Previous Offices Held
State Representative to the 123rd Maine Legislature 2008-2010 (D-Scarborough)
Top Three Priorities
1) Accountability/Transparency, 2) Sustainability/Infrastructure, 3) Safe Streets & Neighborhoods Voters deserve direct answers about how tax dollars are being used. The town can be more engaged and responsive to issues and concerns raised by residents. Addressing our aging infrastructure is critical in making streets safe for all users – from commuters to pedestrians – and requires working at the regional and State levels to leverage more funding.
Why are you running?
I've always been involved and stood up for what I believe is best for our town. My values are grounded in decades of appreciation for what this community has given to me and my family. It's an honor to try to pay back that debt by working to preserve, conserve, and protect the places and traditions which make Scarborough an amazing place to live. Working people, retired people, and young families need to be able to afford to live in our town, that is a major issue for me.
What is the biggest challenge facing your town/county? The biggest opportunity?
Scarborough is reckoning with having an I.C.E facility in the heart of town. I would work with our State and Federal officials to force I.C.E. to move out. Recent public data has proven that Scarborough has seen a disproportionate number of people, who have no criminal record, have been wrongfully targeted and wrongfully detained. Scarborough has the opportunity to show leadership on this issue, and I will work with anyone to find the right solution.
If you could change one thing about how the town/county functions, what would it be and why?
No closed door meetings or backroom deals. People are busy and it's only become more difficult to keep up with everything happening as our town has grown too quickly. We can ensure accountability and transparency through more accessible and responsive public engagement. We are all better served by public workshops that allow for more dialogue, open questions & answers, resulting in thoughtful discussion way before votes are held at a Final Reading.
Do you support more development – i.e. more housing construction and business building in your town/county? Why or why not?
Scarborough cannot afford to continue at the pace of residential development we’ve experienced for years. Responsible and sustainable growth requires that we extend the moratorium on data centers to ensure they will never be near residential areas, won't contribute to the rising costs of energy or water, and otherwise will mitigate any adverse affects. We should be supporting small businesses who both contribute to our community while expanding our tax base.