Previous Offices Held
2022 – Kennebec County Commissioner District 2 – Successful. The first Republican to win since 1978, 2020 – Maine State House – Unsuccessful, 2016 – Maine State Senate – Unsuccessful, 2007 – Winthrop School Board Member – Successful – served 4 consecutive terms
Top Three Priorities
My first priority is to educate the new governor and new legislators as to the impact of legislative decisions on county operations. My second priority is to continue what we started when I arrived, the reliability of our finance reports. I am very proud to say that Kennebec's audits are up to date and our financial reports are complete. My third is to continue the work of our active Budget Committee, where I am focused on reducing property taxes.
Why are you running?
I am running for re-election because I am proud of my county and enjoy being involved in local government. These are difficult financial times. We need to educate state officials, town selectmen, and the public on the importance of state funding for unfunded mandates. Without state funding the financial burden falls to local property owners via their property taxes. I see my role to continually inform, visit my communities, be accessible, and to commit the time necessary to fulfill the position.
What is the biggest challenge facing your town/county? The biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenge facing Kennebec County is to find ways to finance Maine's most important needs without raising taxes and fees, without passing the costs to local property taxpayers, without cutting state services or financing the state budget on the backs of state employees and retirees. The biggest opportunity is to partner with state officials to educate them on the importance of funding mandates from state dollars vs. passing the costs to local property owners.
If you could change one thing about how the town/county functions, what would it be and why?
One thing I am focused on improving is the coordination and communication between county and state governments. Counties are increasingly responsible for state- mandated services, often without adequate funding. Better communication and planning will help control costs, protect taxpayers, and ensure our county receives the services our residents need.
Do you support more development – i.e. more housing construction and business building in your town/county? Why or why not?
Yes, I support responsible development that strengthens our communities, expands our tax base, creates opportunities, and preserves fiscal responsibility while maintaining the character and quality of life of Kennebec County.