Previous Offices Held
Served 4 terms in the Maine State House (2018-2026), 10 years on Knox County Budget Committee (2005-2015), 6 years on (former) MSAD 50 School Board (1995-2001) Ran unsuccessfully for Knox County Commissioner (2004) & St George Select Board (2006)
Top Three Priorities
Funding LifeFlight of Maine in the State Budget. LifeFlight crews cover the entire state, including offshore islands, and as a statewide operation, it should be funded by the state. Updating the income tax brackets and rates to provide middle-class tax relief. Implementing recommendations from the Real Estate Property Tax Task Force.
Why are you running?
I ran for the Maine State Legislature to improve the lives of Mainers. We’ve made great progress over the past eight years, while also dealing with the COVID pandemic and its long-term effects and responding to the storms in December 2023 and January 2024 that devastated our coastal and inland roads, bridges and infrastructure. I’m running for the State Senate to ensure the progress we’ve made continues to benefit Maine residents and we continue to make improvements to our state.
What is one way Maine is on the right track? What is one way the state is on the wrong track?
We’re making the right moves by encouraging young, skilled people to stay in Maine and to move here. We’ve implemented free community college for Maine high school graduates, paid family and medical leave and near universal broadband access. But we haven’t been able to implement accessible and affordable healthcare. Too many people cannot afford even basic health insurance. Rural hospitals are closing and specialty areas such a maternity because of low numbers of patients and reduced revenues.
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
I currently serve on the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force as House Co-Chair. Our final report will be issued in December and in January, we will begin to implement the recommendations that come out of this report. The recommendations will be significant and I look forward to working on them in the Legislature.
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?
Maine relies too heavily on those in the middle class for income tax revenues. It shouldn’t be this way. Our state income tax code is upside down, with those at the top actually paying a lower share of their income in taxes than the middle class. Working with Rep. Annie Graham, we will introduce An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates.