A state representative and police officer is running against a social worker and former school board member for the open seat in Maine Senate District 33, which includes Alfred, Lebanon, Sanford and Waterboro.
Republican Rep. Matthew Harrington and Democrat Kendra Williams are both Sanford residents.
Here is a look at the candidates’ priorities and positions on some key issues.
MATTHEW HARRINGTON
Q: What are your top priorities and why?
Matthew Harrington
First and foremost, we need to address the short-term inflation and heating oil crisis facing Maine families. Too many families will be faced with the tough decision of whether to eat or heat their homes this winter. I am especially concerned about those living on fixed incomes, such as our elderly population. Second, addressing recruitment and retention for law enforcement is critical. The anti-police rhetoric over the last few years has made this very difficult. Statewide, we’re down hundreds of officers. We’re seeing the direct results of this with increasing violent crime rates.
Q: What are your biggest concerns about the economy and what should the Legislature do to address them?
Maine faces significant challenges that must be overcome to strengthen our economy. We must prioritize education to ensure our children are being educated for the jobs of the future, which includes emphasizing vocational education in younger grades. We must embrace all energy technology that will reduce heating and electricity costs for Maine families and small businesses. In the short-term, we must embrace and invest in technologies that will lower prices for Maine families and small businesses to incentivize investment and strengthen Maine’s economy. We must ensure those who are able to work, go to work, and we have to stop incentivizing people to stay home.
Q: Do you support changing Maine’s abortion law to make it more or less restrictive and how?
I have spent months hearing from constituents about this important issue. Maine’s abortion law was codified in the early 1990s. This law preserves the right for a woman to seek an abortion in the traumatic cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother. In addition, this law also addresses viability of the fetus. I believe Maine law strikes the appropriate balance and I do not intend to vote to add additional restrictions, or to remove the restrictions already in statute. I do not support taxpayer funding of abortions. I also oppose efforts to expand access to late-term abortions unless it involves saving the life of the mother, or a tragic circumstance where the pregnancy has failed.
Q: Do you believe President Biden won the 2020 election fairly?
Yes. There probably were some voter irregularities or fraud, but I do not believe it was enough to overturn the results of the election. At a time when election integrity has many people very concerned, I would like to see a Voter ID law in Maine. Most voters already have a state issued identification card and for those who don’t, I would support the state providing one free of charge.
AT A GLANCE
Party: Republican
Occupation: Police Officer
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from the University of Southern Maine; Associates Degree in Fire Science from Southern Maine Community College
Civic/Political Experience: Seven years as a State Representative in the Maine House of Representatives; Member of the Sanford Elks; Freemason; Shriner with Kora Temple; Member of Board of Directors, Sanford Mainers Baseball Team
KENDRA WILLIAMS
Q: What are your top priorities and why?
Kendra Williams
Education: I’m a strong supporter of public education. Of special interest to me is the continued expansion of Pre-K so that our youngest children have learning opportunities when their brains are at their critical stage of development leading to future success in their educational careers. I’ve been a long-time proponent of Career/Technical Education and support increasing those opportunities. Our economy is dependent on preparing our high school students for the career and college opportunities that employers are seeking. And we need to ensure that Maine’s 55% required funding to schools, only met during the past few years, continues so we’re able to stabilize our property taxes without having to cut essential programs and services.
Human Services: We need to continue the work of the past few years to strengthen and improve our child welfare system. I would focus on prevention, and increased training and support for child welfare staff. We also need to respect and involve foster and adoptive parents, who are the most critical component of our system, in the decision-making process. I’d also look at the case and judicial review process to ensure that each case is being assessed on a regular basis and that children are moving towards permanency in a timely way. We need to continue to find ways to increase safe and affordable childcare for working families and to support our childcare providers, which is essential to growing our economy.
I would support helping our senior citizens stay in their own homes by continuing efforts to reduce their property tax burden and creating job training opportunities and incentives to ensure increased in-home support options and availability.
Q: What are your biggest concerns about the economy and what should the Legislature do to address them?
Our demographics are changing. Our economy cannot grow unless we’re able to maintain and attract a strong workforce. As the state with the highest percentage of senior citizens, we need to focus on incentives to keep our young people here and to attract others to come here. We also need to welcome immigrants and to advocate to change laws so that they can begin to work in 30 days. One of the many things we need to do is to focus on developing adequate and affordable housing and to involve employers in the effort.
Q: Do you support changing Maine’s abortion law to make it more or less restrictive and how?
I think Maine’s abortion law should remain exactly as it is. If it’s determined that a constitutional amendment is needed to ensure that it’s permanent, I would vote to have a referendum to put it out to the voters.
Q: Do you believe President Biden won the 2020 election fairly?
The 2020 election was valid and fair with absolutely no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
AT A GLANCE
Party: Democrat
Occupation: Licensed Clinical Social Worker recently retired from private grief and family counseling practice.
Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work
Civic/Political Experience: Ten years on Sanford School Committee; Core Building Committee; President of Sanford Schools Legacy Foundation; Board of Strategies for Stronger Sanford; and many other past community volunteer experiences.
– Sam Pausman
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