{"id":11552,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/chris-lewey\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","slug":"chris-lewey","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/chris-lewey\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Lewey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Previous Offices Held<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Have not run previously for any office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Top Three Priorities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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My top three priorities are clear: first, make life affordable by protecting taxpayers and lowering energy and household costs. Second, build a stronger rural economy through practical housing, good roads, broadband, job training and support for local businesses. Third, defend rural healthcare, EMS and public safety. Augusta must remember that progress is measured not by promises made, but by whether working families can build a good life\u2014and stay\u2014in Western Maine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why are you running?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There came a tipping point when I realized our children\u2019s future and the Maine way of life were in jeopardy, and still squarely in our hands. I could no longer sit comfortably on the sidelines. John F. Kennedy\u2019s challenge has stayed with me: \u201cAsk not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.\u201d At this moment in my life, my answer is clear: step forward, serve and represent our communities in the Maine State House.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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What is one way Maine is on the right track? What is one way the state is on the wrong track?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Maine is on the right track in protecting democracy. Our high voter participation, Clean Election law and ranked-choice voting show that Mainers believe government should answer to the people. We are on the wrong track when corporations and the wealthy gain outsized influence without contributing their fair share. This November, we can choose a path to a fairer tax system and a future where prosperity serves every community \u2014 not merely those with the power to preserve it for themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I would listen first and give this district a savvy voice in Augusta. As a lifelong conservationist and ecologist, I would bring decades of field experience and a knowledgeable ecological voice to protecting Maine\u2019s clean water, forests, farms and outdoor heritage. I\u2019ll \u201cerase the aisle,\u201d work together through our differences and stay accessible while advancing affordability, housing, health care, schools, roads and broadband. I\u2019ll measure success by problems solved and trust earned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Surveys show the economy is the top concern of voters. What is a specific proposal addressing Maine voters\u2019 economic anxieties that you\u2019d work to make law?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Affordability is the crisis I hear about at doors every day. I\u2019ll fight health care and insurance costs that strain families, businesses, towns and schools and drive taxes higher. I\u2019ll work with anyone to end hidden fees, exempt over-the-counter medicines and residential electricity from sales tax and expand aid for low-income ratepayers. I\u2019ll ensure the state keeps its commitments to towns and schools \u2014 delivering real economic and tax relief for Maine families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5123,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Chris","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"Alfred","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Lewey","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11551,"voter_guide_candidate_age":73,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Small Business Owner, RAVEN Interpretive Programs. Naturalist \u2014 Leading Natural History Trips and Tours and we lecture to travel groups. www.RavenPrograms.com","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"","voter_guide_candidate_education":"B.A. Political Science, University of Southern Maine, master's Environmental Studies (Ecology), Antioch University","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1_7FT6htoD3qO3BZzIVj6P9tFIEhNHDoo","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11552","candidate","type-candidate","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","vg_party-democratic"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/candidate"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11553,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11552\/revisions\/11553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5123"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11552"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}