2022 Maine Voter’s Guide

This November, Mainers will vote for a governor, their congressional representatives and pick a new Legislature. To prepare you for this consequential election, we put together a voter’s guide with everything you need to know before casting your ballot, including key deadlines, answers to questions you may have and where candidates stand on the issues important to you.

FAQs

How do I register to vote?

Mainers 18 and older with a fixed and principal home in Maine are allowed to vote in the community they reside in.

New voters or those who have moved from one municipality to another can fill out a voter registration card at your city or town office or any Bureau of Motor Vehicles location. There is no cutoff for in-person registration and you can also register on Election Day at your polling place. You must provide proof of residence at your address, such as an ID or a utility bill.

Can’t get to the town office? You can also download a registration card, print and fill it out and then mail it there. It must be received by your local clerk by Oct. 18 if you are registering by mail.

I’m not sure if I’m registered to vote. How do I check?

You should be registered if you have ever voted in your municipality and have not since moved. To confirm your registration, call your municipal office. Third-party groups such as Vote.org and Rock the Vote offer reliable online registration lookup tools, but they are also trying to collect phone numbers for outreach efforts. Opt out unless you want more text messages.

How do I vote absentee in Maine?

Maine allows no-excuse absentee voting. You can request a ballot using the state’s online form or making a request at your municipal office. If you submit your request early, you will be among the first to get a ballot after clerks get them around Oct. 10, roughly a month before the Nov. 8 election.

The state recommends allowing seven to 10 days to get your ballot if you request one after that date. The deadline to get your ballot back to the local clerk is 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You can track the status of your ballot request — from when your local clerk receives the request to when they receive your ballot — using this online tool.

Can I vote early at my municipal office?

Yes. In Maine, absentee voting is used like early voting systems in other states. You can fill out an absentee ballot in person at your municipal office as soon as ballots become available. The cutoff to vote in person is Thursday, Nov. 3, unless special circumstances exist.

Where is my polling place?

Polling places are typically in municipal offices, schools or other civic buildings, but they can be in other places as well. The state has an online tool to look up your polling place or you can call your municipal office.

Key Voting Deadlines

Around Monday, Oct. 10

When absentee ballots are available at municipal offices

Thursday, Nov. 3

Deadline for in-person absentee voting at municipal offices

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Election Day, most polls open by 8 a.m. and all close at 8 p.m.

Race Guides

We used public polling data to determine top issues of the minds of Mainers. The result is this guide. The BDN distilled the historic and stated positions of top-tier candidates. It also put questions to every candidate for Maine’s 186 state legislative seats and printed their responses verbatim.

- Indicates Incumbent

Maine Govenor
Candidates
D	Janet Mills	Maine Govenor	Stances Janet Mills Maine Govenor Taxes Mills campaigned in 2018 on a pledge to not increase taxes, which her campaign has repeated in this race. As governor, she has been able to sharply hike state spending and preside over record reserves without tax increases because of a massive amount of federal COVID-19 aid. She backed down from a 2021 plan to tax federal COVID-19 loans as income after pressure from Republicans and business groups. Her most recent spending bill raised the amount of retirement pension income exempt from income tax from $10,000 to $35,000 by 2025, which would mostly benefit families in the top 20 percent of income-earning households, the liberal Maine Center for Economic Policy said. During the governor’s tenure, the state has funded K-12 education and revenue sharing to cities and towns at long-unmet statutory levels and expanded property tax relief programs. She allowed a Republican-led bill to pass that will freeze property taxes for Maine seniors who enroll every year, a program criticized by some cities and towns for administrative burden. Costs and inflation Mills’ signature response to high costs was a round of $850 relief checks to most Mainers, which was included in a $1.2 billion spending package passed in March. The governor has enshrined other, smaller aid programs more squarely aimed at energy prices. Energy The governor began her first year in office by setting several climate goals, including reducing emissions by 80 percent and getting 100 percent of electricity from renewables by 2050. This came with a large expansion of incentives that led to a fast solar boom in Maine. But the program saw rising costs because contracts were linked to global energy prices, leading Mills and lawmakers to pass a bipartisan fix aimed at reducing volatility this year. She has supported offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine despite protests from fishermen. She broke with progressives on some issues, including by advancing the Central Maine Power Co. corridor and shielding it from legislative challenges until it was rejected by voters in 2021. In 2019, she also opposed a carbon tax bill sponsored by several leading Democrats. Health and welfare Mills ran on implementing Medicaid expansion and did so in the first days of her tenure, also reversing Medicaid work requirements that he pushed for. Enrollment has more than doubled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to 95,000 as of July. Maine saw the largest drop of any state in the share of people without health insurance between 2019 and 2021, though the rate remains below all other New England states. The COVID-19 pandemic dominated Mills’ first term. The state’s health and economic response won praise from conservative economists tied to former President Donald Trump, although legislative Republicans grew tired of the orders governing the pandemic and later tried to strip her emergency powers. Maine was among the first states to impose a vaccine mandate for health care workers, a step that was controversial but backed by health care groups. Abortion The governor is a longtime supporter of abortion rights. She signed bills during her first year in office that expanded access by allowing Medicaid to pay for abortions and letting health professionals other than physicians perform them. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights, Mills has leaned into the issue, She issued an order barring Maine from participating in other states’ criminal investigations on abortion and said she is investigating whether or not the Maine Constitution already shields abortion rights. If not, she may propose an amendment enshrining them, although legislative Republicans will likely have the votes to block it. Education The aid-fueled surplus allowed Mills to both increase the state’s share of K-12 education funding and institute a $20 million free community college program for recent and upcoming high school graduates that she wants to continue. This year, she signed a bipartisan expansion of a tax credit targeted at student loan debt, providing up to $25,000 in lifetime relief per recipient. National studies have shown students have lost academic ground during the COVID-19 pandemic, which at first led schools to close to in-person learning. Results in Maine during the Mills era are less clear, since the state did not release standardized test scores last year, citing an assessment change. Campaign finance Mills has been the fundraising leader in the race from the beginning, raising $3.9 million as of mid-July. She has been more reliant on out-of-state money, getting $1.1 million from those sources. The dominant outside group spending to boost her is the Democratic Governors Association.
I	Sam Hunkler	Maine Govenor	Stances Sam Hunkler Maine Govenor Taxes Hunkler’s website says he wants to lower property taxes by increasing the homestead exemption and raise taxes on secondary and seasonal homes. He would decrease taxes on businesses in exchange for higher salaries and more benefits. Costs and inflation He would consider a gas tax increase from May to November to capitalize on tourism and fund a gas tax cut for the remainder of the year. He was skeptical of the $850 relief checks, telling Spectrum News Maine that road repairs should have been prioritized. Energy Hunkler told a public-access show that he opposed the CMP corridor because it would cross public land, calling Maine’s environment “one of our biggest assets.” He advocates for having cities and towns manage funding to foster “energy independence” at the local level. Health and welfare The semi-retired family doctor says there should be “some type” of universal health coverage. He is skeptical of the established medical system, arguing that a culture of “disease maintenance” includes an overreliance on prescription drugs. He says pharmaceuticals have a role in mental health treatment, but that group and retreat therapy should be expanded. Hunkler opposes COVID-19 vaccine mandates and told the Portland Phoenix he has never gotten a flu shot, including after it was recently required by his employer. Abortion Hunkler has indicated a pro-abortion rights stance, saying “the government should have no jurisdiction over my body” and likening it to his stance against vaccine mandates. Education Hunkler says the educational system is "failing" children and leading teachers to burn out. Curriculum should be balanced between testing and practical learning such as simple repairs. He backs student loan forgiveness for teachers and aides who work in schools for at least five years and says more male teachers are needed. Campaign finance Hunkler largely gathered the 4,000 signatures needed to make the ballot himself. He is not accepting donations and has given his campaign just over $2,000.
R	Paul LePage	Maine Govenor	Stances Paul LePage Maine Govenor Taxes LePage entered office in 2011 by signing a budget that included the largest income tax cut in Maine history. But he alienated his party with later plans to cut income taxes further and offset that with an increase and broadening the sales tax, also trying unsuccessfully to tax nonprofits and eliminate revenue sharing to cities and towns. The latter program was held at 2 percent of state tax revenue for most of his tenure, below a legal goal of 5 percent. Costs and inflation LePage pushed for a temporary gas tax suspension when fuel prices rose sharply in early 2022. He also opposed the $850 relief checks sent by the Mills administration to most Mainers, saying the money should have been used to cap heating oil prices. Energy In the first year of his tenure, LePage set a lofty goal of reducing heating oil dependence, looking to natural gas and biomass. Calling Maine’s energy costs a main economic roadblock, he spent virtually his entire tenure arguing unsuccessfully to lift a 100-megawatt renewable cap on hydropower. He supported and was paid by a lobbying firm to advocate for the Central Maine Power Co. corridor. He is generally hostile to wind and solar development. In 2017, he called on his own utilities commissioners to resign over a solar policy decision. Approximately a year later, he issued an executive order blocking new wind permits. He has criticized Mills’ expansion of the solar policies he opposed during his tenure and now opposes an offshore wind farm proposed for 30 miles off the Maine coast and a transmission line planned in Aroostook County. Health and welfare Reining in welfare programs was perhaps LePage’s top priority. When he took office in 2011, there were 350,000 Mainers who received Medicaid, 25,000 children in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and 246,000 Mainers who received food stamps. By fall 2018 as he was set to leave office, those figures were at 261,000, 7,600 and 176,000, respectively, due to tightened eligibility standards and improving national and state economies. LePage vetoed several legislative plans to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act on cost grounds and resisted it even after Maine voters approved it in 2017. It went unimplemented through the end of his tenure, leaving the task eventually mandated by a judge to his successor. He was sharply critical of the state’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a vaccine mandate for health care workers, saying in late 2021 that the state should have prioritized a large public-relations effort instead. LePage said he would not have imposed some of the stricter measures and has questioned preventative measures aimed at children, saying the state should “let them all have it” and “that’s when you’re going to achieve herd immunity.” Abortion LePage is anti-abortion and spoke regularly at rallies on the subject during his tenure. During their two years in control of Augusta, pro-abortion rights Republicans joined with Democrats to kill conservative bills looking to rein in Maine’s relatively permissive abortion laws. Since the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights in June, LePage has said the subject is not a priority for him. He has said he has “no reason” to erode existing laws, but he has not ruled out signing restrictions into law and answered a questionnaire on the issue by saying abortion should be restricted and taxpayer money should not be used to fund abortions. Education LePage campaigned on focusing education money on classrooms and increasing vocational education. His major policy victory came when he signed a bill allowing charter schools in 2011. But lawmakers voted down a LePage-led effort to allow public money to go to religious schools in 2012. The former governor failed to reach consensus on broader proposals to reform the K-12 system, including one in 2017 that zeroed out funding for superintendents. Legislative Republicans bucked LePage on a student loan relief plan that year. His 2022 agenda melds more ambitious proposals with nationalized conservative grievances with teaching on race and gender identity. LePage is proposing a voucher program that would allow parents to use shares of state funding to send children to religious or private schools, provide incentives for schools to consolidate and recommend “back to basics” curriculums. Campaign finance LePage raised $1.8 million as of mid-July. He has been more reliant on business contributions, getting nearly $264,000 from those sources. The dominant outside group spending to boost her is the Republican Governors Association, operating through the Maine Republican Party.

US House of Representatives
1st Congressional District
Candidates
D	Chellie Pingree		Stances Chellie Pingree US House of Representatives 1st Congressional District Priorities Pingree, an entrenched seven-term incumbent in a reliably liberal district, is an organic farmer and former state lawmaker who focuses on agricultural issues, climate and the environment. She sits on the House panels overseeing appropriations and agriculture. Her most important role is in chairing a subcommittee directing environmental and conservation funding. During this term, Pingree has been among the most liberal House members on economic issues but remains toward the middle of her caucus on others, according to VoteView. Costs and economy Pingree has voted for every major Democratic economic proposal that has advanced in the last two years, including the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, which she called “real, life-changing legislation for the American people” while citing climate and health care benefits. She backed President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive student loan debt and has blamed “Big Oil’s greed” for driving up fuel prices and co-sponsored a bill this year aiming to tax “excessive” corporate profits and send the money to Americans as a tax rebate. Voting and elections Pingree has supported House Democrats’ signature voting rights and campaign finance, which have not advanced past the chamber. She voted to impeach former President Donald Trump during both of his proceedings before the House, saying in 2021 that he “spent years spreading dangerous lies deliberately designed to erode trust in our institutions.” Health care The congresswoman has been a longtime supporter of universal health care, putting that cause at the forefront of her 2008 primary for the 1st District seat. She supported the Affordable Care Act as “a major step in the right direction” and now supports progressive “Medicare for all” proposals, co-sponsoring a string of bills on that topic, including one last year. Abortion Pingree is a strident abortion-rights supporter, backing a package of Democratic bills aimed at shielding access after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion rights in June. She also supports adding four justices to the high court as a response to conservative rulings, something that was opposed by a majority of Americans in a June poll. Racial justice Last year, Pingree voted for Democrats’ major police reform bill named for George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police in 2020. The bill would ban chokeholds, “qualified immunity” for law enforcement and “no-knock” warrants. Campaign finance Pingree runs low-key campaigns because of her safe district, raising just over $400,000 between January 2021 and June 2022. She raised almost half of that from political committees, with labor groups among her largest contributors
R	Ed Thelander		Stances Ed Thelander US House of Representatives 1st Congressional District Priorities A newcomer to politics and a longshot against an incumbent, Allen served in the U.S. Army as a medical professional before transitioning to life as a family physician. He has made lowering taxes, reforming the Affordable Care Act and preserving the 2nd Amendment his main issues while criticizing Gov. Janet Mills’ handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He has raised $42,000 as of June and spent about 80 percent of that. Costs and economy The candidate has taken aim at “inflationary spending” and the rising national debt, also opposing enhanced unemployment benefits early in the COVID-19 pandemic. He told the Lincoln County News that the U.S. needs to produce more oil and opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, saying it “raises Mainers' taxes during a period of record inflation.” (The measure has no direct tax increases on Americans making less than $400,000 annually, but experts have said effects on large companies could be passed along.) Voting and elections Thelander has said “too many people” are questioning the integrity of U.S. elections and “we need to do something about it.” He told WMTW that he supports voter ID laws and has not said whether former President Donald Trump should make a third run in 2024. Health care The candidate told the Lincoln County News that tort reform as a way of lowering health care costs. He has opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates, calling the virus a threat but not one that should be used to change the country. Abortion Thelander respects “the sanctity of life,” he told the Portland Press Herald after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision to overturn federal abortion rights. He has advocated for supporting “women grappling with this life-changing decision, compassion toward our fellow citizens, and trust in this unique form of government as designed by our Founders.” Racial justice The candidate called a September news conference to blame policies that Pingree supports for an uptick of violent crime. He singled out Democrats’ 2021 police reform bill, which would ban chokeholds, “qualified immunity” for law enforcement and “no-knock” warrants, by saying it would take away tools that police sometimes have to use, WMTW reported. Campaign finance Thelander has raised more money than any Pingree challenger since 2010, bringing in $293,000 through June 30. That includes a $30,000 loan from the candidate. He has raised the vast majority of his money from individual donors, although he got $10,000 from a political committee backing a group of former Navy SEALs.

