Wendy J. Wolf

Unenrolled

Office Sought: Representative – District 89
Age: 64
Occupation: Physician; Nonprofit Executive
Education: MD, Masters in Public Health, BA
Family: Married
Hometown: West Boothbay Harbor

Political experience

Second term Selectman for Boothbay Harbor. I have worked at the federal level doing health policy in the Clinton and Bush administrations.

Why are you running for office?

I am running because we need common sense leaders in Augusta who can set aside partisan politics to ensure that our children, families and seniors have a better, more hopeful future. As an independent voice for Maine people, I will use my experience as a local and state-wide leader, small business person, physician, and policy expert to bring state leaders together to promote and build on Maine’s unique assets so people have more opportunities for a prosperous future.

My candidacy is focused on promoting policies that will ensure:
More jobs that provide year round employment;
Good education from schools and educational systems that are preparing our children and young adults for the diverse workforce that our businesses need;
Preserving Maine’s environment in ways that sustainably support our resource-based industries and protect our natural resources for future generations;
Ensuring access to affordable health care.

Maine can’t move forward if leaders in Augusta focus on blame and what’s wrong with our state. Our state leaders need to work together to support the vision and aspirations of talented, hard-working Mainers who can help us all build a forward-looking economy that provides good jobs while preserving the unique character of our communities. This approach of building on our unique assets is a core principle of our region’s Joint Economic Development Committee, which I Co-Chair. We need the same approach at the state level while ensuring that Maine provides the necessary supports so people have opportunities to succeed.

• 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 Governor’s tax proposal to use sales and use taxes disproportionately shifts costs onto working people with lower incomes. In addition, there are concerns that this method of taxation would result in shortfalls in resources needed for education, health care, transportation and other vital state services. The Governor’s focus on lowering our income tax rate has raised important questions about whether taxpayers are getting the most value for every tax dollar spent. Because our relatively higher state income tax rate makes us less competitive in attracting business, young entrepreneurs and retaining high net worth retirees, I am opposed to raising Maine’s income taxes. However, I believe there are strategies to raise revenues with selective use fees that have secondary positive effects, such as raising cigarette taxes or imposing sugary drink fees, that can bring additional revenue to the state while promoting better health benefits.

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

    I fully support the Constitution and Second Amendment, but I believe that every right given to us by the Constitution comes with responsibilities. Just as drivers need to pass tests to demonstrate their readiness to be a safe and responsible driver, I believe people that own firearms should be required to demonstrate adequate knowledge of basic safety and use. Part of basic safety is also ensuring that common sense background checks keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who should not have access to lethal firearms. In Maine, domestic violence – typically from firearms – is the leading cause of homicide. Supporting background checks is a reasonable approach that values public safety and personal accountability that is part of responsible gun ownership. My position also reflects my experience as a pediatrician where I saw first-hand how unsafe gun practices and lax background check laws can lead to children being innocent victims through domestic violence or accidents.

• 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

    One of our country’s fundamental beliefs is that with hard work, every person should be able to provide for their family’s basic needs. However, the persistent and sustained gap in wealth accumulation between people working in low wage jobs and high income earners has made it harder for families to make a liveable wage that provides stability to meet basic needs. I strongly support increasing the minimum wage through state and federal policy changes, but I am less certain that taking such a complex issue to referendum is the best solution. Because of my concerns, I have spent many hours talking to local business owners (including restaurants) to hear about their views. Many small business owners are concerned about meeting the wage increases, yet many already pay above minimum wage because they have to compete with larger businesses for employees.

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

    As a physician and board certified pediatrician, I oppose the legalization of marijuana. The American Academy of Pediatrics has examined this issue thoroughly and reviewed the relatively limited scientific evidence regarding the impact of marijuana use on youth behavior and child health. Long term use in adolescents has been associated with a higher prevalence of mental health issues and respiratory problems. In addition, we know from smoking and the data on alcohol and substance use in teens that legalizing use but restricting access does not provide adequate safeguards to prevent adolescent use. There needs to be much more research conducted in states that have already legalized marijuana use to evaluate the impact on adolescent and child health (second hand exposure, etc) before other states, like Maine, take this step.

• 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?
  • Maine, like other states, is coping with a soaring addiction crisis that requires a coordinated and collaborative approach focused on prevention, treatment and law enforcement. Currently one of the most pressing issues for people struggling with addiction is the lack of available, affordable treatment, particularly for those who are uninsured. This problem is exacerbated by Maine’s failure to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. If Maine would provide Medicaid coverage to adults with low incomes, Maine would receive federal funding to pay for 90% of the costs of care, and many people struggling with addiction could finally get the care they need. One added bonus of providing Medicaid coverage is that the state could actually save money on treatment costs since federal dollars would replace state spending for care delivery. Other states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act have demonstrated savings, and have been able to address addiction more comprehensively in their states.