Political experience

In my third term as State Representative. I have served three terms on the Transportation Committee, the last two as republican Lead on the committee. I also served two terms on the Marine Resources committee.

Why are you running for office?

I think I bring common sense to the office, as a lobsterman and small business owner. I have also lived in Maine my whole life, so I understand Maine and Maine values.

• 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 the proposal, depending on how it was crafted. I believe to attract more business to Maine and keep business owners here, we must lower Maine’s income taxes.
    This is why Question 2 on the ballot this November is so bad. Small business owner and potential new business owners looking at Maine to relocate will not stay or come to a State with the highest or one of the highest in the whole country.

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

    I don’t think the former NYC mayor and Billionaire Mike Bloomberg should push him ideas on Maine. But the biggest reason, this bill will not stop criminals from getting guns, it will just make law abiding citizens of Maine, criminals.

• 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

    Businesses in southern and coastal Maine are already paying higher wages, but this is market driven, which is where it belongs. Businesses in this area have pricing power, but this question will effect the whole State, businesses in western and northern Maine will not be able to increase prices to cover the 40% increase in payrolls, so these businesses and there jobs will go away. Also the “Tip Credit” will go away for restaurants, as some of you have seen, some of the big chains have started putting in kiosks to take orders, so they can have less employees. This will be a job killer. One question for you the reader, “Is Maine’s economy so strong that we can support the highest State-wide minimum wage in the whole country?”

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

    I have gone back and forth on this one. I’m leaning, NO, I don’t think sending the signal to young people that doing drugs is Ok and that’s what I think we would be doing.

• 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?
  • I think more can always be done, we must stop the flow of drugs from out of state. Through the key away on these drug dealers.