Jean-Marie Caterina

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Senator – District 30
Age: 61
Occupation: Real estate broker
Education: BA- University of Maine; MSW – Boston College
Family: Not provided
Hometown: Scarborough

Political experience

I was elected to the Scarborough Town Council in 2013. I have chaired several committees, including holding the position of Vice Chair, while serving. I served as the Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Representative for Senate District 30 during my Council term.

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I think that elected officials in Augusta should look out for our families and communities. We cannot keep asking towns and cities to pass increased property taxes for middle class families and small business owners while corporations and and big businesses receive tax breaks. We need to view public education as an investment in the future, and make funding schools that are accessible to all students a priority. We must move beyond simply “voting with your party”to making decisions that are right for our communities – for all of us.

• 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

    I feel that the fairest form of taxation is one based on income as it is based on “ability to pay”. Under income taxation, taxpayers are more likely to pay their fair share. Property tax, on the other hand, is based solely on valuation of a house and land regardless of the ability of the owner to make the payments. In Scarborough alone, we have almost 200 households with a householder over age 65 with incomes less than $10,000 who are struggling to keep roofs over their heads. Likewise, sales taxes tend to be skewed more towards middle class working families. They must be judiciously applied. In my opinion, income tax elimination is bad policy that ultimately hurts hardworking families and our elders.

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

    I am a gun owner and the chair of the Scarborough Firing Range Committee. I believe in extending background checks to private sales of all types. I have questions about Referendum Three and its treatment of the transfer of firearms as it pertains to hunters and users of gun ranges. I believe those concerns can be adequately addressed through thoughtful legislation.

• 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

    I am a business owner. I have always paid any employees wages higher that the minimum wage. The current minimum wage is certainly not a livable wage and must be adjusted to tie into inflation. Hard working Maine people deserve to be paid what they are worth, regardless of where in this state they live.

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

    I am willing to allow the voters of this state to determine the outcome of this referendum. I do not have a strong opinion one way or the other. I do have concerns about the ability to determine when one is under the influence of marijuana and impaired as to ability to drive safely.

• 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?
  • Absolutely not. Having lost family members to substance abuse disorder, I have been an outspoken proponent for increasing the level of treatment options available in this state. I was an early supporter of Operation Hope here in Scarborough and know that there are few treatment “beds” available in Maine. I believe that there is no one, correct way to treat substance abuse disorder. We need to make sure that all proven treatment modalities are available to those who need it. We need to make sure that heath insurance coverage is available to all who need it and that it covers treatment options.