{"id":11895,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/joseph-almand\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","slug":"joseph-almand","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/joseph-almand\/","title":{"rendered":"Joseph Almand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Previous Offices Held<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I have not previously run for any political positions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Top Three Priorities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I will work to expand trade and technical education and build stronger connections between schools and local employers so students are prepared for good-paying jobs here at home. I will also focus on improving access to social services in rural communities, including mental health and family support, and on making sure state spending is thoughtful, transparent, and mindful of the financial pressures facing local families and businesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Why are you running?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019m running because Skowhegan is my home. I\u2019ve raised my family here, built a small business here, and spent years serving this community as a firefighter. I\u2019ve seen firsthand what makes this town strong and where we can do better. I want to give back in a bigger way by helping make thoughtful decisions that support our families, strengthen our local economy, and ensure a safe, thriving future for everyone.<\/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 preserving and protecting the natural resources that define our state and way of life. We understand that thoughtful stewardship of our forests, waterways, coastline, and working lands protects both our environment and our future. Maine is on the wrong track when it comes to affordability. A lack of accessible housing and essential resources, combined with the rising cost of living, makes it harder for Mainers to live, work, and thrive in their communities.<\/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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As a legislator, I would focus on communication and collaboration. There are many opportunities to find common ground, but too often we get caught up in taking sides rather than solving problems. I would listen to my constituents, work across the aisle, and seek practical compromises that move Maine forward. My measure of success would not be which side \u201cwins,\u201d but whether we work together to deliver meaningful, lasting results that improve the lives of Mainers and strengthen our communities.<\/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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Maine has many programs that work well, and we should focus on improving what we have while removing the red tape and barriers that limit access to housing. We need practical ways to lower the cost of available housing, make it easier and more affordable to build new homes, and bring vacant or underused buildings back to life. By strengthening existing programs and removing unnecessary barriers, we can create more housing opportunities and help families remain in the communities they call home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":10914,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Joseph","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"Robert","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Almand","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"n\/a","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11894,"voter_guide_candidate_age":45,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Owner\/manager of Joe\u2019s Flat Iron Caf\u00e9","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"Joseph R. Almand is a Skowhegan caf\u00e9 owner, former firefighter, and carpenter. After a 2022 injury, he opened Joe\u2019s Flat Iron Caf\u00e9, continuing his commitment to community and local connection.","voter_guide_candidate_education":"High school diploma (2000) Fire academy (2016)","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1NI66RStTqL4IKLKKYXkYwLj-SwTOym1W","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11895","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\/11895","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\/11895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11896,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11895\/revisions\/11896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11895"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}