{"id":11669,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/karin-orenstein\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:41","slug":"karin-orenstein","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/karin-orenstein\/","title":{"rendered":"Karin Orenstein"},"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\">2023, ran for Yarmouth Town Council, won election to three-year term (2023-26), served three years, elected by fellow councilors to serve as vice chair (2024-25), and chair (2025-26).<\/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\">1. Property tax stabilization through a 1% sales tax that is shared with all communities in counties that opt in; support for regionalization of municipal services where appropriate; and increased state support for county jails.\n\n2. Strengthening state laws to protect civil rights and end corporate\/dark money spending in politics.\n\n3. Common-sense gun safety laws that reduce crime and ensure the public\u2019s safety while exercising constitutional rights and conducting local government business.<\/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 have been a public servant for most of my adult life.  I will leverage my experience as a former federal prosecutor and Yarmouth Town Councilor to tackle two key issues facing our community: stabilizing property taxes and protecting civil rights. As a town councilor, I have worked on property tax reform proposals with regional partners. And, as a former federal prosecutor, I am committed to protecting constitutional rights and have the legal and advocacy skills do so.<\/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 affords strong protection for the right to choose, to live as one\u2019s authentic self and to love who you love.  But with each election we risk losing these protections. Constitutional amendments are needed to further secure these rights.\n\nMaine is on the wrong track by requiring municipalities to unduly rely on property taxes to fund local government services and schools.<\/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\">My Town Council track record is my blueprint for making an impact in the State House. I work hard to study issues in depth, solve problems creatively, draft effective proposals, engage with my colleagues and build consensus around challenging issues. Because I am running unopposed, I am able to do all of that now. I have already been meeting with members of the Legislature, fellow candidates and my community, and I am working on my priority legislation so I can hit the ground running on day one.<\/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\">Housing costs are the largest expense for most Mainers. We need more housing that is affordable at lower and middle-income levels. I therefore support MaineHousing subsidies that make affordable housing projects feasible so more people can afford to live where they work; energy efficiency incentive programs to help people reduce their utility bills; and technical assistance to help communities maintain, update and replace aging infrastructure that supports smart growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":10917,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Karin","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Orenstein","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11668,"voter_guide_candidate_age":52,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Retired attorney, consultant","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"I served on the Yarmouth Town Council (2023-26, Chair 2025-26), Cumberland County Finance Committee (2025-26, Vice Chair), GPCOG regional property tax committee. I am also a former federal prosecutor.","voter_guide_candidate_education":"B.S. from Cornell University, 1996; Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Raoul Wallenberg Scholar 1996-97); J.D. from University of Michigan Law School, 2000; Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine (currently enrolled in Certificate of Graduate Study in Policy Analysis).","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1qsyHBOEJcVsRgS5g1FBEL_pU2eu9McJU","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11669","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\/11669","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\/11669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11670,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11669\/revisions\/11670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11669"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}