{"id":11587,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/maureen-mo-aucoin\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:40","slug":"maureen-mo-aucoin","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/maureen-mo-aucoin\/","title":{"rendered":"Maureen &#8220;Mo&#8221; AuCoin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">Previous Offices Held<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I spent 8 years serving as a city councilor in Hallowell (2017-2025) where I served as council president, chair of the finance committee, and chair of the housing committee. I worked on writing the city\u2019s tax increment finance policy, and the 2020 Comprehensive Plan to set goals and shape our community. I was elected to the Charter Commission in 2015. I also ran for mayor of Hallowell in 2020 and 2023. The race in 2020 was decided by just 2 votes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">Top Three Priorities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Affordability:The gap between wages and affordability is widening. We need responsible spending and thoughtful legislation without overburdening Mainers. Healthcare:All Mainers deserve healthcare that is affordable and accessible in their communities. Preservation:Maine offers remarkable beauty, clean air and endless recreational opportunities. These are being threatened. We need solutions to remediate PFAS from our water and farm lands; stabilize shorelands and preserve our wilderness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">Why are you running?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was raised to show up for neighbors and to stand up for what\u2019s right. I\u2019ve carried those lessons into active engagement in my community and service in public office. I\u2019m passionate about creating policy to better people\u2019s lives, implementing strategies to improve affordability, preserving our natural resources and protecting rights. I\u2019m ready to take the work I\u2019ve done on the municipal level and bring it to the State House to help Mainers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">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<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine has been leading the way in addressing climate issues. Maine is on the right track in supporting working waterfronts, combatting flooding and focusing on initiatives to promote climate resiliency.\nMaine will benefit from examining recent reports ranking our education system near the bottom in reading and math scores. We need to be sure that our teachers have the resources they need to support better student success.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over and over, I\u2019ve been the voice for people that needed change to improve their lives. I will listen to the people of Manchester, West Gardiner and Hallowell to elevate their voices to be heard in Augusta. I want to bring those voices to the table and collaborate with state leaders to enact legislation to better Maine communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e44e021b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-4-font-size\">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<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-left is-style-short-red\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I would advocate for increasing the homestead exemption. It\u2019s an attainable change that would provide real and immediate property tax relief, especially for retired Mainers aging in place and property owners living on fixed incomes. I would also support more funding for education in the trades. This would help provide the training Mainers need to improve their earning potential, expand the workforce across Maine and give us the qualified tradespeople needed to expand housing and development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2001,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Maureen \"Mo\"","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"AuCoin","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11586,"voter_guide_candidate_age":55,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Plumber, house inspector","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"With nearly a decade working to ensure Mainers have safe affordable housing and serving on city council, I have the experience, knowledge and dedication to make changes to better our communities.","voter_guide_candidate_education":"BA, Williams College; licensed plumber","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1FP_aGAdj3PVqxBqIIjPT6DKQgQCJI-Ud","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11587","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\/11587","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\/11587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11588,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11587\/revisions\/11588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11587"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}