Matthew Harrington

Republican

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 19
Age: 30
Occupation: Police officer
Education: Bachelors Degree in Criminology and Associates Degree in Fire Science
Family: Single, no children
Hometown: Springvale

Political experience

State Representative -1 term
Member of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government – 1 term

Why are you running for office?

I am running because I firmly believe hardworking Mainers deserve dedicated representation in Augusta to cut taxes, to lessen onerous regulations, and to encourage policy that lets people themselves, not government, decide what is best for their families. I am running to strengthen public safety in Maine. I have worked in public safety for over a decade, as a firefighter, Advanced emergency medical technician, and for the last nine years as a police officer.

I also believe the legislature needs the perspective of law enforcement when making important decisions, such as how to handle the heroin epidemic. As the only active duty police officer in the legislature, I think I provide that needed experience. Now having served in Augusta and given whats going on in this country, I believe now more than ever, that all my fellow officers need that representation.

• 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?
  • Other

    I support lowering the income tax, however am not ready to completely get behind the idea of eliminating the income tax all together. Far too many Mainers claim residency in states which don’t have an income tax, which is a motivation to lower it. I’ve heard from many of my constituents, and I tend to agree with them, tourists do not pay their fair share. Maine’s population grows significantly in the summer and tourists use significant tax payer funded services as a result. I would support an increase in the lodging tax as one way to increase their share of costs. I’m afraid that by raising the sales tax, communities like Sanford would be hit hard, as we are very close to New Hampshire where there is no sales tax. Sanford can’t afford to lose anymore businesses or jobs. I am afraid that by eliminating the income tax it will raise property taxes. Our elderly on fixed incomes can’t afford an increase in their property taxes. My district has some of the highest property taxes in the state.

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

    I do not support question 3 and will be voting no. Maine does not have a gun problem and certainly doesn’t have a gun violence problem. Question 3 is a solution looking for a problem. I’ve been a police officer for nine years. I don’t believe this proposal will make the public more safe or my fellow officers. The simple reality is that more laws on law abiding citizens, do nothing the stop criminals.

• 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

    I do not support this referendum. I think this will result in almost 100% unemployment among high school students and many layoffs. This will close the doors of so many small business and Maine who will not be able to afford that high of a wage for an unskilled worker, who brings almost nothing to the table. The existing minimum wage is not a wage very many employees are even receiving, except during training. As employers are forced to pay more, that cost will be transferred to you, the consumer. Our elderly on fixed incomes can’t afford to pay more for the goods and services they depend on. Since the first time I heard about this referendum I have been asking tipped employees what they think of trading their tips for $12 an hour. Not one of them has said they support the idea, as they make significantly more on tips. My mother has been a waitress most of her life, she doesn’t support this, so I’m sticking with mom.

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

    This referendum is the one I’m most conflicted about. As a police officer, I can attest that alcohol is much more of a problem than marijuana. So with that in mind I tend to agree with legalization. However, I know that law enforcement does not have the tools in place to handle the guaranteed spike in marijuana related impaired driving. We have already seen a spike, just with the speculation of legalization. If we look to Colorado and a study I reviewed recently, they have seen a 62% increase in marijuana related fatalities on their roadways. They have seen a large spike in emergency room visits due to marijuana, largely due to a lack of education around the edibles market. I think it’s also important to remember marijuana is still illegal at the federal level. I took an oath to the United Sates Constitution and have a hard time supporting something that is in direct violation of federal law.

• 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?
  • The heroin epidemic to me and my fellow members of public safety is more than a political talking point or news headline, it’s personal. I have seen the overdose deaths firsthand, I have administered medical aid to overdose victims and have looked into the eyes of family members after losing a loved one. We must do more. The drug epidemic, specifically heroin, is ravaging our state and Sanford has been hit particularly hard. This is a problem that requires aggressive enforcement, treatment and education. During the last legislative session I supported a measure which added ten additional drug enforcement agents as well as $2 million in additional funding for treatment. I look forward to expanding on progress made in my first term.