Michael Coleman

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 13
Age: 56
Occupation: Professional Driver and Self-employed
Education:University of New Hampshire, Business Administration major, Economics minor
Family: Married with two children in public schools.
Hometown: Old Orchard Beach

Political experience

Served on the Old Orchard Beach Town Council from 2011-2013 and held the line on taxes during my tenure. I’ve worked on several issues that came before the Maine Legislature over the past five years including submitting oral and written testimony to legislative committees.

Why are you running for office?

Old Orchard Beach deserves a State Representative who will actively fight for the residents and taxpayers of our town. Our schools which serve a challenging student population receive only 12% of their funding from the state. Over 12 years ago the state through a referendum passed a law requiring 55% of the cost for essential programs and services to be funded by the state. Ours is a Title I district with a high number of students on free or reduced lunch. Additionally, not only will our schools in OOB not receive any additional funding if Question 2 passes, only California will have a higher marginal income tax rate than Maine.

We are losing too many people to opiate and opioid addiction. The last legislature made a mistake in eliminating the possibility of felony charges for possession of small amounts of heroin, even for repeat offenders. My plan would reinstate that possibility with the offender given the opportunity of obtaining treatment. If the offenders can show they stay clean for a significant period of time, the charges will be reduced or dropped. We cannot expect addicts to have a moment of clarity when all they currently face is a misdemeanor charge resulting in little or no jail time. We don’t want to see addicts in jail. We want them to get better. The criminal justice system can be a powerful tool toward this goal. On the other hand, we must deal harshly with anyone trafficking this poison

• 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

    I oppose broadening the range of goods and services subject to the sales tax. Our relatively high income tax makes Maine a less attractive place to live and do business. In Old Orchard Beach we have many summer residents who make sure they stay at least six months out of state to avoid our income tax. If the income tax were reduced or phased out there would be less incentive to establish residency elsewhere. They would then spend more money here helping the local economy and paying sales taxes here on their purchases.

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • No

    The question on the ballot regarding background checks is not just restricted to sales. It includes virtually all transfers including loans from one lifelong friend to another. Incredibly another background check is required to return the firearm to its original owner. Every law enforcement officer I’ve spoken to regarding this proposal is opposed. They see it as unenforceable and overreaching. The stated exceptions in the referendum are crafted so narrowly they are worthless. If enacted this question will make criminals out of people for doing what today are harmless and innocent acts. For example, a friend with suicidal thoughts calls at 10PM and asks you to remove his guns from his home. He does not want the police involved. No firearms dealer is open to do the required background check. With multiple guns you both could face felony charges by taking his guns to save his life.

• 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?
  • No

    A dramatic increase in the minimum wage as proposed in the ballot question will displace many entry level workers. We’re already seeing fast food restaurants replacing order takers with automated kiosks. Other restaurants where employees are tipped by the customer will see the tip credit vanish. This will dramatically increase the cost to the owners which will have to be passed along to the consumer. Many servers currently take home far in excess of $12/hour. They would likely see a pay cut. Is that what we really want here? What we should concentrate on is creating the conditions where high paying jobs will flourish.

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

    I have mixed feelings on this question. Marijuana use is detrimental to the developing brain. We don’t have a concrete standard for what constitutes impairment for users of marijuana while driving or operating heavy machinery. We may not be able to establish an objective standard as we do with alcohol. On the other hand the war on marijuana has been rather unsuccessful. It’s no longer the social taboo it was just a few decades ago. We know there are many valid medical uses for marijuana and Maine’s Medical Marijuana Program deserves support. Legalizing recreational marijuana can be a tool for economic development; we just have to make sure it stays out of the hands of kids as much as possible. I believe this question will pass. There are a number of concerns I have with the question as presented and am ready to work on them in Augusta.

• 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, Maine is not doing enough. The fact that possession of small amounts of heroin cannot result in felony charges, even for repeat offenders was a mistake of the last legislature. As noted earlier my plan would reinstate that possibility but would allow the offender to seek treatment. If the offender successfully completes treatment and can stay clean for a significant period of time they will have the charge reduced or dropped. A mere misdemeanor charge may not be enough to get an addict’s attention. Scarborough’s Operation Hope has put hundreds of people into treatment. We need to work with charitable organizations and our communities to expand the reach of the concept being pioneered in Scarborough. We must toughen our approach with traffickers. We need Maine to gain a reputation for dealing harshly with traffickers.