This fall, the open House 33 seat being vacated by state Rep. Bryan T. Kaenrath, who is term-limited from running again, has drawn three newcomers who all hope to represent South Portland in the Legislature.

The candidates are Kevin Battle, the Republican candidate, former Mayor Rosemarie De Angelis, the Democratic nominee, and Andrew Reddy, representing the Green Party.

The Current asked each candidate one question to help voters decide whom to support at the polls.

Kevin J. Battle

Age: 56

Address:

83 Sandy Hill Road, South Portland

Occupation: Deputy Harbor Master for the Port of Portland, bus driver for the South Portland School Department, also retired South Portland police officer and retired Boatswain’s Mate with the U.S. Coast Guard

Political experience: A lifetime of public service

Q: How do you plan to make a difference for your communities if elected to the Legislature?

A: As your state representative I will go to Augusta to represent you. I plan to make a difference the same way I always have – by working with my neighbors no matter their party affiliation. I also want to make our district and our state a better place to live and work.

Throughout my time as a South Portland police officer I met many good people in our district, who know that I am honest, open-minded, friendly and will dedicate myself to doing the best job possible. I have spent my career in public service and have worked to help bring people together for common goals and good causes.

I have volunteered on many projects throughout our city, many directed toward children. In years past, I worked with a group of parents to put together an after-school program in our district that developed into building a ball field, and then grew into building the multi-purpose recreation center now known as the Red Bank Gym.

I have also volunteered at the South Portland Boys and Girls Club and I still organize Limo Lights, and the club’s annual Christmas party. As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, I learned that an individual can get things done, but a group working as a team can accomplish much more.

While in the Coast Guard, one of my favorite projects was creating the Trucking for Kids Convoy, which is the largest trucking event in the state and includes members of the Maine Professional Drivers Association and the two Lions Clubs in South Portland. So far we have raised more than $100,000 for programs to help kids.

In addition, I worked to bring the Relay for Life event to South Portland High School and proudly worked with some very dedicated residents to create the South Portland Appreciation Monument. That monument now stands in the veteran’s green by Mill Creek Park.

I have knocked on many doors during my campaign and learned that we have a lot in common. We all want clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, good jobs with good pay and benefits, lower taxes and a better future for our children. We need to work together more, bicker less, and work toward these common goals.

I believe in a common sense approach to life and holding government officials accountable. At the State House, I will continue to be positive, listen and work for you.

Rosemarie De Angelis

Age: Ageless

Address: 30 Buttonwood St., South Portland

Occupation: College professor and Guardian ad litem

Political experience: Six years on the South Portland City Council; more than 25 years in elected positions with the Maine Education Association, including nine years on the State Board of Directors; three years as chairwoman of the Maine Education Association Health Trust; and state and national delegate to Maine Education and National Education Association conventions

Q: How do you plan to make a difference for your communities if elected to the Legislature?

A: I have been a lifelong advocate for many people who feel they do not have a voice. My skills include being thoughtful in my positions, articulate in my voicing of them and firm in standing for what I believe is right. My background allows me to advocate with experience and I believe I have the knowledge, the know-how and the dedication to do the job.

I see a strong connection between education and health care and I am also an avid supporter of a clean environment, an activist to protect marriage equality, a proponent of fiscal responsibility, a fighter for helping seniors stay in their homes and making prescription drugs more affordable.

I am not afraid to speak up or to work hard with a cooperative spirit. Strict party affiliation is rarely the answer to solving problems, so collaboration is necessary to move toward solutions that meet the needs of all Maine people. As I have walked door-to-door, I hear that what folks want are solutions, not problems.

Growing our economy is critical but we also need to consider the right balance between our quality of life and support of business. On a day-to-day basis, how we fund our schools, plow our roads, support our libraries, create green space and support the efforts of our cities to be more pedestrian and bicycle friendly is critical.

With a history of involvement in local government, I think I can show that what happens in Augusta matters to those of us living in South Portland. As South Portland strives to attract young families, we must also consider how to protect those seniors who have made our community what it is today.

I have met so many people as I knock on doors and often find the issues are the same, no matter their age. Those issues are support for education, keeping our air clean, protecting open space and making South Portland a place I can afford to stay for the remainder of my days.

If elected, my goal will be to listen to the concerns of all South Portland residents and to speak openly, honestly and often in defense of all citizens.

I have received endorsements from the Maine State Employees’ Association, the Maine AFL-CIO, the Maine Peoples’ Alliance, the Maine Conservation Voters, the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund and the Maine Education Association.

Andrew F. Reddy

Age: 50

Address: 14 Church St., South Portland

Occupation: Teacher

Political experience: None

Q: How do you plan to make a difference for your communities if elected to the Legislature?

A: If elected, I plan to support legislation that promotes a healthy economy via tourism for the state and South Portland that does not negatively impact the environment.

I would also work toward raising the minimum wage to assist families with earning and enjoying a livable wage. I would seek to initiate a single-payer health care system, modeled after the program adopted by Vermont in 2011.

In addition, I believe that the immigrant population in my district should be enfranchised and given a say in matters that impact their lives at the local, state and national level. If elected, I would work to reintroduce a bill that would accomplish those ends for the immigrant population in Maine.