US House of Representatives
2nd Congressional District
Candidates
D	Jared Golden	Stances Jared Golden US House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District Priorities A Marine veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Golden was an aide to Sen. Susan Collins and a legislative leader before winning his swing district in 2018 and splitting it with former President Donald Trump two years later. He serves on the armed services and small business committees. By many measures, he is the most moderate Democrat in the House. In a heavily polarized Congress, he has still voted with President Joe Biden just over 86 percent of the time in this Congress, according to FiveThirtyEight. Costs and economy Golden ran for office in 2018 by promising to preserve Social Security and Medicare while railing against Republicans’ tax-cut plan from earlier that year. In office, his most notable party-bucking votes have come on spending. After backing past COVID-19 aid packages, he was one of two Democrats to vote against the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion bill that passed over his objections early last year, saying just a sliver was devoted to pressing needs. He later voted against Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan in the House, citing a tax break for the wealthy. But he has championed the Inflation Reduction Act, citing health care, energy and deficit reduction provisions, holding a September news conference on it Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, the key figure behind that measure after working to defeat Biden’s bigger plan in the Senate. Voting and elections Golden leans progressive on voting and electoral issues, supporting ranked-choice voting before he won the first election decided by the new system in 2018. One of his first floor speeches in 2019 amounted to a debate with the chamber’s top Republican in which Golden championed H.R. 1, a signature Democratic bill that would expand voter access, requiring nonpartisan redistricting in states and increasing campaign finance disclosure provisions. He also backed another major voting-rights bill in 2021. Golden voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021, saying he believed there had not been “a clearer case for impeachment, removal from office, and disqualification from holding future public office” in U.S. history. Health care Golden has tacked on this issue, running in 2018 on universal health care and co-sponsoring a “Medicare for all” bill the following year. When he was running for reelection in 2020, he backed off that stance in favor of a public-option plan like one backed by Biden. His official website now says the nation should move toward a universal system. Abortion The congressman is reliably pro-abortion rights, calling the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal abortion rights “a grave mistake” and saying Congress should codify abortion rights to a large an extent possible given Democratic majorities. Gun policy Golden was opposed by the gun-rights National Rifle Association and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine during his first congressional campaign after a mixed record on guns in the Legislature. He has repaired his relations with them since then with a 2019 vote against expanding background checks to all gun sales, took a similar vote last year and opposed an assault-weapons ban in July. Along with Sen. Susan Collins and the sportsman’s alliance, he helped negotiate a bipartisan gun, mental health and school safety package. It was opposed by the NRA, but it still gave him a B grade ahead of this election, while he got an A+ from the Maine group. Campaign finance Running competitive races in a swing district, Golden has had to be a prolific fundraiser. He is on record pace again, raising nearly $3.8 million through June 30, with the vast majority coming from individual donors. Labor groups and groups tied to House Democratic leaders are among his biggest contributors this cycle.
I	Tiffany Bond	Stances Tiffany Bond US House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District Priorities Bond is a Portland family lawyer running as a longshot candidate outside her home congressional district for the second time in four years. Her two campaigns have been based on Maine’s ranked-choice voting system and mostly run on Twitter, where the candidate urges supporters to give to charity. She describes herself as “a moderate, reasonable voice that will vote on good law that protects and balances.” Costs and economy The candidate calls climate change “the greatest threat to our society” and a major economic issue facing the country. She has said there are limits to how the U.S. can make transportation affordable while adding there should be “policy empathy” for those struggling with high costs. Bond criticized President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation plan for not addressing the underlying issue of cost, saying interest on those loans should be eliminated. Voting and elections Bond has championed ranked-choice voting and said in a 2018 court filing that she never would have run in an election not using the system. She has railed against money in politics, rejecting donations for her campaign four years ago. Health care She has a “passionate dislike” for the Affordable Care Act, but says it should only be “replaced or modified with improvements.” Bond is also skeptical of Medicare for all because the concept "fundamentally functions like insurance," which she says “might not be the best model.” Abortion Bond pitches a pro-abortion rights stance based in being “pro-privacy,” calling it “an overreach of authority” for government to make health decisions for people. She criticized a bill from Republicans in 2018 that aimed to ban most abortions after 20 weeks. Gun policy The candidate says she “generally” favors the Second Amendment but has said gun rights should be limited for those who “lack capacity, have proven violent tendencies, or are just a careless jackass slinging weapons about.” Campaign finance Unlike the last, Bond has said she is accepting donations for this election, but she has not reported fundraising so far.
R	Bruce Poliquin	Stances Bruce Poliquin US House of Representatives 2nd Congressional District Priorities Poliquin is a former investment manager and state treasurer who is running his sixth campaign since 2010. He served two terms representing the 2nd District from 2015 to 2019, serving on the financial services and veterans affairs committees during his tenure. He was a reliable Republican vote in the House, sitting toward the ideological middle of his caucus, according to VoteView data. Costs and economy Poliquin pitches himself as a fiscal hawk, running in 2014 on supporting the orthodox budget plan of former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, and saying he wished it balanced the federal budget quicker. But he has treaded carefully on these issues in a graying district. While has said he would support no changes to the Social Security or Medicare for current enrollees or people soon to be in the system while being open to hikes in the eligibility age, he backed a 2015 Republican plan targeting billions in Social Security savings and would have turned Medicare into a voucher system for new enrollees by 2024. He backed Republicans’ tax-cut plan in 2017, saying while he was worried about potential increases in the national debt, he was “also concerned about our families who haven’t had a pay raise in 10 years.” During this campaign, Poliquin has run on fighting high costs and inflation by reining in spending and “reopening” domestic energy production. (Domestic oil production is forecasted to hit a record high in 2023.) Voting and elections Poliquin opposed ranked-choice voting and cast doubt on the process after losing the 2018 election, suing the state unsuccessfully in a bid to stop the second round of counting. During this campaign, he has urged his voters to not be “intimidated” by the system. In March, he refused to say whether or not President Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election. He also disagreed with “anybody impeaching somebody who’s supported by the people of the 2nd District” in a reference to Golden’s vote to impeach former President Donald Trump’s trial on inciting the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021. Health care The former congressman ran hard against the Affordable Care Act in a Republican U.S. Senate primary in 2012. His stance softened a bit by 2014, with Poliquin telling News Center Maine it was “the law of the land” and he would work to improve it. Shortly after arriving in Congress, he voted against a Republican repeal bid, saying the party should have a replacement plan. Two years later, he was the only member of the Maine delegation to back a Republican repeal-and-replace plan that health policy experts said would have allowed insurers to raise rates on people with pre-existing conditions to a degree that coverage would be unaffordable. This year, he has tapped into other base issues in this subject area, including opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Abortion Poliquin is anti-abortion, describing himself as a “pro-life, traditional marriage Catholic” during his 2012 U.S. Senate campaign. In 2015, he voted for a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks into pregnancies. But he has backed off that a bit since the June decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to end federal abortion rights, answering an anti-abortion group’s survey by saying Congress should leave abortion access to the states. Gun policy Poliquin has a gun-rights record and was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in his 2014, 2016 and 2018 campaigns. He has also consistently gotten high marks from the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, though neither group has endorsed him in the 2022 election. He aligned with the NRA and House Republican leaders but against the alliance when he opposed the bipartisan gun, school safety and mental health bill that passed in June. Campaign finance By the time he finished his 2018 campaign, Poliquin had been involved in the two most expensive races in Maine history given the 2nd District’s national implications. This one is heading in that direction, with the former congressman raising $2.6 million through June. More than $493,000 has come from political committees. One of his biggest donors is Leonard Leo, an architect of the conservative judicial system who has a Mount Desert Island home.

Maine Senate - District 1
Candidates
R	Susan Bernard	Senate District 1_	Answers Susan Bernard Maine Senate - District 1 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? 1. It’s an understatement that inflation and high costs are impacting all Mainers, no matter their income bracket, but I am most concerned about those on fixed incomes/the elderly. I would support pro-growth policies to expand Maine’s economy and lower energy costs. Taking another look at the cap the State has in place on hydro power could definitely be part of the solution. I'll work to lower costs every chance possible especially for rural areas of the State like Aroostook since our challenges are especially difficult due to transportation costs (the cost of diesel). Keep in mind, voting no on bad policy is as important as voting yes on good policy. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Since neither of our gubernatorial candidates support a change, I don’t envision a policy change anytime soon, so I’m not basing my campaign on this issue. However, if the majority of Aroostook voters tell me they want to see a change in restrictions on late-term or tax-payer funded abortions, I would consider that. My goal is to represent the wishes and goals of the majority of Aroostook County constituents, especially on a subject as sensitive as this. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I want to make it easier for people to afford homes in Aroostook County and we should not confuse Section 8 housing with affordable housing for all. I would continue to support trade education so that there are more individuals in the field to work on these projects. The labor shortage is a big part of the problem. Also, currently there are policies that prevent independent contractors from bidding on larger projects, which ultimately drive costs up. I would vote to remove those restrictions and open up the bidding process. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Some voters have asked whether their vote really counts. I explain it certainly does…that on Election Day, their opinion is as important as the President’s. Thanks to Maine’s paper ballot backup system, we can check any vote result. Maine has not used the faulty electronic machines that have caused problems in other states. Do NOT allow others to decide the outcome of a race by not going to the polls! That said, I would like to see voter ID be required. The right and privilege to vote is one of our most sacred and proving citizenship is basic to the system. We must provide ID for simple things like flying on commercial airlines—anyone can get an ID, so it is not a hardship to make this requirement. This would secure that the results of a vote are determined by citizens only. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The top policy would be making sure that funding goes directly into treatment beds so that people who want to get treatment are able to get it. Too often we hear stories of individuals who want treatment but are not able to find it. Also, we need to make sure that we have stiffer penalties in place for drug dealers. We are moving well beyond dealers making money on the backs of seriously addicted individuals; they are selling far more lethal drugs (opioids), including fentanyl, to the addicted and “recreational users”. This is why the death rate is climbing. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? It is clear that the lockdowns negatively impacted most students. Schools need to be allowed to focus on math, reading, writing and technology and not be teaching the extras right now. Parents also need to be brought into the discussion on what is the most important curriculum, as many feel their voice was lost during COVID. Parental involvement is key in determining what is taught as well as affording opportunities to support the education of their children. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? The developer chosen should offer our region some type of benefit from the project such as a rate-payer relief program that would help lower/fixed income folks pay their energy bills. But since everyone is taking a hit with high power costs, the benefit should also spread to middle-income residents. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Farming, logging, increasing the workforce, small business, economic development-- these common-sense priorities are what matter. The County comes first for me and always has. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Aroostook
D	Troy D. Jackson	Senate District 1_	No response Troy D. Jackson Maine Senate - District 1

Maine Senate - District 2
Candidates
D	Danielle Fienberg	Senate District 2_	Answers Danielle Fienberg Maine Senate - District 2 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We need to ensure that every Mainer has adequate heat. I approach this from two angles. First, we should immediately extend Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) access and funding. HEAP is a supplement and is not meant to cover a family's total heating expenses. If the benefit amount does not increase, but actual heating expenses climb, it may as well be a loss in a desperately needed benefit. Second, we need to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks by ensuring that county action programs have adequate staffing to prevent applicant backlogs and by making recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid automatically eligible and enrolled through the Department of Health and Human Services. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Since 1994, Maine law has expressly guaranteed access to abortion services in the majority of cases. In response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order to further defend access to abortion in Maine and to protect reproductive health care providers and their patients. Access to abortion is established in Maine's statutes, but not its constitution. The codification of such access is a top priority. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would promote the construction of more apartments and affordable housing, particularly in coastal and rural areas. Additionally, the state must amend Maine's housing rules to safeguard tenants. Creating new land banks so that counties and municipalities can more quickly foreclose on abandoned properties is also a priority because the funds could be utilized to finance housing for those with low and moderate incomes. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expand voter registration access. This can be accomplished by automatically registering public high school students when they reach the age of 18 and by increasing online voter registration, which could be especially beneficial for our most rural and disabled citizens. Increasing voting access boosts democracy's accessibility. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Fund evidence-based local treatment with sufficient beds, prioritize diversion programs for low-level nonviolent drug offenders, and provide evidence-based wrap around programs for offenders leaving jail or treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Eliminate the gap before it occurs. Expand access to high-quality early childhood education, provide wraparound services, and increase access to enrichment opportunities. For those who are already behind, with limited resources, I would focus on the oldest students with the least time left to catch up. I propose an expansion to the free community college grant program, allowing students with academic and socio-economic challenges an additional year, with the first year focusing on skill remediation, college/career readiness, and literacy at no additional cost to the student. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) deal to bring in additional revenue; land-lease payments to local property owners; guarantee to employ locals during construction and any subsequent maintenance projects as well as in any regional offices that may need to be established; equipment for Northern Maine Community College’s wind power technology program. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? First and foremost, I am a parent. Specifically, I am the parent of a child with disabilities. Some of his disabilities were caused by, and all of them exacerbated by a failure of local, state, and federal government. He was lead-poisoned by drinking water. My focus is to be an advocate and support for families and individuals the way I wish someone had supported and advocated for me and my family. Regardless of being elected or not, I will always stand up for what is right, defend those on the margins, and be a voice for my community–all of my community. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Aroostook
R	Harold Stewart III	Senate District 2_	No response Harold Stewart III Maine Senate - District 2

Maine Senate - District 3
Candidates
R	Bradlee Farrin	Senate District 3_	Answers Bradlee Farrin Maine Senate - District 3 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The legislature has to stop passing laws and regulations that increase energy costs. Many times “feel good” legislation has unintended consequences. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I have and will continue to oppose any bills that support taxpayer funded abortions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The legislature has supported energy and building codes that increase construction costs. Mandatory labor agreements increase costs, these projects should be open bids to both union and nonunion contractors. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? While I have faith in my local election officials, many Mainers do believe there is an issue in the integrity of the system. All Mainers, regardless of where they live or who they support should have faith in our voting system. Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter ID. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I believe our approach needs to focus on the 3 legged stool analogy. Education in our schools, tougher laws and strict enforcement of those killing our children, and affordable treatment and access for those wishing to get clean. We have “normalized” drug use and then wonder why we have an epidemic. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? I really can’t comment without knowing which studies you are referring to. I believe the government mandated lockdowns did more damage to our children. We shouldn’t be looking to the State to solve this issue. Parents need to be involved at the local school board level. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. This issue seems to come up every session, and every time the legislation is worded differently. I don’t know how I will vote until I see the specific legislation. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I have served 8 years in Augusta serving on the Transportation and Veteran and Legal Affairs Committees. I would like to continue the work on both those fronts as well as addressing the labor shortage, the impact of inflation on Mainers especially our elderly on fixed income. We shut down the entire State, mandated masks, forced vaccinations, etc during the pandemic. Why, when we are losing 53 Mainers per month to overdoses can’t we take immediate and drastic steps? Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central
D	Shawn Bean	Senate District 3_	No response Shawn Bean Maine Senate - District 3

Maine Senate - District 4
Candidates
D	Andrea Thurlow	Senate District 4_	No response Andrea Thurlow Maine Senate - District 4
R	Stacey Kay Guerin	Senate District 4_	Answers Stacey Kay Guerin Maine Senate - District 4 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The policies that have been adopted in Augusta and Washington have played a major role in driving inflation and price increases that most Mainers cannot afford. This must stop now. Additionally, we must immediately get able bodied Mainers, who are collecting government assistance, back to full time employment and allow our small businesses to recover and grow our economy. Maine taxpayers should not be footing the bill for fuel sources that increase the overall cost of energy. As new bills are presented to the legislature, I will be reviewing their fiscal impact and opposing legislation that increases energy costs to Maine families. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Harder Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I have seen pregnancy sonograms and what these sonograms reveal is that it is a baby and not a blob of tissue as the abortion extremists have told us. I would immediately stop taxpayer funded abortions. I do not want my money used to stop the beating heart of a little boy or girl. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We desperately need to expand the work force in the building trades so that more units can be built in a timely, cost effective manner. Increasing educational opportunities in the trades for high school students and post secondary students needs immediate action. There are many excellent career opportunities in the building trades that could be accessed by some individuals living on government assistance. As the economy grows, costs will naturally adjust. Over burdening the private sector with government regulations also drives up costs. Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) should not be imposed on building projects, as they serve to increase costs. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter ID would help insure continued voting security. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. This is a tragedy that has touched nearly every Mainer in some way. We must show our people the way to a life filled with a future of hope. Having a job, a safe place to live and the belief that your life has a purpose is a beginning. We must provide more assess to treatment when individuals are ready to turn their lives in a new direction. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? School Choice!! Every family should be allowed to choose the school that best meets their child's unique needs and gifts. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. When I served on the Legislature's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, the Sunday hunting issue was looked at. The overwhelming public opinion was in opposition to the concept. Many people testified that they would post their land if Sunday hunting became legal. Like the bipartisan majority of the committee, I voted in opposition. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Maine has a citizen's legislature, meaning that we have other livelihoods outside of the Legislature. I believe my experience as a small business owner, former school teacher, wife, mother and grandmother gives me a unique focus. I want the Legislature to empower people to be their very best and to live a life filled with hope for a better future. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central

Maine Senate - District 5
Candidates
U	Doug Thomas	Senate District 5_	Answers Doug Thomas Maine Senate - District 5 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Get state spending under control. Require able bodied people to work.Do a better job helping the truly needy. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Harder Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. End Late term abortions A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Reduce regulations that drive up costs. We should look at what other states have done to see if they have found answers. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Not safe enough Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter ID In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Better Enforcement of current drug laws National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Foster more parental involvement in their children's education Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. No, Sunday hunting will cause more landowners to post land reducing hunting opportunities What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? 40 years of business experience employing people, 10 years Legislative experience, combined with 30 years in town government and local school boards. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central
R	Russell Black	Senate District 5_	Answers Russell Black Maine Senate - District 5 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I encourage the State to make available funds for our seniors and low income citizens. I will continue to initiate funds for winterizing homes. I feel that with our natural resources, we should be trying to establish funds to heat more homes with firewood. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. No tax payers dollars used. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Create low interest loans for property owners, contractors, to encourage more remodeling and new construction of building units. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter ID In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to spend more resources on education and stronger family units. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Continue to make sure that the state funds education at the 55%. Encourage funding for after school and summer educational classes. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central
D	Stanley A Wheeler	Senate District 5_	No response Stanley A Wheeler Maine Senate - District 5

Maine Senate - District 6
Candidates
D	Jonathan Goble	Senate District 6_	No response Jonathan Goble Maine Senate - District 6
R	Marianne Moore	Senate District 6_	Answers Marianne Moore Maine Senate - District 6 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I am quite concerned about the rising costs especially to our citizens on fixed incomes. While I support pro-growth policies to expand Maine’s economy and lower energy costs, I would need to carefully review proposed policy changes. If they are going to raise costs for our hardworking Mainers, I will be in opposition. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. No change. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Affordable housing throughout the State of Maine is indeed in a crisis situation. Costs and the labor shortage continues to be problem. We need to remove any project labor agreements to encourage open project bidding as well as supporting trade education so more individuals are available to work on such projects. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. While I feel our voting system is safe and secure, I support requiring picture identification at the polls similar to other states across the nation. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Treatment, education, and prevention should continue to be our priorities. Funding for residential treatment centers is critical. Substance usage and mental health go hand in hand. We need to continue to fund much needed resources, including law enforcement, to educate and aid in the prevention of this crisis. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The pandemic caused an educational hardship for our children. We need to focus on educational basics such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects along with the trades. Parents and the schools need to communicate and work together to make sure our children are succeeding. Between late 2021 and early 2022, Washington County saw six homicides in six months, with police blaming drug and mental health problems. What's your top priority in fighting violent crime? I will work towards expanding our law enforcement personnel and continue to pursue Washington County having their own District Attorney. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My experience professionally and politically has prepared me to continue to fight for common sense priorities such as small businesses and the jobs they create, our roads, broadband expansion, education, protecting our elderly, the substance-use crisis and ensuring rural areas continue to have access to quality health care. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Washington

Maine Senate - District 7
Candidates
R	Brian Langley	Senate District 7_	No response Brian Langley Maine Senate - District 7
D	Nicole C. Grohoski	Senate District 7_	Answers Nicole C. Grohoski Maine Senate - District 7 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is global in scope, and its drivers are largely out of our state’s control. However, we are not powerless to lower the cost of living here, and during my past two terms, I have done exactly that. For example, I supported increases to the homestead exemption and the property tax fairness credit to help people afford housing. We removed red tape for heating assistance and prioritized investments in weatherization. Low cost drug programs, income tax breaks for retirees and tax credits for working families are just a few efforts I have supported to lower our cost of living. Meanwhile, CMP’s owner Iberdrola is paying shareholders the highest dividends ever, and CMP and Versant are proposing yet more rate increases – I will pursue all options for reining in their corporate greed. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Whether or not to have an abortion is a personal and medical decision that I do not believe should be subject to government interference. Pre-viability abortion and abortion necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother are currently legal in Maine, but disparities in healthcare access can have a bearing on this decision. Therefore, we must ensure – for everyone’s benefit – that our rural hospitals and healthcare centers have the resources they need to provide all types of healthcare services. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Housing shortages are affecting people’s wellbeing and our economy, especially in Hancock County. I have worked across the aisle to cut red tape and spur new home construction, expanded our property tax and rental cost reduction programs, and supported the largest investment in workforce housing in Maine history. Some of these efforts will have a near-term effect while others will take longer to make a difference. Additional solutions could include incentivizing owners to keep their housing in year-round occupation rather than converting units to short-term rentals and adjusting first-time homeownership programs so that working Mainers can compete in this real estate market against large investment companies. All solutions need to be on the table for discussion in the next Legislature. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine elections are secure due to our use of paper ballots and a robust chain of custody and security system to protect them. Our clerks, their staff, and the tripartisan teams of poll workers all take their work seriously, and I am grateful for their efforts to ensure successful elections. This term, I sponsored a law that establishes nonpartisan routine election audits and improves citizen access to information about election protocols, which passed the House and Senate unanimously. I also co-sponsored a law which allows independents to vote in primaries starting in 2024. I think the Legislature should send the question of whether or not to use ranked choice voting for state offices to Maine voters to decide. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to focus on evidence-based prevention policies in order to limit substance-related deaths in Maine. Our Attorney General has secured funds from the drug company that intentionally targeted Mainers with certain addictive substances, and we can use these dollars to enhance the efforts of recovery networks around the state. We can also support continuing education for healthcare providers on addiction, pain management, and treatment and make the prescription drug monitoring program easier for providers to use. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Some students thrived in the remote-learning environment while others fell behind. School staff are best equipped to determine who needs additional support, like after-school and summer programming, and the Legislature can assure that these programs are properly resourced. Our students have varying interests and learning styles – I’m proud to have supported the first state investment ($40M) in high school career and technical education since 1998, which will train students for careers in the building trades, welding, automotive technology, nursing and more. Many of our recent high school graduates will be able to continue their education in these fields via our free community college pilot program, where educators can address gaps and equip these students for successful careers in Maine. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? We must protect our fishing industries and become more energy independent. Last year, I worked with lobsterman Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham and other concerned fishermen to assure that no offshore wind projects can connect to the grid through state waters unless certain criteria are met. These include completing a plan that minimizes conflict between maritime industries and working with fishermen to identify what research questions need to be answered by the proposed pilot project. This moratorium passed unanimously due to our bipartisan efforts to find consensus. Since floating offshore wind is a newer technology developed by the University of Maine, it will be important to research what effect it has on wildlife and maritime industries before determining if it is right for us. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As the State Senator representing most of Hancock County, my focus has been and will be listening to constituents here at home and working to find solutions to the challenges they face with my colleagues in Augusta. In my four years of service, I have done my best to work with anyone and everyone to find common sense and evidence-based solutions that benefit our region and state. Not every headline or campaign ad accurately describes the work that I do for you in Augusta, so please feel free to reach out to me to discuss what’s on your mind: nicole@grohoskiformaine.com or 207-358-8333. After all, we’re all in this together! Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Hancock

Maine Senate - District 8
Candidates
R	Eric Rojo	Senate District 8_	No response Eric Rojo Maine Senate - District 8
D	Michael Tipping	Senate District 8_	Answers Michael Tipping Maine Senate - District 8 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I have two eight-year-olds and our family’s grocery bills have doubled. I’ve heard from families in this district whose electric bills tripled in January. We may not be able to control global oil markets here in Maine, but there are things the legislature can and must do to reduce our costs. Three important steps are to reign in the price gouging by the power companies, implement and strengthen laws capping and lowering prescription drug prices and help Mainers to weatherize their homes, lowering heating costs while also helping to meet our state’s climate goals. We also need to fully fund and support the local and state programs that are helping Mainers, especially seniors on fixed incomes, deal with high heating costs this winter. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. It’s not about making anything “harder” or “easier.” Abortion is a medical procedure and access to abortion is a basic right in Maine. I’ll always work to protect our rights and make sure reproductive health care is there where and when people need it, no matter where they live or how much money they make. We also need to do more to invest in rural hospitals and health care centers and train, recruit and respect our health care providers in a broader way. My wife is a frontline health care worker and I’m proud to be endorsed by the Maine State Nurses Association. Access to quality care should be a basic right for everyone in Maine. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maine was already experiencing a housing crunch before the pandemic and things have only gotten worse. We need regulatory and zoning changes that make it easier to build housing for working class people. We also need direct investment. I was disappointed that the governor vetoed a real estate transfer tax on properties sold for over $1 million that was passed by the legislature last year. Recently, more wealthy individuals have been moving to Maine and buying expensive properties. While we’re happy to welcome them, those purchases are driving up the costs for everyone else. We should make sure they pay what they owe and put that funding toward creating more affordable housing. The legislature should absolutely revisit that proposal or similar policies. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has one of the highest voting participation rates in the country and some of the strongest laws ensuring that voters can register, cast a ballot and have their vote counted. We need to preserve and build on that foundation. One policy that would help reduce some confusion and strengthen our elections is to put a constitutional amendment out to voters ensuring that ranked-choice voting is used in the same way for all elections. Right now it’s in place for general elections for Congress but not for state races. I don’t believe that’s what Maine voters intended when they twice voted for this democratic reform. I believe the legislature should always seek to respect the will of Maine voters. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I recently met with the dedicated folks who run Save a Life, a community recovery center in Lincoln. They’re doing incredible work on a shoestring budget. Many of the people they help are veterans. We need to make sure that recovery centers and support networks have the resources to be there when people need them, reduce stigma and criminalization and increase access to treatment and health care. My mother was a police psychologist for Orono and Old Town, and I know that while our first responders are doing important work dealing with the effects of the opioid crisis, it shouldn’t be their job to shoulder that burden. We should also continue efforts to hold pharmaceutical corporations that have profited off creating the current crisis responsible for the consequences of their actions. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? When the pandemic began and my wife and I found ourselves homeschooling two first-graders, we suddenly had even more respect for teachers. We need to support students, teachers and staff better at every level. I’m honored to be endorsed by the Maine Education Association and I was proud to work on the referendum in 2016 to increase state funding of local education to 55%. I’m glad we finally reached that mark last year. I’m concerned that there will be a push to cut education funds and raise property taxes as federal pandemic funding ends and I want to work to make sure that doesn’t happen. We should also make sure students and schools that most need additional support get it, continue tuition-free community college and increase support for higher education, including UMaine. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I would be wary of any proposal to allow Sunday hunting and I believe the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and the Maine Professional Guides Association were right to oppose the bill heard by the legislature this year. Maine is one of the few states to ban Sunday hunting and we’re also one of the few states to have implied access to land for hunters. These things go hand in hand. Sunday hunting could lead to more posted land or even increased calls for “reverse posting” laws in Maine, denying hunters access by default. We also don’t yet know how legal action related to the new food sovereignty amendment to the state constitution will play out. Any law passed by the legislature could soon be pre-empted by the courts. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I grew up along the Penobscot River and I’m proud to have worked for more than a decade with many others to force the cleanup of mercury contamination. The owners of the chemical plant that dumped the toxin have now agreed to pay up to $267 million - the largest ecosystem-wide cleanup ever prompted by citizen action. This is important to everyone who lives by or enjoys the river, but it’s also important because it shows what Mainers can do when we come together as a community and refuse to give up, even against wealthy and powerful interests. That’s a lesson and a focus I want to bring to Augusta as we tackle everything from health care to energy costs, and as we work to protect the land and water from new threats like PFAS. I know that positive change is possible when we work together. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central

Maine Senate - District 9
Candidates
D	Joe Baldacci	Senate District 9_	Answers Joe Baldacci Maine Senate - District 9 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? 1. With our surplus we should find money to supplement the federal LIHEAP money to increase the benefit and to expand the coverage 2. continue for another year the very successful electric bill rebate program we passed earlier this year for small and medium sized businesses and 3.Consider another round of tax rebate relief checks to 95% of Maine families- as we successfully did earlier this year- depending on the available surplus. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We should pass legal protections to Maine providers who assist patients from out of state from any repercussions by the anti-choice state the patient is from. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maintain funding for construction of low and middle income housing; give tax incentives to developers to build affordable housing and look at extending emergency rent relief with federal and state dollars. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Adopt a universal vote by mail system------- as well as extended hours for early voting----and allow people to opt out of mail ballots and cast their ballots in person if they wish. Provide funds to local clerks to help them better manage this process. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Maintain and strengthen outpatient treatment------- increase access to services for persons in smaller towns and rural areas--------- also look at a vastly expanded and statewide drug court program which has been successful at reducing recidivism for persons who particpate. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Fully fund public schools as we have done. Raise teacher and school staff salaries. Keep kids in school with appropriate health and safety precautions. Having kids out of school and learning remotely should only be used again in rare circumstances. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? Build more affordable housing, extend the emergency relief program, strengthen funding for outpatient substance abuse and mental health services AND we need to increase the number of treating beds at Dorothea DIx as a portion of this issue are the fact that many are untreated mentally ill people often with a dual diagnosis. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Continue working to promote expansion of passenger rail service to Bangor and to western Maine to tie us both into Portland and Boston. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Bangor/Brewer
R	Suzette Furrow	Senate District 9_	No response Suzette Furrow Maine Senate - District 9

Maine Senate - District 10
Candidates
R	Peter A. Lyford	Senate District 10_	No response Peter A. Lyford Maine Senate - District 10
D	Ralph Edward Cammack	Senate District 10_	No response Ralph Edward Cammack Maine Senate - District 10

Maine Senate - District 11
Candidates
D	Glenn Chip Curry	Senate District 11_	No response Glenn Chip Curry Maine Senate - District 11
R	MaryAnne Kinney	Senate District 11_	No response MaryAnne Kinney Maine Senate - District 11

Maine Senate - District 12
Candidates
D	Anne H. Beebe-Center	Senate District 12_	Answers Anne H. Beebe-Center Maine Senate - District 12 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? As we head into the winter months, I know people are increasingly worried about inflation, outrageous energy prices and other increased costs — I hear it from neighbors in Knox County on a regular basis. Last winter, I watched as my own energy bill skyrocketed. The first step is to improve access to home heating help to those who are eligible. The second step is holding corporate utility companies accountable — I’m personally in favor of a publicly owned utility company to ensure consumers get the best deal. Either way, it is going to take all hands on deck to solve this crisis. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Right now, abortion remains legal in Maine. As a state senator, I will work to protect and improve access to this fundamental right just like I did in the Maine House of Representatives. I stand ready to work with the Governor, health care providers and advocates to close any gaps that prevent Mainers from making their own reproductive decisions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. There are many pots of housing money available for communities (nationwide, statewide, and via private organizations). We need to work with our communities to make sure we can integrate zoning and needed resources to build more affordable housing for workers, low-income Mainers, and our elderly. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine continues to be a leader in voter participation and election security. We should take great pride in the integrity of our free, fair and safe elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. As someone who has been on the ground in Knox County working to treat additions and save lives, this issue is deeply personal to me. I bet most Mainers could say the same — they’ve either lost someone close to them to the opioid epidemic or know someone else who has. These losses leave holes in our families, communities and workforce. We need to embrace innovative and evidenced-based policies that treat this disease and help people fully recover. We also need to look at the people who have profited off of this epidemic to hold bad actors accountable. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We’re just starting to understand the toll of the pandemic on our communities, including our schools and students. Even if we don’t have all of the answers, there are some obvious paths to pursue. We should work with parents, school officials and school boards to see how the community can provide better support and help to strengthen students so they are successful socially, emotionally, and educationally. Additionally, we can continue to encourage people to pursue their education at community colleges, accept apprenticeships at licensed trades, etc. Setting up apprenticeships in high school and beyond would make a significant difference in the skill building and career trajectory for young Mainers. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The Maine Legislature passed a bill last year to allow greater density in Maine communities. Knox County towns are discussing this law to see how it might work in their communities. We need innovative and creative solutions to help businesses grow by ensuring there is adequate, affordable housing for workers. Allowing homeowners to build additional units on their property is a great step. Innovations like tiny houses allow homeownership at a lower price tag. We need communities to come to a consensus about what housing models they want to see that will enable people to live in their communities. The role of the legislature is to help remove barriers so that communities can implement their strategies. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My primary role as a Senator will be to work with communities to understand what laws will improve the lives of Knox County residents. Communication and input with Knox County community, business, individuals, families, schools, will guide my work in the senate. The best policies come from community collaboration, not one person who thinks they have all the answers. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region South/Midcoast
R	W. Scott Rocknak	Senate District 12_	Answers W. Scott Rocknak Maine Senate - District 12 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Foster economic development to create an environment that entices businesses and industry to grow. Increase job opportunities to attract people to stay in Maine and thrive. Review and oppose legislative policies that either raise cost of living or increase the fuel tax burden on Mainers. Encourage our US delegation to implement national policy to reduce fuel costs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. No change A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. In my district, we have experienced very high real estate values. In part, this is due to folks desiring to move to our area for our schools, lifestyle, and what Maine offers in general. Supply & demand. This, in turn, makes it difficult for lower income, first time buyers, and the workforce to secure something within their means. Solutions will entail the economic development mentioned above and further the strength of our trade schools to provide the labor force we are currently in need of. In addition, there are policies that can be changed to lower the cost of new home production. All in all, it will be an encompassing solution. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine maintains safeguards that exceed other states. The security of a strong voting system is to be diligent and to seek input from all the participants in the system. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. From my discussion with stake holders and voters who have been affected are that there are not enough mental health resources available including personnel and actual proper facilities that can handle the demand. In talking with law enforcement and with county officials, the link between addiction and mental health is evident and cannot be ignored. We need to up our game on mental health resources, increase the education and treatment factors, as well as preventing drugs from getting here in the first place. These factors are all paramount. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Lockdowns, school closures, masks, and other policy implementations had a disparate effect on students in general and lower income kids in particular. There are socio-economic reasons for the disparities and that too requires an encompassing ongoing effort to succeed. On the part of the state, extreme caution must be practiced if we ever see a similar situation arise again. Regarding the setbacks that are now facing our student population, the state should put its efforts into the STEM subjects and appropriate grade-level reading comprehension. As mentioned above, mental health again plays a part and schools need expanded resources to identify and provide Title 1, Part A accommodations to a (now) broader range student. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? See above for trade schools, an ample and ready workforce, Mainers who run businesses without burdening regulation, employees that are healthy and secure, and viable lobster industry families that maintain and support the Maine persona. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? The questions posed here by BDN are a good example that show the need for attention in several areas that, in actuality, link together. I intend to connect these links and implement policy with the larger picture in mind to improve Mainers’ lives and livelihoods. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region South/Midcoast

Maine Senate - District 13
Candidates
R	Abden Simmons	Senate District 13_	No response Abden Simmons Maine Senate - District 13
D	Cameron D. Reny	Senate District 13_	No response Cameron D. Reny Maine Senate - District 13

Maine Senate - District 14
Candidates
D	Craig V. Hickman	Senate District 14_	No response Craig V. Hickman Maine Senate - District 14
R	Jeffery P. Hanley	Senate District 14_	No response Jeffery P. Hanley Maine Senate - District 14

Maine Senate - District 15
Candidates
R	Matthew Pouliot	Senate District 15_	Answers Matthew Pouliot Maine Senate - District 15 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The state has spent an enormous amount of resources in pursuing clean alternative energy. While we’re well along in that path, we’ve left ourselves open to the wild price gyrations currently happening in the fossil fuel markets, namely natural gas. Simply covering added costs for those most vulnerable to these price spikes will do nothing to solve the underlying problem. While we can’t do much about the mistakes of the federal government, we can influence health care costs here at home, including hospital pricing transparency. We can influence food insecurity, a by-product of higher inflation. And we can influence job creation and budget reductions to reset our financial structure and tax revenues. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I think we need to provide better community support to help women in finding ways to bring their unborn child to term and support after birth that is high quality and easily accessible for both the mother and the child. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Streamlining the regulatory and permit hurdles to promote real estate investment and construction of affordable housing units. A large part of accomplishing this goal is expanding our opportunities for trades education and beginning that education at earlier ages. We simply don’t have enough electricians, plumbers or carpenters in this state to build the inventory that we desperately need. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Mostly yes – we have a more stringent absentee ballot process than most states, which helps the system’s integrity. Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine residents have long supported the concept of voters supplying identification during the voting process as the surest way to maintain the integrity of our election system. We can offer free identification cards to all those who qualify to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Both our rates of substance use and suicide are rooted in underlying mental health disorders, namely anxiety and depression, among others. That is really where we have to attack the problem. We can talk about the open borders and free flow of fentanyl across it all we want, but if we don’t address the root causes of drug use and suicide, we’ll never get ahead. A part of the solution is expanding mental health treatment options, whether it’s day support groups, more funding for out- and in-patient treatment programs, and other intervening measures. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Ultimately, parents should be the ones who are empowered to make the right choices for their children, and I think we need to back to focusing on creating more opportunities for engagement by parents in their child’s educational journey. This would include creating a voucher program for students to attend the school that best meets their educational needs. Further, we need to go back to basics with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), reading, comprehension and critical thinking skills. We need to teach our kids how to think, not what to think. We also need to expand access to online tutoring and extended learning opportunities at no cost. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Government exists to serve its people, and we heard from many residents over the course of the pandemic who were unable to reach various State offices to receive these services. We've also seen serious reductions in our workforce participation rates for a variety of reasons. Maintaining a work-life balance is important whether you're in the public or private sector, and the State should consider that as well as the need to provide the highest-quality customer service to our residents, maintain workers' productivity and quality work product, and support a positive work environment that produces all of the above. All are not mutually exclusive. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My unique role as a business owner and realtor has provided me with a perspective some others don’t have. I’ve seen firsthand the difficulties of our neighbors struggling to find affordable housing. I’ve seen the challenges some hard-working graduates have had in paying back school loans. And I’ve seen how our seniors struggled through higher electricity rates and fuel oil prices that decimated fixed-income budgets at the beginning of the year. I’ve presented countless pieces of legislation to address these issues, including LD 23 to expand the school loan tax credit. I will continue to work for Maine’s people to ensure they can not only afford to live here, but also thrive here. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Kennebec
D	Storme Jude St. Valle	Senate District 15_	Answers Storme Jude St. Valle Maine Senate - District 15 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Holding corporations accountable. We've all experienced the pressure at the fuel pump and grocery store. I was pleased to see that as the price per gallon was steadily increasing that 75 Maine lawmakers signed a letter to our Attorney General to investigate price gouging by energy giants, who claim inflation to be the reason for rising gas prices meanwhile posting record-breaking profits. As your State Senator, I will join them in calling out corporations that take advantage of us and hold them accountable. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. As a Senator, I am committed to making sure that decisions about pregnancy are legally protected, and abortion is accessible. As a medical worker and proud family man, I understand that abortion is healthcare and that all people deserve bodily autonomy. Maine has some of the best laws on the books to provide reproductive care for our citizens. I will continue to listen to my coworkers, scientists, doctors, and most importantly, the people impacted by laws that inhibit their freedoms. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Families and young Mainers are getting priced out of the market, and we see our elders struggling to find affordable retirement homes. As a nurse, I see many patients come through the emergency department seeking housing and a hot meal because they have nowhere else to go. There is no singular solution to solving our housing crisis, and I look forward to working with my constituents, advocates, and experts to approach this issue. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We all know that democracy is at its best when more people can participate. I'm proud to raise my family in the great state of Maine, where we unveiled Ranked Choice Voting, fought for same-day voter registration, and worked on automatic voter registration. I will continue to look for ways to increase participation in the democratic process by advocating for policies like expanding Ranked choice voting for state races. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. It's no secret that many Mainers have lost mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters to the opioid epidemic. As a nurse, one of the most important first steps we can take is to increase detox beds in our state. Across the state, advocates have been calling for this critical resource. Currently, there are 20 beds for uninsured and underinsured people. Detox beds and inpatient beds and the first step in long-term recovery. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Educators in our community deserve huge gratitude for going above and beyond for our children through a pandemic; thank you. We must ensure that all of our kids have a chance to succeed. This starts with making sure that their basic needs are met. Students can't learn when they're hungry or are stressed about if they'll have a home next month. The system is broken, and we need affordable housing and better-paying jobs now. Our area schools in Augusta have done well at reacclimating students back to the classroom by utilizing ARPA funds for programs that allowed interventionists to work one on one with our kids and tutors to help with lost learning. We need to continue to have these resources available for our schools. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? There have been many studies done that show that working remotely is beneficial for the employer and employee. According to the American Psychological Association, it's found that working remotely allows for more flexibility, saves time, and in some situations, can reduce costs of transportation and child care. It is also better for the person's morale and increases productivity. It also widens the pool of folks we can hire for specific jobs. For example, if you're living in the County, you might not be able to move to central or southern Maine for a job; however, when it's made remote or hybrid now, you can apply for that position while maintaining your life in the place that you choose. It gives us the ability to recruit talent that might otherwise go unnoticed. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My reason for running for this office is that I see the struggles of Mainers from the prospective of a healthcare worker. My priorities3 5- are reproductive rights, healthcare, housing, jobs, and lowering everyday costs for working Mainers. I'm running on these issues because it's what I see every day as a nurse when I clock in for work. I see people coming in at their breaking point because of the high cost of living and low wages. I see people experiencing homelessness coming to the hospital for a warm place to sleep and a hot meal. We must protect our people and keep Maine the way life should be. I will fight to keep our home a safe place for us and the next generation. My priorities are your priorities. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Kennebec

Maine Senate - District 16
Candidates
D	David Philip LaFountain	Senate District 16_	No response David Philip LaFountain Maine Senate - District 16
R	Michael Dana Perkins	Senate District 16_	No response Michael Dana Perkins Maine Senate - District 16

Maine Senate - District 17
Candidates
R	Jeff Timberlake	Senate District 17_	No response Jeff Timberlake Maine Senate - District 17
D	Jo-Jean Keller	Senate District 17_	No response Jo-Jean Keller Maine Senate - District 17

Maine Senate - District 18
Candidates
D	Colin D O'Neill	Senate District 18_	No response Colin D O'Neill Maine Senate - District 18
R	Richard A. Bennett	Senate District 18_	Answers Richard A. Bennett Maine Senate - District 18 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Keep taxes in line, reduce energy costs by getting control of our electric grid away from foreign interests, stop government spending on unnecessary activities The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I cosponsored our current abortion law in 1993. I do not favor taxpayer funding of abortions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Ease regulation. Help bring back our manufactured housing industry that was killed in the housing crisis. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We must pass meaningful campaign finance reform to get dark money and foreign governments out of our elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Community outreach and treatment services. Crack down on fentanyl coming into Maine. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Keep schools open for in-person learning. Lengthen school year. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. No What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Bipartisan problem-solving Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Western/Central

Maine Senate - District 19
Candidates
R	Lisa Keim	Senate District 19_	No response Lisa Keim Maine Senate - District 19
D	Matthew Bean	Senate District 19_	No response Matthew Bean Maine Senate - District 19

Maine Senate - District 20
Candidates
D	Bettyann W. Sheats	Senate District 20_	Answers Bettyann W. Sheats Maine Senate - District 20 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? “The least expensive gallon of gas is the one you don’t buy.” Whenever the state gives heating assistance (LIHEAP), we should also be giving free home efficiency tests and link people to available resources to pay for winterization services. It will make people’s homes more comfortable while saving them, and potentially the state, money in the long run. We should expand grants and credits for winterization programs for middle income earners. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would like to work on a comprehensive adoption bill aimed at women giving up a child for adoption. There are a number of programs to offer financial support for adoptive parents. Yet they would be the first to say the real heroes are the women who carry a child for nine month's to place it up for adoption. There is too often a social stigma and few resources for women who make that hard decision. We can change that. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. In the last session, the legislature pasted an extensive package aimed at increasing Maine’s housing supply, with a specific aim of adding more affordable housing. I would give that package a chance to work. I support infill housing (filling vacant spaces along already existing roads, water and sewer lines, bus routes…) The Housing Opportunities for Maine Fund, funded by real estate transfer taxes, should be focused on supporting construction or rehab of affordable housing for now. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine already has the security of paper ballots which are trackable and verifiable. Our municipal clerks are knowledgeable and professional. Instead of reform, we need to improve voter education on Maine’s process and how to access information on proposed bonds, referendums, and candidates. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to establish more treatment facilities throughout the state. When a person is ready to accept help, services need to be accessible immediately. If we make them wait, it is too late. The recently passed Good Samaritan Act should have a positive life saving impact. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The State now meeting the requirement of funding 55% of education cost's will help. We need to build on that to fund quality summer and after school programs. Low-income students, in normal times, lose significantly more learning in the summer than higher income students do. Quality summer and before and after school programs allow students to get more time in a smaller and less structured environment. We also must address the growing teacher shortage. It doesn't matter how much money a district has, if it can't find highly qualified people to lead classrooms, children won't meet their potential. Developing pathways for people who want to switch careers, subsidies for teachers in targeted high need areas as well as higher pay overall will help As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? Transparency, communication, and compromise are essential but lacking on this issue. The new zoning has significant social and economic benefits. Those benefits will be quickly outweighed if Lake Auburn is negatively impacted. Tensions have gotten so high between the sides. A neutral party (hired, state or court appointed) may help mediate and ensure everyone is being heard. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a veteran, I have worked on a number of veteran issues. Through that work, I have been able to have good conversations and build relationships on both sides of the aisle; everyone wants to support veterans. When the work turned to more partisan issues, we were still able to have civil conversations and use those relationships to discuss shared values, find common ground, and work toward common sense solutions. My personal motto is Listen : Learn : Lead. I listen to constituents. I enjoy hearing a variety of perspectives. I do my research. I know leadership is not pushing my agenda. Leadership is motivating and inspiring people to work toward a goal for the common good. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Lewiston-Auburn
R	Eric L. Brakey	Senate District 20_	No response Eric L. Brakey Maine Senate - District 20

Maine Senate - District 21
Candidates
D	Margaret Rose Rotundo	Senate District 21_	No response Margaret Rose Rotundo Maine Senate - District 21
R	Ricky LaChapelle	Senate District 21_	No response Ricky LaChapelle Maine Senate - District 21

Maine Senate - District 22
Candidates
R	James Delmas Libby	Senate District 22_	No response James Delmas Libby Maine Senate - District 22
D	Michael McKinney	Senate District 22_	No response Michael McKinney Maine Senate - District 22

Maine Senate - District 23
Candidates
R	Brogan P.K. Teel	Senate District 23_	No response Brogan P.K. Teel Maine Senate - District 23
D	Matthea Elisabeth Larsen Daughtry	Senate District 23_	No response Matthea Elisabeth Larsen Daughtry Maine Senate - District 23

Maine Senate - District 24
Candidates
D	Eloise Adams Vitelli	Senate District 24_	No response Eloise Adams Vitelli Maine Senate - District 24
R	Matthew R. Brackley	Senate District 24_	No response Matthew R. Brackley Maine Senate - District 24

