Emily Trask-Eaton

Democrat

Office Sought: Representative – District 91
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired physician
Education: MA in music, medical school
Family: Married with 2 adult daughters
Hometown: Waldoboro

Why are you running for office?

Because this is my home and I think we can do better. I am ready to be involved in my local community as well as my statewide community at a policy level.

• 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

    Income tax is a fair tax that taxes people equally, percentage-wise. Sales tax is an unfair tax that forces lower income people to pay a higher percentage of income and therefore carry a higher burden proportionally.

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

    The only way to keep guns out of the hands of irresponsible or dangerous people is by doing background checks. Background checks also remove personal liability from the seller that can occur in a private sale. Background checks should not impact, in any way, responsible and mentally healthy gun owner’s rights to own a gun.

• 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

    Current minimum wage doesn’t meet current poverty level income for a 4 person family even with 2 incomes. If we want our young people to stay in Maine, we have to provide living wages.

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

    We have enough substances of abuse already. There is no way to know or measure level of impairment.

• 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 provide effective treatment and work more on prevention. One way to do that is to increase business and, therefore, jobs that pay a decent wage