Randall Adam Greenwood

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 82
Age: 43
Occupation: Small Business Owner, Operator and Manager
Education: Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Leadership and Organizational Studies from the University of Southern Maine
Family: Married with 3 children
Hometown: Wales

Political experience

127th Legislature 2015-2016, Minority Lead on the State and Local Government Committee; Androscoggin County Commissioner Eight Years (six years as Chairman); Wales Town Meeting Moderator; RSU#4 School Budget Meeting Moderator and past Selectman for the Town of Wales.

Why are you running for office?

Being a husband and father of three young children, I believe it is my civic duty to ensure that government is in check with what was the intent of our founding fathers. I want to ensure Maine is prosperous so my children, like yours, are able to be educated in our state and can have the opportunity to grow up and afford to raise a family here. So many of our young adults must flee this state to be educated and very few return to raise their families due to the constraints of our sluggish economy. Maine can do better and with continued reform, Maine WILL do better. I will work to reduce governmental spending, taxes and the over-burdensome regulations and would like to have the opportunity to make Maine prosper as it once did.

• 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 lowering the income with the hope to eventually eliminate it.. Reducing the income tax would essentially become a raise for all working Mainers, a great opportunity to take home more of what they earn. If we move forward with possibility of eliminating the income tax the difficult part will be finding that balance. I am optimistic we can find that balance and will work to improve our tax structure and meet the financial needs of our state.

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

    Ballot Question 3 is a blatant attempt by out of state special interest to eventually create a registry for gun ownership. The United States Constitution is clear on a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms and the Maine Constitution is even more clear and states “that right shall not be questioned”. Background checks are currently in place for all transfers through dealers and shows. This has not been a problem in Maine and this proposal will make law abiding citizens criminals for something a innocent as lending a hunting rifle to your best friend during hunting season. I encourage people to read the full text of the proposed initiative, it is terribly misleading. I have taken an oath to support and uphold the Constitution and will do just that. I proudly endorsed by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and the NRA and support our 2nd amendment.

• 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

    As a small business owner myself, I do not support implementing this particular wage mandate. I believe the increase to $12 an hour is too high at this time as many of our small businesses are already struggling. This proposal does not take into consideration a Training Wage, a Student Wage or a Tip Credit Reduction Wage for tipped employees. To offset this sort of increased cost, businesses will have to either raise the prices on goods and services or eliminate growth in already struggling economy.

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

    Our focus and limited resources should be prioritized and focus on the hard core drug problem in Maine. Our heroin and opiate addiction crisis far outweighs the dangers of marijuana usage. I believe that legalization will help hinder access to our young people under the age of 21. Legalization would create a regulatory structure, create a tax revenue on a currently non-taxed transaction and create tax paying jobs for Maine citizens in the growing and sale 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 heroin epidemic in Maine was a significant focus during the 127th Legislature. During the last session I was proud to support the effort that added 10 additional enforcement agents to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency as well as $2 million in additional funding for treatment for those who are addicted and seeking assistance. This issue will remain a priority and I will work to find further solutions to the problem.