Maine Senate - District 25
Candidates
R	Jennifer L White	Senate District 25_	No response Jennifer L White Maine Senate - District 25
D	Teresa S. Pierce	Senate District 25_	No response Teresa S. Pierce Maine Senate - District 25

Maine Senate - District 26
Candidates
R	Gary E Plummer	Senate District 26_	No response Gary E Plummer Maine Senate - District 26
D	Timothy Nangle	Senate District 26_	No response Timothy Nangle Maine Senate - District 26

Maine Senate - District 27
Candidates
R	Jeffrey Tounge	Senate District 27_	No response Jeffrey Tounge Maine Senate - District 27
D	Jill Christine Duson	Senate District 27_	No response Jill Christine Duson Maine Senate - District 27

Maine Senate - District 28
Candidates
D	Benjamin Chipman	Senate District 28_	No response Benjamin Chipman Maine Senate - District 28
R	Susan M Abercrombie	Senate District 28_	No response Susan M Abercrombie Maine Senate - District 28

Maine Senate - District 29
Candidates
D	Anne M Carney	Senate District 29_	No response Anne M Carney Maine Senate - District 29
R	John Wesley Lewis	Senate District 29_	No response John Wesley Lewis Maine Senate - District 29

Maine Senate - District 30
Candidates
D	Stacy Fielding Brenner	Senate District 30_	No response Stacy Fielding Brenner Maine Senate - District 30
R	Timothy John Thorsen	Senate District 30_	No response Timothy John Thorsen Maine Senate - District 30

Maine Senate - District 31
Candidates
D	Donna Bailey	Senate District 31_	Answers Donna Bailey Maine Senate - District 31 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? High energy costs are affecting everyone. In Maine, lawmakers should continue to do everything we can to insure that older adults and working families can afford to heat their homes and keep the lights on. One new policy proposal I plan to introduce is a refundable gas tax fairness credit. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. As we have seen with the recent Dobbs decision, our Constitutionally protected rights can be taken away at any moment. I would support amending the Maine Constitution to recognize the right to privacy stripped away at the Federal level, to protect reproductive health care, marriage equality, and the right to parent our children, amongst others. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Housing affordability is an issue we must continue to address. In the Legislature, I championed the creation of the Senior Property Tax Deferral program that allows the state to pay the property taxes for those who qualify. I will introduce legislation to implement a State funded program modeled on Habitat for Humanity. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Anything that makes voting more accessible to more citizens, as our Democracy works best the more folks participate. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I will continue to partner with and listen to the recovery community and Maine families who have lost loved ones in this horrible epidemic, made worse by the opioid manufacturers and other bad actors, as to what will serve them best. In addition, I will reintroduce my bill to implement the Psilocybin Services Act in Maine. Although we need to continue funding existing recovery and treatment, we also need to look at new treatment models, and psychedelics have shown promise in treating addiction. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to support our educators so that they can serve our students and help them to fill in any gaps. I believe in working with parents and educators to determine best policies to help our kids get back on track. The best policy solutions often come from listening and working with people on the ground as opposed to a top-down approach. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Much like the rest of the country, Maine businesses continue to grapple with workforce shortages across a number of industries. In Maine, the Legislature must continue to pass funding for Community college programs that partner with local businesses, apprenticeship programs, career and technical schools, student loan forgiveness programs targeted at sectors in most need, and thoughtfully allowing credentials to be recognized across state and country borders. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I will continue to listen and help give a voice to those who don’t necessarily always have a voice in Augusta - older Mainers, survivors of domestic violence, children and companion animals. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region South/Midcoast
R	Sharri MacDonald	Senate District 31_	No response Sharri MacDonald Maine Senate - District 31

Maine Senate - District 32
Candidates
R	David Corbett	Senate District 32_	No response David Corbett Maine Senate - District 32
D	Henry L Ingwersen	Senate District 32_	Answers Henry L Ingwersen Maine Senate - District 32 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Increased funding and expanded eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is needed even if the governor’s request to the Feds is not granted. A bill (LD 1966) was passed in the last session to improve access to the LIHEAP application process and allow folks to apply easily online. I would want to make sure this is working and helping. Finally, many Mainers have taken advantage of Efficiency Maine incentives to switch to heat pumps, which run on much cleaner electricity. We need to hold utilities accountable for their unacceptable rate spikes and have more consumer input into the rate-setting process so that Mainers have lower energy costs while helping fight climate change. A new law (LD 1913) does this - we lawmakers need to make sure it’s effective. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. The previous multiple choice question is not appropriate. It’s not whether abortion should be “easier” or “harder” to get, but whether it should be protected as part of women’s health care - it’s that basic. Maine currently has strong abortion protection laws, some of which I helped enact when I served in the Maine House. One example is LD 820, which ensures health insurance coverage for all reproductive care, including abortion. If I am elected to the Senate I will want to hear from health care professionals and legal experts about whether or not Maine’s abortion laws need strengthening. The right to a safe and legal abortion is a woman’s private health care right. As a father of three daughters and grandfather of ten, I will fight to uphold this right for them and all Mainers. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would strongly support the new affordable housing law, LD 2003, which allows property owners to build accessory dwelling units on their own property providing they are adhering to all municipal guidance. This law will help family members of homeowners and others stay in their communities to live and work. This new law is not just an affordable housing solution, it's a property rights issue as well. The current Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which mirrors the federal program and has incentivized developers of affordable housing units built in the state, is set to expire here in Maine in a number of years . I would propose an extension and improvements that would continue to leverage more affordable housing units here in Maine. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe that all political candidates should achieve a majority (over 50%) of the vote to get elected. Therefore, I would reform rank-choice voting in Maine to apply to the state legislative and Governor’s race. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to continue funding of the successful OPTIONS (Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach, Naloxone and Safety) initiative in Maine. Under the initiative, mobile response teams in every Maine county engage with communities that have high rates of drug overdoses to promote drug prevention and harm reduction strategies, connect people directly to recovery services and treatment, and distribute naloxone, the lifesaving overdose medication. We need to make sure that all recovery houses meet national standards so that they can receive Maine funding and maintain a high quality of care and treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? My son-in-law, a high school teacher, says “the battle is won or lost around the dinner table.” Insecurities in housing, food, child care, and health care are priorities for struggling families. We need to continue to fund programs that give families a boost towards basic security. As an educator for 25 years, I know we cannot expect our already overworked, excellent teachers alone to close the achievement gap that the pandemic has widened. Our schools need more qualified classroom teachers and professional staff, including social workers and guidance counselors. For this, adequate funding and training is a must. All ideas are on the table - one is to attract our growing community of retired Mainers to get involved in tutoring and the use of proven interventions to help close this gap. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine needs to fund more programs for our vocational tech schools and community colleges to offer more hospitality trades such as culinary arts, hotel management, etc. We also need to support affordable housing initiatives so that everyone in the workforce can afford a place to live and raise their family. Finally, Maine has an aging workforce, many of whom have retired early and are not going back to work due to health concerns regarding Covid. As Maine get safer once again, we need to find ways to entice our older population back to work in the tourist industry as well as other sectors of our economy. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Taking steps to manage the skyrocketing cost of living for working Maine families and retirees is a priority for me. Passing legislation that will open the door to more affordable housing, bringing down energy costs by holding corporations and utilities accountable for price-gouging, and making health care more affordable are a few things I will focus on to help bring down costs for fellow Mainers. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region South/Midcoast

Maine Senate - District 33
Candidates
D	Kendra A Williams	Senate District 33_	Answers Kendra A Williams Maine Senate - District 33 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? With funding administered through Efficiency Maine Trust, I’d support ways to increase incentives for weatherization, including the installation of high-performance heat pumps, to achieve identified goals of having 100,000 heat pumps in Maine homes and businesses by 2025 along other weatherization goals. I’m in favor of initiatives that combine Maine’s existing rebate and tax credit program with the Federal Inflation Reduction Act to maximize the incentives. With anticipated demand, a focus on ensuring adequate supplies of heat pumps as well as well-trained employees and installers is needed. Programs already begun at our community colleges for training and apprenticeships, along with stipends for transportation and childcare to support students while training, would have my support. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I’m aware that there are ongoing discussions and a review about whether the current Maine Constitution provides abortion protections or whether a constitutional amendment is required to ensure that they are permanent and not subject to change based on the political party with a majority. It takes two-thirds of the legislature to support bringing the question of an amendment to the voters in a statewide referendum. I will vote in favor of doing so If it’s determined that such an amendment is necessary to ensure that women’s reproductive rights are permanently protected in Maine. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Building upon Maine’s recent progress in providing increased funding for affordable housing, I’d focus on the opportunities that exist with Maine’s aging housing stock. Given the high cost of building materials, renovating older homes could prove to be more economical. Many of these homes were built when families were typically larger. With the new law that permits multi -family construction on formerly single lots, possibilities exist to convert many of them into multi-family units which would improve housing affordability and availability. Opportunities could be promoted and incentivized by the Maine State Housing Authority. Adherence to updated codes and improved weatherization and energy options would also result in safer and healthier living environments. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Implement ranked choice voting in all Maine elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I’d like to see Maine’s portion of the settlement from the pharmaceutical companies that had a role in the opioid addiction crisis be put into a fund that’s restricted to providing services and support to the victims and their families. It could also be used for prevention. A successful example would be the Fund for Healthy Maine that was created with the tobacco settlement funds and has had many successes. I would also promote using available funding to create a statewide, coordinated system of support that includes multidisciplinary teams. The teams would include law enforcement, medical providers, social workers, attorneys and other community resource providers. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? It’s critical to Maine’s future to ensure that students who have been left behind during the past few years have the opportunity to catch up. I’m concerned about all students, but particularly our youngest students for whom literacy and math skills are critical by the third grade if they are to achieve in other ways throughout their school years. Maine could assess the reading and math scores of students and use the data to determine the need. I would advocate for Maine to apply for a targeted grant from the Title 1 federal program to be directed towards Maine districts with identified needs for increased supports. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? As the state with the oldest population in the country, we have a large number of people leaving the workforce due to retirement without enough younger people to replace them. The solutions to employee shortages include offering incentives to retain our younger population, recruiting younger people from other states and working with Congress to loosen restrictions on immigrants and work visas. One thing I think the Legislature could do is to provide funding to create a recruitment campaign. However, going back to the earlier question regarding housing, there needs to be coordination to ensure affordable housing is available to those who would like to live and work in Maine. It will take a multifaceted and collaborative approach involving the Legislature, Congress and employers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I’d focus on continuing the current efforts to ensure the work of the Child Welfare Ombudsman’s Office continues. Our child welfare system has been broken for years and is getting worse, as evidenced by too many child deaths and inadequate assessment and planning for child safety. Systematic reform is long overdue and has to be a priority. The Government Oversight Committee needs to be involved and develop a meaningful process that will ensure that all of the stakeholders who care enough to be connected to the system, now or in the past, are heard and taken seriously. We can no longer rely only on piecemeal solutions. Timely and comprehensive reform of the system is needed so we don’t lose yet another generation of children to the trauma of abuse and neglect. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region South/Midcoast
R	Matthew A Harrington	Senate District 33_	No response Matthew A Harrington Maine Senate - District 33

Maine Senate - District 34
Candidates
R	Bradley Scott Ducharme	Senate District 34_	No response Bradley Scott Ducharme Maine Senate - District 34
D	Joseph E. Rafferty Jr.	Senate District 34_	No response Joseph E. Rafferty Jr. Maine Senate - District 34

Maine Senate - District 35
Candidates
R	Julie N Rakic	Senate District 35_	No response Julie N Rakic Maine Senate - District 35
D	Mark Lawrence	Senate District 35_	No response Mark Lawrence Maine Senate - District 35

Maine House of Representatives - District 1
Candidates
R	Austin L Theriault	House District 1_	No response Austin L Theriault Maine House of Representatives - District 1
D	Dana Appleby	House District 1_	Answers Dana Appleby Maine House of Representatives - District 1 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Recently signed into law by Governor Mills, LD 2010, “An Act to Help Maine Residents with High Electricity Costs” will guarantee cash rebates to Maine energy utility customers by Oct 30 of this year. This is an important step that will bring immediate relief to so many in our community who have struggled with the high cost of fuel. One of my priorities as your representative will be to examine ways in which we can reduce our community’s reliance on fossil fuels, and do so in a way that lowers current and future costs for our district’s residents. I am determined to find creative solutions to improve our energy efficiency while reducing consumer energy costs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. In Maine, abortion is legal until "viability," and after that, only in cases where it could threaten a mother’s physical or mental health or life. This seems to be a fair balance that covers most cases where someone would require an abortion, but in the face of our community’s healthcare shortages, we must ensure that those who need this medical treatment are able to access it as early in their pregnancy as possible, in order to reduce harm and potential complications. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. As your representative, I will look into incentives for renovating, expanding, and building safe, lower income housing options for renters, and work to find ways to ease the pathway to homeownership for those who wish to purchase a home. Providing more quality, affordable units will have many benefits—it can attract more workers to our district, increase neighborhood property values, and ensure that our fellow Mainers have enough money left over each month to funnel their savings back into our local businesses. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Our democracy depends on participation. In order to have a government for the people, by the people, we need to make sure that people actually participate in electing their government through voting. While our elections in Maine are some of the most secure in the country, we can improve in the sense that we can do more to ensure greater participation. As your representative, I will champion the following policies: expand automatic voter registration, provide a process for voters to request ongoing absentee voter status and Send voters a non-partisan, friendly reminder about upcoming elections and their polling location. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. As your representative, I will work to make sure that we have enough community resources available to help Mainers find a pathway out of the darkness of addiction. Our Attorney General has gone after those in the pharmaceutical industry who profited from the opioid crisis that hit families hard in Maine. I want to make sure those settlement funds go directly to help Mainers who are experiencing substance use disorder. I would also advocate for specialized training for our law enforcement. They are often at the front lines of the drug crisis, and they can be a key intermediary to help divert addicted individuals away from the criminal justice system toward treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Solving any problem begins with accurate information. First, we need to identify data about the districts and types of students who were most negatively impacted by the pandemic. Remote schooling was not easy for every student, and no doubt some students’ access to reliable internet, computing devices, and a quiet space to do homework were all contributing factors. Once we identify specific students and districts, we need to provide additional support in the form of after-school mentorship/tutoring, summer programming, and potentially other wrap-around services to address the income-related factors of those gaps. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? Being able to supply neighboring states with our own, home-grown wind power would be a great source of potential income for our county. However, before the project moves forward, we need to ensure that developers present a proper plan for grid implementation and maintenance. Although the electricity would come from a renewable source, the transmission lines themselves could pose a risk to our forests, so ensuring that safety is their number one priority. Just one example to consider, burying power lines, while more expensive, can reduce their risk of igniting wildfires by 99%. Since this clean energy resource is part of building a new, cleaner grid, we need to build resiliency into it; that means having a robust maintenance and climate-forward installation plan in place. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I believe that running for office is an act of service. It isn't about winning a competition or building a name for myself, it's about YOU, the people I would represent. As your representative, I promise to always listen with an open heart and an open mind. I will work to protect our rights and our natural environment, and make sure that our community gets the resources it deserves. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Aroostook

Maine House of Representatives - District 2
Candidates
D	Bernard 'Ben' Paradis	House District 2_	Answers Bernard 'Ben' Paradis Maine House of Representatives - District 2 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Increase Home Heating Subsidies and encourage better weatherization of our homes. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maintain the present women's right of to choose and offer assistance to women from states that restrict these rights. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Increase State Subsidies to promote developers to build affordable housing. Make permitting less burdensome. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We have secure voting at this time. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Many get addicted because of medical prescription abuse. Overusers should be treated, not prosecuted. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Increase educators' compensation to that of others with college educations. Treat educators with the respect they deserve. Create incentives for teachers to teach in low-income areas. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? Such a grid should be able to connect the entire County to the rest of New England, not just wind farms. Some of our Federal Assistance should be coupled with State reserves to achieve this sorely needed improvement to the County's energy needs. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? A top priority for me is to stem the out migration of our young people. One way is to help attract businesses with better paying jobs, as well as encourage the growth of small businesses. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Aroostook
R	Roger Clarence Albert	House District 2_	No response Roger Clarence Albert Maine House of Representatives - District 2

Maine House of Representatives - District 3
Candidates
D	David Harold McCrea	House District 3_	Answers David Harold McCrea Maine House of Representatives - District 3 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Truth be known, the worldwide price of fossil fuels has risen dramatically over the past few years and for many reasons, most of which are beyond State or even Federal control. In the legislature we have supported the HEAP program, and have provided considerable tax-relief for seniors, and sent $850 checks to all Maine residents who filed a 2021 Maine Income Tax form. (Just a reminder to those people who normally who do not have to file a Maine Income Tax form, this year they must file before October 31 to get that check) I must say that it bothers me greatly that those companies that we rely on for electricity and fuel are more profitable than even while the public is suffering. I hope that we can do something about this. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Regardless of my personal opinions regarding abortion I do not think that a legislature should dictate the right of a woman to choose her reproductive care. I would support a bill that ensures the right of women from other states to come to Maine for reproductive services. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Anyone who has tried to buy or rent a home knows just how difficult the task has become. The legislature has focused on funding programs for housing projects and will undoubtedly do more. In 2021 I submitted LD 1530 which paved the way for Tiny Homes (400 sq. feet or less) to be placed on existing or new lots while using existing water and sewer as long as they were up to code. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine already has a high level of voter turnout in very secure elections. I strongly believe that the right for all citizens to vote is foundational to our state and country, therefore I support anything that makes it more likely that more citizens vote while maintaining the integrity of the election. . In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opiod crisis is perhaps the most complex and difficult problem in our society today. There are many, many factors involved both in creating the treating the problem. I am absolutely certain that our priority must be in the treatment and recovery arena. Such services, however expensive must be made more readily available to those in need. It goes without saying that getting and keeping appropriate staffing in facilities is critical as well as problematic. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We are making significant progress in the field of internet connectivity especially in rural areas which certainly will help. Economically disadvantaged rural areas also have more difficulty obtaining and retaining quality staffing in our schools and we are addressing this aspect as best we can. Recently the legislative Committee Education and Cultural Affairs on which I serve , moved a bill which the Legislature passed and Gov. Mills signed into law which provided 2 years of tuition free college at our Community Colleges to all 2020-23 Maine High School graduates. These steps are aimed at closing the gap between high and low income portions of our communities. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? The initial phase of implementing wind and solar projects certainly begins with the developer, the landowner and the local community and therefore this is the level of initial contracts. With regard to the transmission lines, we need to keep in mind that these are "for profit" companies and as such can enter into whatever contract they deem profitable. It is difficult but not impossible to negotiate benefits for the entire County. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As I look back at my 3 terms in the Maine House, I am I struck by the wide and diverse variety of my 20 plus bills that have been passed into law. If re-elected I suspect this diversity in bills to continue but as of now I am planning on working on bills having to do with the medical field. This includes programs that attract and keep physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, medical technicians, dentists. and even veterinarians. Perhaps state backed incentive type programs for rural areas might be a successful approach. I certainly will consider other bills and encourage my constituents to contact me if they have any suggestions. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Aroostook
R	Mark Michael Babin	House District 3_	No response Mark Michael Babin Maine House of Representatives - District 3

Maine House of Representatives - District 4
Candidates
D	Jordyn Rossignol	House District 4_	Answers Jordyn Rossignol Maine House of Representatives - District 4 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I don't think there's a magic answer for anyone as it's something that is concerning to the entire world and we are all feeling it's impact. However, we need make sure we are bringing aide to the most vulnerable first such as providing fuel oil assistance programs to the elderly and families with young children. I think that companies profiting of of this issue currently needs to end immediately...price gouging and utility companies who take advantage of these times by raising rates need to end. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. As a woman, I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose. No situation is black and white and no one should govern another person's body. I also firmly believe that the pro life movement is strictly "pro-birth" and not pro life because children and families are suffering to cover healthcare, childcare and basic costs to support their children. We need to support our rural health care systems and provide a wider range of access to health care to women and children. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. As a business owner who operates on very slim profit margins and am unable to pay my wonderful staff competitive wages, I often am in a position to help my staff find housing. It has become so bad that I have been asking families to take in our staff for a few months at a time to keep them employed and HERE in Caribou until they find housing they can afford or when housing becomes available. This is a true crisis in rural Maine. We need to encourage first time home ownership by offering education/programs that assist in the home buying process. We also need to take a second look at how short term rentals are impacting access to housing options that were once up for grabs for tenants seeking long term housing who no longer have that option. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Something that is not done enough is getting young people to vote! So many young people are not registered or involved in the voting process. We need to make voter registration easier and more accessible for people of all ages/abilities while also potentially enacting a system to enable ongoing absentee voter status. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. One, legislators need to be empathetic in regards to this crisis and health care issue. Going after Big Pharma rather than the people suffering from addiction is a great place to start. Establishing reliable and quality recovery centers in every community is imperative. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Parents need help. Not every child has support at home when it comes to their education. Before and after school assistance in school to help children catch up would be incredibly beneficial. Remote learning was impossible for children to receive a quality education. We need to pinpoint schools that struggled the most during remote learning and bring them additional resources to get these children caught up in a way that is not overwhelming to the child. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? Aroostook County should have more renewable energy resources here as we have endless amounts of land to build solar farms, ect. We are experiencing extremely unaffordable energy costs in our homes and businesses and a clean affordable option would be helpful to Mainers. Not to mention the opportunity for economic development with the employment opportunities associated with this endeavor. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? One of my initial reasons for entering this race was to be an advocate for families and children and small business owners. Child care is critical yet is not a topic that is being discussed. Childcare is an integral part of infrastructure and without access to high quality reliable child care, parents aren't working therefore our communities/ economy continues to struggle. I plan on figuring out the discrepancies in the business model associated with childcare and finding ways to fix this incredibly broken and undervalued sector. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Aroostook
R	Timothy Guerrette	House District 4_	No response Timothy Guerrette Maine House of Representatives - District 4

Maine House of Representatives - District 5
Candidates
R	Joseph F. Underwood	House District 5_	No response Joseph F. Underwood Maine House of Representatives - District 5
D	Kevin Gregory Freeman	House District 5_	No response Kevin Gregory Freeman Maine House of Representatives - District 5

Maine House of Representatives - District 6
Candidates
R	Donald James Ardell	House District 6_	No response Donald James Ardell Maine House of Representatives - District 6

Maine House of Representatives - District 7
Candidates
R	Gregory Swallow	House District 7_	No response Gregory Swallow Maine House of Representatives - District 7

Maine House of Representatives - District 8
Candidates
D	Kevin B. Ritchie	House District 8_	Answers Kevin B. Ritchie Maine House of Representatives - District 8 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Bolster or supplement LIHEAP funds, rapidly implement “The Inflation Reduction Act” here in Maine, and further enhance outreach and community education for our excellent "Efficiency Maine" programs -- swift, effective use of "The Inflation Reduction Act" and "Efficiency Maine" are key to affordable energy costs for all Mainers, but especially for folks who have lower incomes. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Although I am not in favor of abortion, I believe it is not my right to decide for others. A woman’s right to choose should be written into the Maine Constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Support policies which tax vacant properties in ways that incentivize their upkeep, maintenance and re-development. Better utilize Opportunity Zones in larger towns. In our very rural region: 1) connect qualified, homeless buyers with re-developed properties and existing buyer programs and, 2) incentivize affordable housing apartment projects that encourage renters with diverse income levels and backgrounds to live together; gentrification often separates us by income and outlook and turns diverse communities into mono-cultures. In my opinion, this is not America as it should be. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine’s voting laws are exceptionally transparent, well-structured, fair and effective; I can’t think of any urgently needed reform to them. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Replace the Penobscot County Jail, adding ample space for rehabilitation, counseling and other support services to its design. Staff this new facility in accordance with actual need, for both rehabilitation/recovery and incarceration. This would allow police to better do their jobs by moving them out of the crisis-level social services role that the drug epidemic and our inadequate response to it, has unfairly imposed on them. In addition, address the backlog of court cases resulting both from COVID and the drug crisis. Our courts are teetering on ineffectiveness and collapse because of the volume of cases and inadequate staffing to address them. Speedy prosecution and incarceration and/or rehabilitation, should be the norm; we need Maine residents healthy and employed. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Although recent free college tuition for those most affected by the COVID times has been a smart and important decision, we also need to build more capacity in our technical and vocational training, in both the regional high school programs and in our excellent state technical schools. “Fully funding education” means investing efficiently in the skills and knowledge that young people want and need, in ways that serve our Maine economy. Plans for a transmission line linking wind farms in Aroostook County to the regional grid are being eyed in Massachusetts as a potentially massive source of clean power. What should the region get in return from a developer before such a project moves forward? Such projects should fund the redevelopment and transformation of the Maine grid in Aroostook and northern Penobscot counties in ways that function efficiently and effectively and accommodate expansion for future, not yet planned, clean energy projects. Compensation for the long-term changes in land usage should be worked out with existing regional business development organizations to develop infrastructure, training and recruitment of workers, and encourage new businesses. Such projects have the potential for enormous financial benefits to both developers and the people and communities of our region; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “get it right”. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I would bring a sustained emphasis on economic development and infrastructure improvements for the most rural parts of our very rural state; there should be far-greater balance, geographically, with our state economy. Good jobs and prosperity should not exist only south of Augusta, while rural places wither and struggle. Dependable, affordable, high-speed internet for every corner of rural Maine is critical to this. High quality, consistently available broadband should be as routine and affordable as electricity. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Aroostook
R	Tracy Quint	House District 8_	No response Tracy Quint Maine House of Representatives - District 8

Maine House of Representatives - District 9
Candidates
D	Anne Churchill Perry	House District 9_	No response Anne Churchill Perry Maine House of Representatives - District 9
R	John Victor Chambers	House District 9_	No response John Victor Chambers Maine House of Representatives - District 9

Maine House of Representatives - District 10
Candidates
R	Kenneth Davis Jr.	House District 10_	No response Kenneth Davis Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 10
U	Melissa Louisa Hinerman	House District 10_	Answers Melissa Louisa Hinerman Maine House of Representatives - District 10 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Maine winters can be rough, that's for sure. It certainly doesn't help that our everyday expenses are through the roof. Even before the soaring costs, Mainers were already making the impossible decisions like whether or not to buy their medication or put food on the table. One policy I'd be in favor of is reducing or eliminating the gas tax temporarily. Every little bit helps and that would certainly benefit a big portion of our population. I'd also support anything we can do to stop utility companies from elevating their rates and corporations from price gouging. There are numerous other programs as well that will help Mainers, we just need to make sure that everyone is aware that they're available. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I am very much for a woman's right to choose. That being said though, of course there are certain situations that should be given a second look. Late term abortions and women that use abortion as birth control for example. Extreme cases like these happen, but I would hope they are very few and far between. It is such a fine line with all of these reproductive medical decisions, because every situation is different. Lumping them all together to say 'no' to abortion and 'yes' to abortion is ludicrous. But when it comes down to it, women should have the choice of deciding what happens with their own bodies, not individuals elected to office who didn't earn medical degrees. Either way, it is a very slippery slope when we allow government to make any sort of medical decisions for anyone. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We've witnessed the housing affordability crisis get worse year after year. Supply and demand - not enough spaces leads to higher rental prices. The state needs to work with the private sector to create more housing. As a multi generational Downeaster myself, I love seeing family homesteads passed down through the generations. I was one of them - in 2018 I lost my 4th generation home to fire. I was so proud to live in that house. Being able to help Mainers stay in their family homes would be a priority for me. In the event that an individual was moving, what about some sort of an incentive for selling your home to a fellow Mainer? That would at least ensure a Maine native would have a chance at home ownership over some investment company or someone "from away" with deeper pockets. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. If anything, we should be making it easier for everyone to vote and have their say, not making it more difficult. You see news stories about bigger cities around the county where people stand in line for hours on end, to cast their vote. Bless their hearts for being patriotic and recognizing the importance of voting. It makes me that much more thankful for my small hometown town office and the volunteers with familiar faces to greet us and hand out the iconic "I Voted" stickers. But those who don't have that luxury, it's a problem. Long lines, distance to your local voting site, not having a ride, time off from work, finding a babysitter, etc. These are all issues that can be avoided with easier access to absentee voting and encouragement to do so. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis is certainly ongoing and is seemingly getting worse over time. I feel there used to be such a stigma about discussing individual substance abuse issues but it's so important to know that everyone has their demons and that's okay. Recognizing the problem is the first step to getting any sort of assistance to overcome. There are so many resources out there for those struggling, it's a matter of sharing and making sure these individuals are aware of anything and everything that is available to them. I personally know so many that are proudly in recovery and are doing so well. There isn't one answer to solve everything, but I know that having that support in every community is certainly a big help to a successful recovery. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The pandemic was hard on everyone. Students were caught in the middle and had to abruptly adjust to whatever was thrown at them for an extended period of time. Everyone learns differently and those that struggled more so with remote learning should not be penalized for it. There should be more resources available like tutoring/after school help/summer programs, but I do realize that these necessary resources are few and far between for some schools. I have a speaking engagement with a local teacher group in a few weeks and I look forward to inquiring and getting better incite into what is actually happening today in our classrooms and what teachers need from lawmakers in order to be successful. Between late 2021 and early 2022, Washington County saw six homicides in six months, with police blaming drug and mental health problems. What's your top priority in fighting violent crime? The violence that has occurred in Washington County within the past year has been devastating and illegal substances and mental health problems are absolutely to blame. Unfortunately, there is no easy or simple solution to combat this ongoing issue, other than stating the obvious - more services are needed for both. But how do we reach those that aren't asking for help? I think that is the difference. For those that are asking, programs need to be in place to assist when called upon. It's all about finding sensible solutions that benefit as many people as possible. One thing that I think may help is sentencing drug dealers from out of state more harshly. With a maximum sentence, maybe they'll think twice about trafficking in our state and profiting on poisoning our citizens. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I know community members of all ages would benefit from this tremendously for so many years to come - a recreational center. We don't have anything of the sort. Imagine having a safe space for teenagers to hang out whenever it's needed; a big playground, ball field and basketball court. Ice skating rink? A gymnasium where we could have movie nights, public suppers, beano and community dances. A fitness center and swimming pool would be a dream too. It would be amazing to be able to be a part of bringing something like this to my community. It is so needed and could really help address some very important and ongoing issues that we have Downeast. I really do hope that my district will give me that chance and trust that I'll do my best to represent them and make a positive difference. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Washington

Maine House of Representatives - District 11
Candidates
D	Roland (Skip) Rogers	House District 11_	Answers Roland (Skip) Rogers Maine House of Representatives - District 11 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Fuel assistance must be extended to encompass a broader demographic of Mainers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We should make Maine a safe and welcoming place for women from other states seeking abortions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would favor encouraging construction of affordable housing to rent and to purchase. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I fail to recognize the need for voting reform. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We’ve got to educate people about the dangers of opioid use. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? I will leave the methods of educating students to educational professionals. I stand ready to assist with their recommendations. Between late 2021 and early 2022, Washington County saw six homicides in six months, with police blaming drug and mental health problems. What's your top priority in fighting violent crime? Washington County needs a prosecutor who will dedicate the resources to effectively deter crime. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I would like to focus on transportation infrastructure. I think it is the key to economic growth. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Washington
R	Tiffany Strout	House District 11_	No response Tiffany Strout Maine House of Representatives - District 11

