HARPSWELL — To secure a fourth term representing state House District 51, Rep. Joyce “Jay” McCreight, D-Harpswell, must fend off a challenge from Republican and fellow Harpswell resident Steve “Bubba” Davis.

Both candidates for the seat – which includes Harpswell, West Bath and part of Brunswick – discussed Maine’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as other issues they would like to tackle if elected. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Steve “Bubba” Davis

Davis

Age: 65
Residence: Grover Lane
Family: Married, two children, two stepchildren, three grandchildren
Occupation: Lobster fisherman and pogies fisherman, worked at Bath Iron Works for 37 years in various trades and engineering
Education: Mt. Ararat High School graduate
Political/civic experience: Coach for Harpswell Youth Baseball, MidCoast Mites and Pee-Wee Hockey, Mt. Ararat Jr. High School hockey, Brunswick Junior High School football, Brunswick High School freshmen and junior varsity football, Brunswick High School varsity football, Brunswick High School girls and boys varsity track, Morse High School varsity football; member of committee to revive disbanded football program at Mt. Ararat
Website/social media: sdavisme51@gmail.com

Joyce “Jay” McCreight

McCreight

Age: 69
Residence: Gun Point Road
Family: Married, two children, four grandchildren
Occupation: Retired clinical counselor/social worker focused on children, adolescents and families
Education: Master of Science in education (clinical counseling) from University of Southern Maine, Bachelor of Arts in sociology from College of Wooster (Ohio)
Political/civic experience: Three terms in Maine House (current House chair of the Marine Resources Committee, member of Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee); opioid policy fellow with National Council of State Legislatures; Medicaid Leadership Academy, Council of State Governments; steering and policy committees of Harpswell Aging at Home; secretary for six years of Gun Point Road association; volunteer with Orr’s and Bailey Island Fire Department; Harpswell Climate Resilience Task Force
Website/social media: mccreightformaine.com; Re-elect Joyce “Jay” McCreight page on Facebook

Steve “Bubba” Davis

Davis is particularly concerned about anxiety and depression among youths as a result of the pandemic.

“I’m all about ‘let them play’ (sports),” he said, but “there needs to be a lot of plain common sense with exposing yourself to people,” as well as courtesy in terms of wearing protective masks and keeping safe distances.

Davis said he advocates “home-grown jobs,” noting that many students don’t want to attend college and could instead attend vocational school and learn a trade, “whether it be pipe fitting, electrical, carpentry, (being a) fisherman, whatever you want to do; something that inspires you in your life.”

“There’s a need for these trades or someone that knows these trades,” said Davis, who sees those occupations as one way of keeping Maine’s youth from having to leave the state in search of better-paying jobs.

Joyce “Jay” McCreight

McCreight said she hopes the Legislature will reconvene for a special session in order to “address some really critical bills” concerning issues like access to behavioral health care – a response to spikes in anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Lawmakers also need to tackle the nuances of how CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) funding can and should be spent, she said.

Even after a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, Maine will still be dealing with the mental health and economic impacts of the pandemic, McCreight said.

“We were in tremendous (economic) shape when we left in March and the world turned upside down,” she said.

The issue of expanding high-speed internet for remote work and learning has become that much more prevalent as adults and children have been forced to do both from home and broadened access to those services is important, she noted. McCreight added that Maine has “a lot of work left to do” in continuing the battle against the opioid epidemic, and she supports a greater focus on career and technical education.