Thomas R. W. Longstaff

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 109
Age: 80
Occupation: Retired college professor
Education: Winthrop High School, University of Maine (BA). Bangor Theological Seminary, M.Div., Columbia University, PhD
Family: Married with 5 children, 7 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren
Hometown: Waterville

Political experience

Moderator of the Town of Unity; Co-chair of the Waterville Charter Commission, 5 years as a City Councilor and six years in the House of Representatives.

Why are you running for office?

Community service has always been important to me. While in high school I served in the Maine National Guard. After graduation I enlisted in the Marine Corps and served 3 years. I have been a firefighter, an advanced EMT and a member of the Waterville City Council. I serve on the boards of several non-profit organizations and representing the people of Waterville is another, very important, part of community service.

• 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

    The income tax is one of the few progessive taxes that we have. While Maine’s rate is very high and while the tax code needs major revision I do not favor eliminating the income tax completely.

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

    While I enjoy recreational shooting I think that the level of violence involving firearms is so far out of control that we need reasonable background checks in order to preserve our right to own and maintain firearms.

• 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

    Some increase in the minimum wage seems necessary to me. Since the Legislature could not agree on the amount of an increase the people of Maine have put this forward as a citizen initiative.

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

    I have talked about this extensively with both those who favor this legalization and those who oppose it. Both make good points and I am, at this point, undecided. I will decide by the time I need to vote on the citizens’ initiative in November.

• 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 need to do more with prevention and treatment while continuing the prosecution of drug dealers. The special court is a step forward for Maine.