Peter Doyle

Republican

Office Sought: Representative – District 39
Age: 52
Occupation: Software Developer
Education: Bachelor’s Degree Mathematics/Geography
Family: Single
Hometown: Rockville Centre

Political experience

I’m the current chair of the Portland Republican City Committee. I ran for the Maine Senate twice (2010 and 2014) and the Maine House in 2008.

Why are you running for office?

I’d like to find areas of life in which I could make some measurable improvements in making government work for them. For example, I’d like to see what kind of reforms I could work towards to allow older folks to be able to stay in their homes and connect them with the necessary government services to support that decision. I’d also like to apply thoughtful, intelligent, and creative (rather than knee-jerk and impractical) solutions to the problems we face. I think my analytical and sensible approach will help move that ball forward.

• 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?
  • Yes. I like the idea of gradual shift to a consumption tax while eliminating the income tax. It will promote a more productive work force and make Maine a more attractive place to settle and remain here after retirement, rather than relocate to other states (e.g. Florida) with lower or no income taxes. Our brand as “Vacationland” gives us a leg up on shifting a lot of these types of taxes to out-of-staters, as evidences by record revenue from this past summer.
• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • If this is referring to Question 3, no. If it could be done in a way that doesn’t criminalize the ordinary transfers between otherwise law-abiding gun owners (e.g., while lending a firearm while going hunting or moving the contents of their homes), I’d be open to it.
• 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. Most folks working entry level jobs don’t remain at the minimum wage for any length of time. In fact, many Maine employers are already paying their employees greater than the minimum wage. My big concern is for business owners who are at the margins, what impact this would have in terms of hiring more workers and cutting back hours. To my mind, limiting the number of folks getting entry level job opportunities is not a way to help move Maine forward.
• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • No. While I would not like to see those who use marijuana recreationally face criminal charges, I have real concerns about what’s taken place in other states (particularly Colorado) that have gone down this path. The impact to youth, in particular, has been very negative. Moreover, Question 1, the proposed law facing voters, has serious flaws, among which are the removal of the age limit on the possession of marijuana (according to Attorney General Janet Mills) and the unfair advantages accorded to “big” marijuana that would negatively impact medical marijuana growers.
• 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?
  • This is a really tough issue not only in Maine but in other states that have been grappling with this tragedy. I think the legislature has taken steps in the right direction (adding more law enforcement and increasing the number of beds in rehab facilities). I think we need to continue to move in that direction and take our cues from our own and other states’ successes. In short, find out what works and do more of it.