{"id":12178,"date":"2026-09-25T19:07:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T19:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/cheryl-hewes\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T18:25:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:25:57","slug":"cheryl-hewes","status":"publish","type":"candidate","link":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/candidates\/cheryl-hewes\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheryl Hewes"},"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\">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\">My top three priorities are fixing the unaffordable electric rates, tax relief and holding Augusta accountable fiscally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\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\">The path we are on as a state is simply unsustainable. As a former healthcare worker and bookkeeper, I have seen how our working families, coastal communities, and our seniors are struggling. And I have met folks who are being taxed out of their homes! I am running to change that!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\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\">I cannot think of a single way that our state is going in the right direction. Our electric rates are 60-70% above the national average; our lifelong residents are being taxed from their property, and our books in Augusta are a mess with reports of Medicaid fraud in the\nmillions. We need commonsense leadership to go to Augusta and audit the books.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\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\">I will go to Augusta and support our locals. I will work to lower taxes, fix the unaffordable electric rates and relieve the financial burden that the Maine people are enduring. I will support our working waterfronts and protect our freedoms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\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 that would not favor one energy source over another; but that would allow a multi-generation approach to energy. I would also support dam operations and ensure that they have the tools they need to continue operating while protecting our\nenvironment since they are our only true renewable energy resource that does not depend on any other source to produce electricity \u2013 and they can produce electricity for 2-4 cents per KHW!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":5060,"template":"","meta":{"voter_guide_candidate_first_name":"Cheryl","voter_guide_candidate_middle_name":"A.","voter_guide_candidate_last_name":"Hewes","voter_guide_candidate_suffix":"","voter_guide_candidate_race_id":11968,"voter_guide_candidate_age":61,"voter_guide_candidate_hometown":"","voter_guide_candidate_occupation":"Former healthcare worker and bookkeeper","voter_guide_candidate_bio":"I am a mother of four, grandmother of 14 and have been married for 29 years.","voter_guide_candidate_education":"I studied business and computer science at Beal College and Accounting at Husson College and University of Maine Augusta, Bangor campus.","voter_guide_candidate_years_in_municipality":"","voter_guide_candidate_headshot_url":"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1saUJIvYraDFp57Ak6mvahrgi-ASxj46H","voter_guide_candidate_date_filed":"","footnotes":""},"vg_party":[564],"vg_residence_municipality":[],"class_list":["post-12178","candidate","type-candidate","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","vg_party-republican"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/12178","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":3,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/12178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13173,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/candidates\/12178\/revisions\/13173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vg_party","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_party?post=12178"},{"taxonomy":"vg_residence_municipality","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.pressherald.com\/voter-guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vg_residence_municipality?post=12178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}