Maine House of Representatives - District 12
Candidates
R	Billy Bob Faulkingham	House District 12_	No response Billy Bob Faulkingham Maine House of Representatives - District 12
U	Roy D. Gott	House District 12_	Answers Roy D. Gott Maine House of Representatives - District 12 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Rising costs for fuel, electricity, etc. are beyond control of the Maine Legislature. We need to focus on supports for prior and newly vulnerable and make applying for those supports straightforward. We should make sure no new gaps between need and available supports arise, and find ways to supplement existing programs if they do. We need to invest in improving energy efficiency of Maine homes and make building energy-efficient housing a priority. Long term, we need to advocate at state and national level to curtail price-gouging, and we need to continue research into renewable energy generation, making renewable energy more affordable to better compete with electricity generated from fossil fuels. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. There may be an influx of people seeking abortions from states where they are now illegal. We should not turn those people away. We must make sure our practitioners are safe from prosecution for providing those services, and we should try to protect the recipients as well. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. So many parcels are in need of redevelopment to become functional housing. We need to work with municipalities and the private sector to find ways to develop new low-income and senior housing that is energy efficient. Also, we need to consider the short-term rental model and how to allow it to coexist with long-term rentals - not cannibalize them. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I feel Maine's voting system is relatively robust already. If we were to look at areas for improvement, I would look at automatic voter registration. I'm open to other ideas as well to maintain or enhance the security of our elections, however, I will not support such a measure if it makes it more difficult for eligible voters to participate. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I want to see that our supports for those recovering from addiction or seeking treatment are available to anyone who needs them. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The state defends its Essential Programs and Services funding formula as the “fairest” ever in the State of Maine. EPS favors compact, urban areas over broad, rural ones which are invariably the more economically disadvantaged. The state should consider modifications to the EPS formula to invest more heavily in poorer districts with demonstrated lack of achievement and/or growth to bring greater equity within the formula. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? We absolutely need to continue to work toward decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, and wind, including offshore, should be a part of that plan. Any installation into the Gulf of Maine should be with a full understanding of the potential detriments to the local and larger ecosystems. When implemented, it must be done in ways that ensure compatibility with continuing, existing uses of the area such as fishing. Impact on picturesque natural surroundings should be a consideration whenever practical. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My degree is in computer science and my work is in IT. I’m thrilled to see efforts to expand broadband across the state taking hold. I want to see that work continue and among the other efforts that many residents have expressed concerns over, I look at expanded broadband access as a means to make Maine more attractive to its own youth who might otherwise leave the state for opportunities elsewhere – opportunities that might stand a chance at benefiting from a work-from-home model in a place with good Internet access. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock

Maine House of Representatives - District 13
Candidates
D	J. Mark Worth	House District 13_	Answers J. Mark Worth Maine House of Representatives - District 13 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? All of us, regardless of party, are facing higher prices. Fortunately, the prices of gasoline and heating oil, which are responding to the world market, have dropped somewhat, but they're still high. We should make more Mainers eligible for heating assistance by adjusting the guidelines for programs like heat and weatherization assistance. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe Roe v. Wade was decided correctly, and I disagree with the current Court's decision to take the freedom to choose away from women. Maine currently has strong protections for women, and we should keep those protections. I support the freedom for women to control their own bodies and make their own decisions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need more housing for older Mainers, and should make sure programs aimed at first-time home ownership for real people can compete in this competitive real estate market. To help more Maine people buy homes, we want to be sure all Maine’s properties aren’t owned by out of state investment companies. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe Christopher Krebs, head of election security for former President Trump, who declared that in the 2020 election, "There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised." I believe Trump's Attorney General, Bill Barr, and Trump's Justice Department, that found that there was no election fraud of a kind that would have changed the results of the election. I honor the decisions of the Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices appointed by Pres. Trump himself, who ruled against the former president in his attempts to overturn the election results. When we support the Constitution, when we support our Republic, we should also support the will of the people as expressed in free and fair election results. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I want to make sure community resources are available and recovery support networks have the resources they need to help people thrive. Addiction is a serious problem that should be addressed with compassion. At the same time, we can't let traffickers and dealers off that profit from people’s pain. I appreciate the fact that our Attorney General has gone after Big Pharma, including the Sackler family who profited from the opioid crisis that hit families hard in Maine. We need to make sure that settlement funds go into options to help Mainers experiencing addictions. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We should support training beyond high school for all adult learners, not just the college-bound. Apprenticeships are one avenue of job training that can benefit from state support. Our community colleges train students for a wide variety of careers, and our goal should be to make community college free in Maine. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? The purpose of a pilot project is to give us information about how well the project works. While we need to be moving toward more sustainable sources of energy such as wind power, we also need to protect our fisheries. Let's see how well the pilot project works, and learn from it, before we take the next step. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I believe it is possible for Democrats, Republicans, and independents to work together in areas were we can find agreement. It shouldn't matter who came up with an idea, if it's a good idea. I'll support any good piece of legislation regardless of which party proposed it. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock
R	John David Linnehan	House District 13_	No response John David Linnehan Maine House of Representatives - District 13

Maine House of Representatives - District 14
Candidates
D	Lynne Williams	House District 14_	Answers Lynne Williams Maine House of Representatives - District 14 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I honestly do not think that any policy per se would reduce Mainer's costs, given that the term "costs" is extremely broad and inflation is a national phenomenon. However, "cold weather [is] coming," and it is imperative that all Mainers know about LIHEAP (heating assistance) availability, eligibility criteria and how to apply. It is also important that municipalities make it known to their community members that there is also a Maine Weatherization Assistance Program, operated by the Maine State Housing Authority. The Weatherization and Central Heating Improvement Programs (CHIP) finances energy related repairs for low income homeowners and renters. That program is run through Maine's Community Action Program (CAP) agencies. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support creating more locations throughout Maine, particularly in rural communities, where women can get abortions, and learn about, and obtain, birth control. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Encourage and support municipalities that limit seasonal rentals, and encourage year round rentals, by providing incentives, some financial, some legislative, for those municipalities that do so. While the Speaker's housing bill in this legislative session did provide some incentives for municipalities to create more affordable housing, it is imperative that in the next session we continue that support in increase it. And we must always keep the focus on affordability. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The Legislature should once again pass a bill to prohibit foreign-owned companies or foreign nationals from contributing to referendum campaigns in Maine. While such a bill passed the legislature with bipartisan support during this session, the Governor vetoed it. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Greatly increase needle exchange programs and increase funding for local programs to help those individuals who wish to address their addictions. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The state can help students by identifying those who have been experiencing learning gaps, and funding programs whereby such students could receive individual or small group learning experiences to try to help them catch up. I realize, however, that there are many social factors that contribute to learning gaps, and that these factors existed prior to the pandemic, which exacerbated them. Consequently, school leadership must partner with Maine DOE, and DHHS, to create programs that help students to be open and able to learn by addressing not only educational needs but also social and emotional needs. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? I realize climate change is a real threat, but have not decided whether to support this proposal. Years ago, I represented folks who lived in communities where mountaintop wind companies wanted to develop projects, which my clients opposed. Because these companies had the funding to create the narrative about how these projects would be so beneficial to rural communities, all of them were built. Now these companies are no longer even paying impact fees to the communities, or taxes, based on their contention that the equipment is obsolete. Now that mountaintop wind is "over," I have no reason to believe that offshore wind will be any more beneficial to coastal communities than mountaintop wind was to inland communities. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a Member of the Transportation Committee (the only woman member), my focus has been, and will continue to be, on increasing public transportation, particularly in Maine's rural communities. We need to recognize that there are many folks who, for various reasons, including age, disabilities, lack of a reliable vehicle or - yes, personal preference - want and need public transportation. I have been very supportive of bills to extend rail travel from Portland to Lewiston-Auburn and to Bangor, via Waterville. I am also supportive of increasing service on Concord Coachlines. And, in a new development, I am anxious to get more information about Quebec's proposed introduction of rail service from Montreal to Boston via Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock
R	Stephen Coston	House District 14_	Answers Stephen Coston Maine House of Representatives - District 14 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Per the tax foundation, Mainers presently bear the 10th highest state and local tax burden in the nation. Government spending is the single most significant driver of inflation and curtailing Maine's present level of taxation and spending is the single best thing we can do to limit inflation, not to mention make our State a more appealing place to live and work for everyone. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support Maine's present abortion legislation, which does not restrict abortion prior to viability, and I will not seek any changes to the present legislation. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Much of the affordability issue rests in the hands of local municipalities whose zoning restricts density, minimum dwelling size, etc. These restrictions directly drive up the cost of housing by forcing people to pay for more space than they need or want. On the State level we should work on making Maine more competitive in terms of affordability and how we treat small businesses. A stronger and freer economy will increase opportunities for people to be able to make the personal financial math work out for them here in Maine. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe--as I think we all do--that it is of the utmost importance that elections are legitimate. But, as I answered "yes" to the previous question, I do not doubt the legitimacy of Maine's elections so I am not seeking any specific voting reform. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. It is important to look at all the costs of any given policy, not just one specific cost. Looking at only one specific cost while disregarding all other costs was a tragic mistake in the way COVID policy was handled, and it caused a dramatic uptick in drug overdoses and deaths of despair not just in Maine but all over. I will be sure not to disregard costs related to mental health and deaths of despair when I contribute to policymaking. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? This is a result of remote schooling, which I strongly believe is inferior to in-person education in general, but certainly better suits high-income students than low-income students. This is another example of COVID-related policy which backfired by failing to consider all the types of costs while focusing on just one. I do not believe there is any magical way we can make students who fell behind for no fault of their own "catch up" and gain back what they lost, but it is crucial that we don't make any future policy--whether related to education or not--in such a poorly thought out way. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? I generally do not support government subsidized projects in the energy sector, nor other sectors. Government subsidies skew the economics which provide the fundamental information on which people seek to make rational decisions related to the allocation of resources. The economic skew reduces efficiency, increases waste, drives inflation, and creates undeserved windfalls and artificial failures. The increasing level of government involvement in energy policy and spending will be a disaster if it is not reversed. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a practical individual seeking to address practical issues. The government presently has too much involvement in our day-to-day lives, is too broad and inefficient, and produces policy that makes Maine lack the competitiveness it needs to attract, retain, and support its residents and small businesses. These are the practical issues I seek to address as I seek to help make Maine more livable and workable for all. We are focusing far too much on headline issues and partisan talking points, many of which are largely outside the scope and purview of the Maine legislature, at the cost of our pressing day-to-day needs. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock

Maine House of Representatives - District 15
Candidates
D	Holly Eaton	House District 15_	Answers Holly Eaton Maine House of Representatives - District 15 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We need to help more Mainers invest in weatherization to make their homes more efficient, and improve access to heating assistance programs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would like to see our right to reproductive healthcare, including safe abortion care, protected in our state constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. A shortage of workforce housing is an issue that is deeply impacting my district and coastal and island communities across the state. I would like to explore ways we can incentivize building workforce housing to provide more year round rental opportunities and paths to home ownership for local residents. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The Legislature should consider expanding automatic voter registration so that more people use their opportunity to vote and shape the policies that will guide our state forward. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. My top policy priority is increasing access to harm reduction services. Harm reduction helps keep people alive until they are ready to seek help. Too many families in Maine have experienced a devastating loss and we must do everything we can to stop this crisis from killing more of our friends, family, and neighbors. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to work towards finding a solution to our teacher shortage, and provide more supports for students who need help in the classroom. Our teachers are underpaid and overworked. This is an issue for the government and for our communities to work together and solve. As a former member of my local school board, I know firsthand that successful schools require buy-in and encouragement at all levels. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? I am concerned about the potential impacts of offshore wind on our fisheries. As these projects move forward in federal waters it is imperative that fishermen be engaged in the process and that we evaluate potential fisheries conflicts and mitigate them to the greatest extent possible. We must do everything we can to protect the sustainability of our fisheries and the families and communities who depend on our marine resources. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a working mother and a member of the LGBTQ community. I will work hard to assure that every child is valued for who they are. I know so many of my neighbors are working mothers too, and I will carry their voices to Augusta. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock
R	Jason Joyce	House District 15_	No response Jason Joyce Maine House of Representatives - District 15

Maine House of Representatives - District 16
Candidates
D	Nina Azella Milliken	House District 16_	Answers Nina Azella Milliken Maine House of Representatives - District 16 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The top policy that I would fight for in Augusta would be helping create a more efficient system for folks to receive heating assistance. Several of our friends and neighbors have spent weeks and months enduring cold and too-often unsafe conditions because they were waitlisted for heating assistance. This could have catastrophic consequences and shouldn't happen. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would like to see access to safe abortion care as a right specified in our state constitution. I also would like to increase access to abortion care across the Maine, as demand for appointments has already gone up with people coming north to receive the care they can’t access in southern and midwestern states. Additionally, I would like to see extra supports for people working in the medical field across the state. The last two years have been extremely challenging for healthcare workers. We need to support the hard working folks who spend their energy keeping us healthy. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need to consider ways to incentivize homeowners to list their rentals as long term rather than short term. AirBnB guarantees rental income and covers much of the liability. Folks who own rental properties have to weigh that against long term rentals where the income is significantly less and the risk is significantly higher. This isn't a reasonable option if we expect to have rental housing available for families who live here year round. We should also consider ways to capitalize on the AirBnB market. Some cities in the US have required licensing fees for AirBnBs. That revenue could be used for building workforce housing for local residents. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We should conduct an evaluation of the number of polling locations across the state and make sure that voting is accessible for everyone. Your vote is your voice and people shouldn’t have to wait in long lines to be heard. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Overdose prevention, harm reduction, and increasing access to treatment are issues that are immensely important to me. Every first responder in the state should be mandated to carry Naloxone. There have been thousands of instances in Maine where Naloxone has saved a life. I recently organized a training in my community on how to administer Naloxone. It is easy to administer and there is no reason it shouldn't be in the hands of every law enforcement officer, EMT, and firefighter. I would also increase access to recovery programming, detox centers, and rehabilitation homes. Too often in Maine, people who are ready to get sober are added to waitlists for open beds. Families suffering from opioid use disorder cannot afford for their loved ones to wait on a list. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? As a school board member/teacher, I know we need to do more to support teachers. Many teaching positions in Maine are empty. I support the recent legislation that set base salary for teachers at $40,000, but that incentive didn’t go far enough to fill the gaps in our education system. In Maine, some people with no experience feel they can dictate what is taught and baseless accusations are being lobbed at educators. Teachers are being made to do so much for students and are not being compensated fairly based on the cost of living, their education levels, the hours they work, class sizes, and external political and social pressures. If we could fill teaching positions with high quality teachers across Maine, the gaps would begin to close and the long-term benefit to students would be huge. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? I am working hard to do some research into this issue presently. I adamantly support the Maine lobster fishery, though, and will work hard to make sure the hardworking fishermen and women are heard throughout the legislative process. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I have three young children and am keenly aware of the challenges working families face in accessing childcare and early childhood education. The current Administration has made efforts to incentivize folks to open facilities, but in my conversations with voters, it hasn't been enough. In addition to the requirements for licensing from the state, child care center operators need buildings to house their facilities and those buildings must meet a number of specific criteria. While the grants help, they don't provide enough support to make significant headway. Which chamber are you running for? Senate Region Hancock
R	Stephen M. Hanrahan III	House District 16_	No response Stephen M. Hanrahan III Maine House of Representatives - District 16

Maine House of Representatives - District 17
Candidates
D	Ron Russell	House District 17_	Answers Ron Russell Maine House of Representatives - District 17 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Increased heating assistance, home weatherization, heat pump rebates. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion rights in Maine now allow abortions up to viability and beyond that when the life of the mother is in jeopardy and should remain settled law. I will work to protect a woman's right to choose in Maine. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I will study and support legislation and programs like LD2003 that seek to remove local barriers to new, innovative, multilevel, affordable housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I will work towards time saving initiatives to make it easier for eligible Maine citizens to register while dealing with different Maine Agencies. I will also work towards greater access to absentee ballots In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. My focus will be to consider and research all ideas to stem this epidemic, including education, prevention, treatment, access to treatment, affordability of treatment, and enforcement efforts to stop the flow of heroin and fentanyl. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Continue to fund education at 55% to let local school districts have the funds necessary to meet this challenge locally. Gov. Janet Mills and the administration of President Joe Biden are pursuing a pilot offshore wind project in federal waters off the Maine coast. Do you support it and can it coexist with the fisheries industry? I will support green energy efforts that are compatible with the Maine fishing industry and work towards those efforts that find real solutions for both. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My life experiences have taught me many things, foremost among therm is an ability to really listen to others, identify challenges , be collaborative in finding innovative solutions, and act to solve those problems. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Hancock
R	Sherman Hoyt Hutchins	House District 17_	No response Sherman Hoyt Hutchins Maine House of Representatives - District 17

