{"id":11783,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/john-henkelman\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:42","slug":"john-henkelman","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/john-henkelman\/","title":{"rendered":"John Henkelman"},"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\">First time running for office<\/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: I boil my campaign down to the four H\u2019s: healthcare, housing, heating and healthy food. If we can ensure all our neighbors can have access to these, we are moving in the right direction. Conservation: I understand the importance of access to what I call our natural treasures (not resources). Maine is the definition of outdoor recreation we need to ensure public land access for all recreational opportunities utilizing sensible, data-based land stewardship practices.<\/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 am running to bring data-driven, fact-based leadership to Augusta that puts my neighbors above special interests or party lines. As a scientist, educator and Maine Guide, I believe in solving problems with evidence, not gut feelings. I will listen to my neighbors, show up, and work to lower everyday costs, strengthen public education and protect our outdoor heritage for future generations.<\/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\">Right track: Maine\u2019s clean election financing system helps ensure that politicians are held accountable to the people \u2014\u00a0not special interests, out-of-state funders or the wealthy. Maine is also leading the region for protecting our natural spaces, which makes our state the best place to live.\nWrong track: Soaring cost of living is what I personally feel and have heard with almost every resident I have talked with. We need data-driven policy to provide relief and foster sustainable growth in Maine.<\/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\">With my decade of experience as an analytical scientist, I will bring fact-based, data-driven decisions to Augusta for the people of Sanford rather than partisan rhetoric. From the hundreds of conversations I have had at people\u2019s front doors, the people want accountability and transparency. I will work to keep my district informed of decisions made in Augusta and push for ensuring everyone in Maine has expanded access to healthcare, housing, heating, healthy food and their outdoor heritage.<\/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 will work on legislation to ban the predatory \u201csurveillance pricing\u201d that uses personal consumer data to secretly markup essential grocery items. Alongside this, I will work to expand state childcare subsidies and tax credits while working to streamline provider licensing. This delivers immediate relief and empowers working parents to stay in or reenter Maine\u2019s workforce. If we want Maine to succeed, we must invest in future generations like we invest in large corporations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5101,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"John","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"R.","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Henkelman","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11782,"voter_guide_candidate_age":39,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Adjunct professor, University of New England; Registered Maine Guide","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"Board member for both Sanford Recreation Advisory Board and Strategies for a Stronger Sanford. Sanford Springvale News columnist. Analytical development scientist in the biotech industry.","voter_guide_candidate_education":"B.S. in biology, Palm Beach Atlantic University; M.S. in recreation management and policy, University of New Hampshire; current Ph.D. student in natural resource and environmental studies at University of New Hampshire.","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1CQqDj2wmlTW_Rnt7dXN42rv3ZnP7fYLi","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11783","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\/11783","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\/11783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11784,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11783\/revisions\/11784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11783"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}