Joseph J. Pietroski Jr.

Unenrolled

Candidate’s Links:

Office sought: Senator – District 14
Age: 69
Occupation: Legislative & Financial Mgr for Maine Ass’n of Retirees; Past President, Maine Bankers Ass’n
Education: UMO, B.A. , 1969, and UMO M.A., 1971
Hometown: Winthrop
Family: Married to Doris Pietroski, Six Children: Peter, Kristin, Andrew, Michael, Tom, & Dan

Political experience:

Three-term Member of the Winthrop Board of Education, 2009-Present;
Finance Director for Congressman David Emery’s Congressional and Senate campaigns.
Member of the Winthrop Democratic Committee and Delegate to State Conventions
Member of the Winthrop Republican Committee and Delegate to State Conventions
Campaign Volunteer for Independent, Republican and Democrat Federal and State Candidates.
President Ronald Reagan appointee to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Executive Reserve Management Position
Governor LePage appointee to the State Board of Pharmacy.

Why are you running for office?

I was urged to run by people who know that I will represent the people of my Senate district not the Party Caucuses. The Legislature needs to refocus so that the needs of the residents of this great State are their highest priority. Recently, the Chairman of the Republican Party wrote that “those who oppose our policies are not our enemies, but our adversaries.” As an advocate and lobbyist for nearly three decades, I have witnessed too much adversarialism and a lack of cooperation and civility in the conduct of the State Legislature and other Government officials. My legislative priorities are (1) to lower property taxes by increasing state revenue sharing and the homestead tax credit. (2) Increase the availability of services for adults and students with disabilities. Each year nearly 1000 students graduate from high schools who need special services and programs to help them live independently and be able to participate in the the workforce. (3) Retired and current state employees, teachers, and municipal employees were promised COLAS when they retired. This is not happening consistently although these employees were promised this benefit as part of their employment benefits. This situation must be corrected. (4) As I have gone door to door and business to business, residents have told me that the tick problem is out of control and that the State needs to be more involved in preventing Lyme disease. Too many of our citizens now have to live with the effects of Lyme disease. Where is the State’s plan to address this crisis? (5) Another issue is a serious pocketbook issue. It is the destruction of cars and trucks occurring because the State is using calcium chloride to address snow and ice on our roads. I will ask the State to use alternate chemicals that will not destroy the brakes, gas lines, and underneath metal, etc., of Maine’s vehicles. And (6) I will join my fellow legislators in developing a plan to address the heroin and opiate crisis.

• 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.
    The residents of Senate District 14 have made it clear that lowering the Property Tax is their #1 Legislative Priority. Lowering the individual income tax has less effect if you are Retired on a fixed income like Social Security, or your income is middle class or lower. Property Taxes keep increasing 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 percentage points a year. In five years people are seeing that their property taxes have increased 10 percent or more. Their are many individuals who are having serious problems paying their property taxes and have to make serious quality of life decisions including going without medical care or prescriptions. Towns and schools have important needs including infrastructure maintenance. Lowing Property Taxes, including having the State meet it obligation to fund local education at 55% will be my number one legislative priority.
• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • Other.
    I am concerned about the wording and possible impact on 2nd Amendment Rights found in Question 3. The Legislature should have written a companion Question focusing just on background checks for privately sold firearms and made sure that people could share guns with family members and friends in the group, in particular, during hunting season.
• 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.
    Again, the Legislature should have passed minimum wage legislation that addressed the restaurant workers issue and the issue of having a separate minimum wage structure for students. Since the Legislature failed its opportunity, I will vote for this Question as I do believe that workers have waited too long for a minimum wage increase as as structured the increase is gradual.
• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • Other.
    I am still listening to the discussion about whether or not that law enforcement agencies have the technology and procedures to effectively deal with intoxication situations caused by marijuana. I am also concerned about further increasing access through greater availability of marijuana from persons over 21 to students and young adults under 21. I am a supporter of the use of marijuana for medical needs. I expect to be a swing vote on election day.
• 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?
  • It disappoints me that the State does not seem to have a strategic plan to use in responding to the heroin/opiate crisis. It seems that the State is always changing its programs like in their choices for drugs used in the treatment process. The problem is real and it is here in Maine. Why can’t the Governor, DHHS, and the Legislature work together to produce a program that addresses this crisis?