Russell Black

Republican

Office Sought: Representative – District 114
Age: 63
Occupation: Farmer/Logger
Education: 2 years of college
Family: Married with four grown children
Hometown: Wilton

Political experience

I have served 9 years as a selectman for the town of Wilton and have served 6 years in the Maine House.

Why are you running for office?

To help stimulate the economy so we have more jobs and have a broader tax base. To help preserve and protect the natural resources we have here in the State for future generations. To be a voice for people in my district that are not being heard or have issues that have not been taken care of.

• 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 would support lowering the Maine income tax some, but am more concerned with the rise of property taxes. Going door to door in my district, the rising cost of property taxes is the number one issue I have been hearing. I would possibly consider increasing the sales tax.

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

    We have adequate back ground checks already in place and do not feel more regulations would keep the guns out of the wrong hands.

• 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?
  
  • Other

    I would support a smaller and more gradual increase then the referendum proposes. I feel if the referendum passes, that small businesses will be forced to layoff employees. I also believe this would create a hardship on our seniors who are on a fixed income and will not receive a pay increase in their income.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • No
• 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?
  • No. I believe much more work needs to be done in the area of prescription drugs.