Donna Bailey

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 14
Age: 55
Occupation: Lawyer and Genealogist
Education: Berlin (NH) High School, Bates College & U of ME School of Law
Family: Married; 2 sons; 2 grandchildren
Hometown: Saco

Political experience

Former York County Probate Court Judge
Former Co-Chair Saco Zoning Board of Appeals
Former Saco Planning Board Member

Why are you running for office?

Community service, and as a way to give back to my community. I would like to take the knowledge and skills I have acquired and use them in Augusta to help my community and city.

• 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

    We need to do anything we can to lower the tax burden for lower and middle class working families. I do not believe eliminating the state’s income tax, and increasing the sales tax, will do this, and, in fact, will likely have the opposite effect and will increase the overall tax burden on those least able to afford it. Also, eliminating the income tax will likely increase property taxes, negatively affecting those on fixed incomes such as seniors living on Social Security.

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

    Private sales should not be treated differently than any other sale of firearms. We must do everything we can to keep firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them, such as convicted felons, those convicted of domestic violence or under a restraining order, etc. Requiring a background check when someone wants to purchase a firearm is not an undue burden. If it prevents one death, it is worth the minor inconvenience.

• 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

    Ultimately, the voters will decide this issue, and my vote counts the same as any other voter in the state. I am voting yes to increase the minimum wage to help working families make a living wage and to help our economy grow. It will also help to keep our young people from having to leave the state in order to find good paying jobs.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • Yes

    Again, this will be decided by the Voters in Maine. But, with proper regulation, restrictions and oversight, I support this referendum.

• 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 are not doing enough. We need to approach this epidemic with a 3 pronged approach – by increasing resources for law enforcement to be able to go after the dealers, increase programs to help prevent people from becoming addicted in the first place, and increase the availability and affordability of treatment for those who are seeking help. We also need to do more to help, not just the addict, but those affected by the addict’s actions, such as children and families. I would like to see some of the tax money generated from the sale of recreational marijuana (should it pass) be earmarked for fighting this epidemic and helping the addicts and those affected by addiction.