advocate for one issue, but to be an advocate for the issues important to the folks I represent. That means assisting them when they have a problem with a state matter, giving them tips on testifying before a committee, communicating helpful state information to constituents and submitting legislation on their behalf. The answers to some of Maine’s most pressing issues are out there if we just talk to each other and share ideas with one another. I hear a continued concern about the drug problem in our state. We must do more as a state to address enforcement, treatment and prevention over a long term, not just quick fixes. People are also concerned about welfare, making sure it is used appropriately and that it is serving those who need it well. I am also hearing the concern about increases in medical costs and food costs. In looking at state policy, we should avoid policies that pass the cost onto Mainers already struggling to pay their bills. I have lived in Maine most of my life, graduated from Maine schools and stayed in Maine to raise a family. Being able to serve the community and state I have loved my entire life is an honor. It’s a way to make Maine better for future generations of Mainers.

• 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 support continuing to lower Maine’s income tax. We do need to be careful about just shifting the tax to a sales tax system or any other tax shift proposal. We also should not be discussing tax reductions without addressing reductions in state spending. We can’t keep increasing budgets and expect to lower taxes.

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

    I do not support the background check question on the ballot as I believe it goes too far and will prove difficult for Maine’s law abiding gun owners and sportsmen to navigate.

• 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?
  • Other

    The ballot question to raise the minimum wage goes too far and will only hurt Maine small business. It will also impact restaurant staff because it removes the tip credit. I am concerned about business passing these extra costs onto consumers on fixed incomes like Maine’s elderly.

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

    I have always, and will continue, to support medical marijuana. It would seem to be a contradiction to legalize a drug like marijuana for recreational use in the midst of a drug crisis in this state.

• 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?
  • Maine has taken steps to address this issue. More can be done and should be done. While we as lawmakers, have increased drug agents and increased funding for treatment, we need to have both short term and long term policies to attack the problem. To begin, the state needs to do an assessment of what treatment and prevention options work for people. Where are state resources being spent and do we need to better focus those resources on programs with proven outcomes? We need to better understand the epidemic of babies being born addicted to drugs, prescription pain killer use and abuse, and mental health issues so that we can seek policy solutions that truly begin to solve the problem. It is not a problem that got here overnight and it will take some patience and determination to work on policies that bring long term results.