Political experience

The people of Saco deserve as many choices for their elected leaders as possible. I stepped up at the last minute when no other candidate was available and am excited to talk about the issues facing Maine.

Why are you running for office?

I was a Saco city council member from 2009-2010 and ran for mayor in Saco in 2011. I have been the chair of the Saco Republican Committee and was one of the leaders of the RSU 23 withdrawal political action committee.

• 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?
  • Yes

    The expansion of the sales tax in a state who relies heavily on tourism is a smarter way to raise funds for government. However, the discussion around the income tax, sales tax and property tax rate, for me, should be more about what level of funding the state government really needs. I’m not interested in simply shifting the tax dollar flow from income tax to sales or property tax, I want an analysis on what services Maine truly needs and at what funding level.

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

    There is no harm in requiring background checks for private sales at firearms. A vast majority of private sales are legal and above board, but it’s good to have a check on that. However, if people feel this will eliminate more than a small fraction of gun violence, I think they are too optimistic. Criminals intent on harming others will still get hold of firearms whether there are background checks or not.

• 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

    The minimum wage debate is a classic example of shortsightedness. Raising the minimum wage to $12 will then force wages currently in the $12-$15/hr range to increase as well, as it’s only fair to increase their salaries above the new minimum wage accordingly. A blanket increase of lower wages will directly impact small, local businesses. The idea that the minimum wage hike will only force fat cat CEOs to take less salary is nothing more than a fantasy. The cost will be passed to consumers. Consumers will then buy less and some of those minimum wage workers will see reduced hours or will be laid off entirely. Lastly, if low-salary public sector workers (day laborers, ed techs, first year teachers) require raises now, that money will come not from a CEO’s perk package but directly from property tax increases, that will hurt every level of earner in the economy.

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

    As a teacher, I can see major problems in legalizing marijuana and its effect on young people. Even now that it’s illegal, drug and alcohol use is more common among teens than most people think. Allowing much easier access to another harmful substance is not the best course of action for young people, even with the age of legal purchase being 21. Most importantly, the prevalence of edibles in marijuana culture will make it nearly impossible to police in terms of illegal use of the intoxicating substance by minors.

• 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?
  • Like many issues, much of the focus has been on the end result: what to do with those overdosing on heroine and opiates. I think more of the focus should be on the causes of this rise in addiction. Is it simply because the drugs are more available and cheaper? Or is there an underlying mental health crisis in certain demographics of people that are pushing them to hard drug use. I like to attack programs at its core, not necessarily the outcome.