Previous Offices Held
Currently serving second consecutive two-year term representing House District 133.
Top Three Priorities
1. Housing Mainers can afford, including building more housing, growing the workforce to build and property tax relief. 2. Good-paying jobs, including growing careers in the building trades and supporting apprenticeships and career/technical education, job opportunities in clean energy and strong wages. 3. Protecting Mainers' civil rights and health care from the chaos and corruption in Washington, including protecting our communities from ICE and protecting Medicaid and reproductive health care.
Why are you running?
I’m running because I believe government should work for people — not the other way around. We’ve made real progress on housing, healthcare and school funding, but there’s more to do. I’m focused on building an economy where working families can afford to live, strengthening our schools, and making sure Biddeford continues to be a place where people can put down roots and thrive.
What is one way Maine is on the right track? What is one way the state is on the wrong track?
Right track: Maine has done a good job of protecting access to healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, and promoting sound public health policies. Because of this, we’re not seeing the kinds of disease outbreaks other states have experienced. Wrong track: We need to do more to make housing more affordable, including building more of the housing we need and reducing the burden property taxes place on residents. We need to get creative and think big to make this system fairer for Mainers.
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
Anyone who thinks they have all the answers and can impose their will on the Legislature will fail. I am skilled at working with and growing coalitions to make positive change. I worked with legislators from both parties and different parts of the state alongside community members to successfully reform the school funding formula, which was not fairly funding Biddeford schools. To succeed, you have to work well with others, understand their motivations and figure out where the votes are.
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?
I am listening to voters as I go door to door in Biddeford, and their top concern is housing costs. If we build more housing, we can bring down not only housing costs but also reduce the impact of other costs, such as high fuel, electric and food prices. We must make it easier for folks to live closer to where they work, go to school, receive health care and buy their groceries. Smart housing development is the key to this, and investing in building more housing supports job growth.