{"id":11959,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/madison-cook\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:43","slug":"madison-cook","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/madison-cook\/","title":{"rendered":"Madison Cook"},"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\">2025 Successful Write-in Candidate for the RSU 71 School Board, elected to and currently serving a 3-year term 2025-2028.  I am also currently serving as the Vice Chair of the Waldo County Technical Center Cooperative Board as an extension of my RSU 71 School Board service.<\/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. Cap the Property Taxes: Protect homeowners, renters, seniors and working families from unsustainable tax increases while creating a fairer system that asks more of those who can afford it. 2. Create the Jobs: Bring good-paying, union jobs to Maine\u2019s small towns by strengthening traditional industries and investing in manufacturing, clean energy and infrastructure. 3. Build the Homes: Expand affordable, energy-efficient housing while keeping Maine communities strong.<\/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 believe in the promise that Maine is \u201cthe way life should be,\u201d and I believe we can do more to fulfill that promise. I\u2019m running to represent House District 39 because I care about my neighbors and the future of our communities. I will work to make our lives more affordable, sustainable and fulfilling. At a time when we\u2019re deeply divided, I\u2019m focused on issues that impact all of us. I am committed to finding solutions and opportunities to bring us together.<\/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\">Wrong track: Maine\u2019s housing crisis is making it harder for young Mainers to live where they work and for seniors to remain in their homes. We need more affordable housing and a tax system that helps people stay rooted.  Right track: I\u2019m optimistic that Maine is beginning to treat housing as the urgent issue it is. This fall, I\u2019ll work with my UMA architecture students to investigate workforce housing solutions in Belfast, with an eye toward real policy proposals in the 133rd Legislature.<\/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\">As one of 151 legislators in the House, and as one of the youngest, I understand that legislating will be a team sport. I plan to build relationships across the Legislature, listen closely to my constituents and work collaboratively to advance practical solutions on housing, jobs, education and affordability. I have already begun building strong relationships with my future colleagues, and I look forward to working with them to deliver results for all 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\">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 to cap annual property tax increases on primary residences, protecting homeowners from unpredictable increases that can make housing unaffordable. We should pair that protection with a fairer tax structure that asks more from those who can afford it, including owners of high-value second homes and properties, to ensure municipalities have the resources necessary to invest in education and public services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5110,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Madison","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"Crissey","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Cook","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11958,"voter_guide_candidate_age":29,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Architecture Professor, University of Maine at Augusta","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"","voter_guide_candidate_education":"Tulane University \u2014 Master of Architecture, with Commendation for Outstanding Thesis; Tulane University \u2014 Bachelor of Architecture, Minor in Urban Studies; Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland \u2014 Architectural Drafting \/ Revit Certification","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1YzNp2NJ3gkmtzmqGBNvj5Eyfv5Vne8FJ","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[1073],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-11959","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\/11959","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\/11959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11960,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/11959\/revisions\/11960"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=11959"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=11959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}