Top Three Priorities
Public Safety: Lewiston has been hit by rising crime, drugs and needle pollution. I'll fight for resources for law enforcement and recovery. Cost of Living: Mainers are being squeezed by rising taxes, housing costs and electricity bills. I'll work to rein in spending and hold Augusta accountable so working families can afford to live here. Mental Health/Addiction: Augusta has ignored this crisis. I'll push for investment in treatment and recovery before more families pay the ultimate price.
Why are you running?
Too many lives in Lewiston, including some in my own family, have been ruined by drugs and violence. I can't sit on the sidelines and watch our leadership drag us further down this rabbit hole. We need someone willing to stand up, say the quiet part out loud, and fight for common-sense solutions that turn things around. Our current path only leads to more destruction. It's not about party, it's about solutions.
What is one way Maine is on the right track? What is one way the state is on the wrong track?
Just this week, Maine took its first step toward addressing what DHS suspects is fraudulent activity. This is a good first step. Our government needs built-in checks, balances, and accountability. Government spending is out of control, and Maine families and businesses can't keep going in this direction. We need our government to cut the regulations and red tape driving up the cost of housing, electricity, and taxes.
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
I work well with others, regardless of party. You can see that in my time as city councilor. I'll submit bills Lewiston needs and build coalitions to pass them. But when something needs to be said, I won't wait for permission or consensus; I'll be the voice willing to go against the flow. Lewiston needs someone in Augusta who can do both. That's me. That's what I do.
Surveys show the economy is the top concern of voters. What is a specific proposal addressing Maine voters’ economic anxieties that you’d work to make law?
Property tax is one of the many economic concerns I constantly hear about. Nobody should be forced out of their paid-off home because they can't afford the taxes. As your senator, I'll support a sizable, wisely-managed budget cut. I'll also submit/support a bill raising the Homestead Exemption from $25,000 to $300,000 – so Mainers pay no property tax on the first $300,000 of their home's value.