Political experience

I consider myself a “citizen legislator,” not a career politician. I was elected to my first 2-year legislative term in 2014.

Why are you running for office?

I am seeking a second term in the Maine Legislature to continue the work of building a strong economic foundation for the people in the state. This includes adequate funding for infrastructure, lower personal and corporate tax rates, and support for educational innovation. I believe in a strong safety net for our most vulnerable citizens and intend to continue working for welfare reforms that prioritize those people.

• 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

    Maine needs to be competitive with other states in attracting people and businesses to locate here. One drawback for our state are our (still) high personal and corporate income tax rates. I think that lowering the corporate rate and eliminating the personal rate would be a plus for Maine.

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • No

    Maine is considered one of the safest states in the union. We have a tradition of responsible and law-abiding gun ownership and private transfer. The current referendum question would make this tradition a mis-demeanor or a felony in the eyes of the law. Criminals do not submit to background checks, so the benefit of the expansion of these to law-abiding citizens is debatable.

• 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

    I believe that free market principles are vastly superior to government mandates in creating a prosperous society. The median hourly wage in Maine already far exceeds the government imposed minimum wage, proving this point. Also, raising the minimum hourly wage 34% in one year will definitely hurt teen-agers and those trying to enter the labor market for the first time.

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

    I supported the legalization of marijuana in 2014 but I have changed my mind based on the testimony of our law enforcement and judicial community. I think we have more homework to do to before we exempt ourselves from the federal restriction on recreational marijuana. I am supportive of the medical use of marijuana.

• 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?
  • The state spent over $70M on drug addiction treatment in 2015 so it is not as much a matter of funding, but coordination.