Renee Morin

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 11
Age: 54
Occupation: Business owner/ Uptown Appraising
Education: BS Leadership and Organizational Studies USM
Family: Married 30 years, 3 grown children
Hometown: Biddeford

Political experience

In the past, I have served as an elected Town Meeting Member for the Town of Sanford for five years and served on the curriculum committee while in Sanford. I was born and raised in Sanford and graduated from Sanford High School and went on to graduate from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship program in Shipfitting. I moved to Biddeford 15 years ago. I do not consider myself a politician. I am an informed community member and want to bring that experience and a community voice to the Maine House.

Why are you running for office?

I want to bring a common sense approach to our government. I am a passionate, caring and experienced leader! I will consider every bill carefully and with regard to my constituents and the people of Maine. I have a strong passion for education! Great education at a reasonable cost helps end poverty! Education is the only proven factor in ending poverty. Education also drives the economy.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Organizational Studies from the University of Southern Maine, LAC. I have a variety of experiences in a number of different fields. I successfully started a real estate appraisal business, Uptown Appraising, with my husband in 2000. I have several years of experience in banking and customer service. I have worked in many industries and seen business first hand from every angle including government and quasi-government, private and non-profit as well as self-employment.

Previously, I organized and directed the Sparks Basketball Club, an AAU Basketball team for girls in the Biddeford/Saco/Arundel area that grew into five teams at the high point of the organization. I am mom to three wonderful adult children raised through a variety of educational experiences and this has brought about a realization that we must do more for parents and students in order for our state to be economically competitive. I am currently the volunteer meals coordinator for the Saco Meals Program, which provides nutritious and home cooked meals to the needy in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach community.

• 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

    In Maine, we are overtaxed. The hard working people of Maine should be able to keep their income. A tax on spending is much more appropriate. Tourist’s services such as the hotel tax are lower in Maine compared to other New England states. This is a logical place to earn state revenues.

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

    Maine families should not be burdened by laws that have no place here. Ballot Question #3 is complicated and confusing and will not keep criminals from getting firearms. Our families should be free to exchange and share weapons without having to ask the States permission.

• 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 economy is already driving up wages and very few Mainers work for minimum wage. I am not opposed to a reasonable increase but this is not reasonable. Let our business owners have the freedom to provide jobs that keep their businesses running.

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

    Marijuana is a gateway drug. This is a fact and I have seen it first hand on numerous occasions. It also leaves the person with no desire to be productive. The more accessible it is the more it will be used. It causes issues around driving laws and regulations. Legalizing it here in Maine is in direct conflict with Federal Law, which can bring unwanted consequences.

• 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?
  • We can always do more to help solve the opiate/ heroin crisis. I put opiate first because this crisis is in direct relationship to the prescribing of prescription opiates. The increases in overdoses are at the exact same rate as the flow of prescriptions. When the prescriptions stop, heroin becomes the drug of choice because it is easier and cheaper to get. Once addicted, it is extremely hard to free yourself from this drug. We need to stop prescribing it. We know this now and we cannot let the drug companies continue to push narcotics. I believe we should hold the pharmaceutical companies responsible to help clean up this crisis. Long-term care is really the best mechanism in fighting this epidemic and it is costly. The taxpayer is not the one who made billions of dollars on these opiates. We will never win this war with more drugs either, but the pharmaceutical companies are pushing those too. I am very committed to fighting this crisis and will fight for excellent services that work. We have to continue to support law enforcement with strong laws around trafficking drugs into our state as well.