Sidney Pew

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 117
Age: 63
Occupation: Window cleaner
Education: High School
Family: Married with 2 grown children
Hometown: Andover

Political experience

Not provided

Why are you running for office?

Serving on the SAD #44 School Board for 19 years laid my foundation for public service.
I believe a good idea is a good idea, no matter where it originates. Finding common ground, working through individual differences & reaching an agreement regarding the issues allows us to move forward. I would like to bring this concept to Augusta.

• 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

    Lowering Maine’s income tax rate to 4% would lower revenue by approximately 900 million dollars. Increasing the sales tax is on a broader range of goods and services would not cover the lost revenue. Eliminating the income tax all together would be a disaster for the State of Maine.

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • Other

    I support the need for background checks but referendum 3 leaves the question of temporally loaning a gun to a non family member open to debate as to the implications.

• 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

    This is a moral issue, all Mainer’s should be able to earn a livable wage and increasing the minimum wage to $12 an hour in the next four years would begin to give workers their fair share.

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

    Marijuana should be regulated like alcohol and tobacco. The 10% retail tax and the 5.5% sales tax would fund the first $30 million towards school construction and all tax above that to the general fund.

• 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 we are in need of more training for medical professionals. Outpatient treatment centers need to be accepted and created or more incarceration and hospitalization will occur. According to Steve Kassels M.D. it can cost up to $50,000 to incarcerate and less then $5,000 for outpatient treatment.