Maine House of Representatives - District 18
Candidates
R	Meldon H. Carmichael	House District 18_	No response Meldon H. Carmichael Maine House of Representatives - District 18
D	Timothy B Throckmorton	House District 18_	No response Timothy B Throckmorton Maine House of Representatives - District 18

Maine House of Representatives - District 19
Candidates
R	Richard H. Campbell	House District 19_	Answers Richard H. Campbell Maine House of Representatives - District 19 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Less regulation, lower taxes, reduce spending and financial support for those struggling due to harmful public policy The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. None A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Propose major policies to ajust local comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, creative building and design solutions and life cycle cost analysis of construction methods while working with towns and cities unlike the policy proposed in the 130th Legislature! Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Voter ID Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter identification In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Stiffer penalties for trafficking and childhood education National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Parental involvement in curriculum and education oversight, lower costs and have funding follow the student As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? No What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Reduce energy costs, repeal over regulation and return employees to jobs that have been banned from work by politicians and administrators based on their vaccine status. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 20
Candidates
R	Jennifer Morin	House District 20_	Answers Jennifer Morin Maine House of Representatives - District 20 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Mainers are hard hit by high energy costs. We need to encourage cheaper energy sources to come to Maine and stop adding cost to our energy supply through poor legislation. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe abortion is a decision best suited for a family and their physician. I also believe that this is a discussion that deserves much compassion from all stakeholders, and that approach will be an important component of my outlook on legislating. People are hurting for so many reasons right now and more divisiveness and partisanship is not the answer. I respect the viewpoint of both sides of this issue but feel it is a decision for individuals to make for themselves. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. This is mostly a result of the impact of post COVID shutdowns globally, which created huge supply chain issues with a stagnated economy. Building materials are harder to find and are far more expensive. New construction is down and is cost prohibitive. This creates a high demand with low supply, driving up prices. Maine has an abundance of natural resources and could be poised to capitalize on producing lumber and manufacturing construction supplies, solving supply chain issues, making building more affordable, and bringing in more jobs to our state. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? more detail is needed Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I am in support of voter verification, requiring identification and applying a common-sense approach that gives people confidence in our elections. In Maine, you must show proof of identity and residency to register to vote, but are currently not required to, to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. During 2021 Maine reported an average of 658 drug overdoses with 49 fatal each month. During that same time there were nearly 56,000 doses of naloxone distributed. We are in a war against the harm caused by illicit drug consumption and sales. We are battling for people’s lives, and the safety and wellbeing of our communities. I believe in a pragmatic approach to a drug control strategy, one that recognizes the importance of: enforcement, accountability, access to treatment, access to recovery, the lowering of barriers to sustained recovery, and education. We all bear responsibility towards working to a manageable solution. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We have so many wonderful and dedicated teachers in the state of Maine, I believe the best answer for this question would be to start with getting their input and perspective. It is the teachers in the classrooms that can tell us what’s working and what isn’t. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? After speaking with one of the directors of an area shelter, I learned that nearly 170 homeless in our community are unsheltered. Interestingly enough, our shelters regularly have vacant beds. A large majority of our homeless population suffer with substance use disorders with many having co-occurring mental health challenges. Ensuring there is access to mental health services is necessary, for without it there is no real solution. Accountability is another key component, for individuals who commit crimes but refuse available services. Homelessness will likely never be eradicated but addressing the root cause of substance use disorder and access to mental health services seem to be a logical place to begin. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I believe in a collaborative approach towards solving critical problems. In doing so, it’s all about getting input from the right stakeholders: the people doing the jobs and facing the problems day in and day out, the people impacted, the policy makers, and the subject matter experts. It’s about trying to drill down to root causes and not apply band-aid solutions, to employ solutions that make sense both ethically and fiscally. I believe in putting people before politics. I pride myself on my work ethic, and will work tirelessly to serve my constituency. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer
D	Kevin J. M. O'Connell	House District 20_	Answers Kevin J. M. O'Connell Maine House of Representatives - District 20 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Get as much federal assistance as possible. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. leave it alone/Can we address the male's responsibility? A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. low interest loans to rehab the many vacant buildings within our cities and towns. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. refer to last answer In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Protect land and water borders, nationally and in Maine. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? test to identify where the gaps are relative to subject matter; math, reading ,science etc. as well as to demographics. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? address the route causes of homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My ability to reach across the aisle and compromise. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer

Maine House of Representatives - District 21
Candidates
D	Ambureen Rana	House District 21_	Answers Ambureen Rana Maine House of Representatives - District 21 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I want to make sure that Mainers have access to programs to help them heat their homes efficiently and affordably. Inflation is affecting all of us, and it’s getting much harder to stretch our dollars. Low and middle income families are struggling the most. I will work to expand access to heating assistance programs so more Mainers are able to get the help they need. I will advocate to make heat pumps more affordable by expanding rebate offers, and support programs that help Mainers weatherize their homes. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has made incredible progress over the past few years in expanding health care and reproductive health access. I am proud of the protections that our state has in place regarding access to safe abortions. I currently sit on the statewide Reproductive Health Policy Coalition with a number of organizations and activists, these priorities are important to me. I would champion a policy that would codify abortion rights in Maine law, in order to protect this access for future generations. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Renting costs have increased beyond affordability for so many Mainers, our rental housing market is among the least affordable in the nation. When over half of Maine’s low-income earners are paying more than half of their income for rent, we have a problem that requires immediate attention from our leaders in Augusta. I will pursue a comprehensive set of solutions to address this issue, and work with expert housing advocates to do so. I will fight against predatory housing practices, work to expand rental assistance programs, and find ways to make home owning easier for first-time homebuyers. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I am delighted about the progress that we have made with automatic voter registration. The pandemic has shown us that we need to prepare for the unpredictable. I would like to see Maine pursue additional voting reforms that would remove barriers at the ballot box. One such proposal would be to implement a program which would automatically mail ballots to registered voters every election, if they choose. Maine would join 8 other states that successfully use this system and allow voters more time to research candidates ahead of Election Day. This would ensure voters the chance to make their voice heard and participate in the election despite barriers such as inflexible work hours, lack of childcare or transportation, or having a disability that keeps them from making it to the polls. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I have seen firsthand the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic here in Bangor and the rippling heartbreak it has brought to Mainers and their families. I have spent part of my career as a public health advocate with a local agency and have volunteered for years with a harm reduction organization. I support the distribution of Narcan to community members to help save lives. I will work to better fund and expand recovery homes and programs to better meet needs and eliminate long waitlists. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? There have been great strides to support students such as expanded access to free lunch programs. I’m also incredibly proud that high school graduates through 2023 will receive 2 years of free community college. The pandemic has shown us the glaring inequities in access to reliable internet. Many students in rural areas struggle to participate in virtual learning. Internet is a necessary utility for families. I will support efforts to expand broadband access statewide. Early childhood education programs give kids a head start to better prepare them to launch their school careers. Expanding access and eligibility to these programs will help working and low-income parents. Increasing funding to these programs will help childcare facilities be more sustainable and better support their staff. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? As your representative, I will seek proposals that will aim to do more than just improve conditions. We must seek housing-first solutions for Maine families in ways that meet the unique needs of our community. We need to remember that the homeless population are our neighbors too, they deserve dignity and respect. Our district is the home of all of the city’s major homeless shelters, warming centers, and day programs. I will work to ensure that these community members and their needs are properly represented in the State House. I will work to pass laws that will fund the expansion of safe low-income housing, increase access to much needed housing vouchers, and better support our general assistance programs. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My work as a service provider within our community will give me a unique perspective in seeking legislative solutions. My years of advocating at the State House and the relationships I’ve built with legislators across the state has given me tools that I need to be an effective State Representative from day one in Augusta.. The needs of our city and the people who call it home will always be my top priority, and I will commit to being a resource and advocate for my constituents. I hope that I will earn your vote on November 8th. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer
U	Marianna H. Reeves	House District 21_	Answers Marianna H. Reeves Maine House of Representatives - District 21 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Policies targeted at making homes more energy efficient while diversifying heating/cooling sources will be a priority. Mainers who are reliant on one fuel source are disproportionately affected by rising prices. I would champion the release of funds made available through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to get a second heat source into homes. Energy efficient alternatives such as a wood stove or heat pump offer rebates/cash back from Efficiency Maine direct to the consumer. A high-performance heat pump or wood stove can help an average Maine home reduce its oil consumption by 270-540 gallons/year or $1,620 at $4/gallon. Heat pumps offer an added benefit by reducing cooling costs in the warmer months. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. In the wake of the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade, it is vital that Maine take the necessary steps to protect women’s reproductive health. Recently an executive order was signed to further safeguard access to abortion in Maine and to protect healthcare providers in the state who provide reproductive health care and their patients. I want to continue to support women's reproductive health and provide any legislation to safeguard that right within the State. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The housing affordability crisis in Maine has increased over the past few years and mirrors a national trend. We have not been building enough units to meet demand. Supply chain issues from the pandemic have decreased the availability of, and increased the price tag of new construction. Supporting contractors who build affordable housing is the way to increase available units for buyers looking to achieve the dream of home ownership. I propose offering a tax incentive or rebate to builders who provide affordable housing as defined by the legislature with the input from the people. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Legislators on the federal level are working to modernize the framework of the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The Electoral Count Modernization Act (2022) seeks to establish clear, consistent, and fair procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency. I would introduce similar voting reform such as, ensuring that state legislators cannot appoint electors after Election Day in an effort to overturn our state’s election results. Give the additional time (until December 20) to complete legitimate recounts and litigation and provide limited judicial review to ensure that the electors appointed by Maine reflect the popular vote results. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Illegally manufactured Fentanyl is fueling the increase in drug overdoses. It’s up to 100 times as powerful as morphine and is used to cut cocaine, meth, fake opioid pills and heroin in a blatant exploitation of unwitting users to increase illicit drug profits. From 2019 to 2021, Fentanyl overdose deaths more than tripled among teenagers. Teens often have no idea what is in the drugs they are taking. I want to pass legislation to easily make available Fentanyl test strips to all Mainers, and especially to our teenage population, in a variety of accessible locations. The testing strips won’t eliminate the crisis but they can help people stay safe, especially teenagers and young adults. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Maine has greater than 500,000 people or roughly 44% of the State’s population who are 50 years of age or older. Teachers in public schools are being asked to do more with less. I want to use the vast retired population as a volunteer resource to help address the educational gaps between the high-income and low-income students. Mentoring the low-income group could have positive impacts for both populations and I would draft legislation to that effect. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? "I would propose a private public partnership to promote rent to home ownership options in return for a population that could address the staffing shortages in many businesses across the area. Prior to that however there would need to be mental health resources provided to address any pressing issues." What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? For the past 24 years as a Realtor, and prior to that as a Kinesiologist, I have helped people through teamwork and crafting creative and ethical solutions to keep the process moving forward. My experience and skill set in working collaboratively with others to bring about a desired outcome make me uniquely qualified to serve in the State House. Earlier this year my older brother moved into our household. He suffered a traumatic brain injury over 41 years ago. Through the process of getting him settled, I have become intimately acquainted with social services, medical personnel and special programs to meet his needs. Brain injuries, support of social services and housing issues will be my special focus. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer

Maine House of Representatives - District 22
Candidates
R	Douglas Keith Damon	House District 22_	No response Douglas Keith Damon Maine House of Representatives - District 22
D	Laura Supica	House District 22_	Answers Laura Supica Maine House of Representatives - District 22 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Any relief we can give to Mainers on fuel and heating assistance will be vital. People should not have to choose between food and heat as large corporate oil companies are rolling in profits. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Expanding access to rural abortions and transportation. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Increasing the construction of PUBLIC HOUSING. We need 20,000 units in Maine and right now we are lucky to construct 1000 a year. We also need to work with our federal delegation to address restrictions on housing that HUD has put in place. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Our laws are headed in the right direction. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Folks in my district are still afraid to call 911 on an overdose. While the Good Samaritan Law has helped just because someone doesn't get arrested doesn't mean a negative target isn't put on their back by DHHS. We need to address ALL the ways our system works against those in active addiction. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? By investing in supports and housing for lower income folks and making the internet accessible to everyone. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? The state needs to build housing and provide services for folks in rural parts of the state, not just Portland. When rural Northern Maine does better, Bangor does better. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I will continue my work to expand transportation, housing and crisis services in Bangor and rural Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer

Maine House of Representatives - District 23
Candidates
D	Amy Roeder	House District 23_	Answers Amy Roeder Maine House of Representatives - District 23 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Stopping price gouging and keep utility providers from exorbitant price increases. I'm also working to make Mainers aware of all of the programs and initiatives we have in place already to offset heating costs, the cost of prescription drugs, senior property tax relief and others. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Improving access to emergency contraception A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Continuing to explore state/municipal partnerships on zoning reforms to encourage developers to build more affordable and mixed affordable/market developments in Bangor. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expand automatic voter registration. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We're seeing the positive impact of recovery housing in Bangor. I'd like to see more private/public partnerships to compassionately tackle the opiod epidemic in our city. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to identify the schools that were most negatively impacted by the pandemic and other inherent inequities and work with the districts to create and pilot new programs to help students catch up. During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? We need transitional housing as a step between homeless shelters and permanent housing with support services such as social workers, recovery programs and employment counseling. Also, if shelters are not wheelchair accessible, there should be a grant program to help them with accessibility improvements. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am particularly concerned about the PFAS contamination around the Maine Air National Guard base, financial security for working class folks and access to mental health care. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer
R	David J Pece	House District 23_	No response David J Pece Maine House of Representatives - District 23

Maine House of Representatives - District 24
Candidates
D	Joseph C. Perry	House District 24_	Answers Joseph C. Perry Maine House of Representatives - District 24 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? This is a national, global problem. I will champion and advocate for old Mainers whose state retirement was hammered under previous administration because COLA was capped. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. None A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Will work with legislstive colleagues and administration to establish available and affordable workforce housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Keep system in place. Maine has one of the highest voter turnout results. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Continue to support local and state efforts in place that assist people in recovery. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? 1) Broadband 2) Expanded pre-K 3) Provide meals for students 4) Resources for special needs During the pandemic, homelessness has worsened in the Bangor area, a hub for regional services. What can the state do to improve conditions for this population? Shift homelessness (and addiction) to the counties. People should receive more support from their own communities. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My experience as a local and state official and as a small business owner for 30 years. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Bangor/Brewer
R	Roderick Allen Hathaway	House District 24_	No response Roderick Allen Hathaway Maine House of Representatives - District 24

Maine House of Representatives - District 25
Candidates
R	Cameron Scott Bowie	House District 25_	No response Cameron Scott Bowie Maine House of Representatives - District 25
D	Laurie Osher	House District 25_	No response Laurie Osher Maine House of Representatives - District 25

Maine House of Representatives - District 26
Candidates
R	Christina M. Ouellette	House District 26_	No response Christina M. Ouellette Maine House of Representatives - District 26
D	James Dill	House District 26_	Answers James Dill Maine House of Representatives - District 26 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Make sure that we continue passing laws that help with fuel assistance and that people know how to access the assistance The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has strong abortion policies. We need to make sure these laws are maintained and not loosened. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. we need to keep supporting affordable housing construction and help new house buyers with affordable housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Help voters that don't have easy access to the polls receive absentee ballots. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need better care for drug users not jail. We need to support drug recovery programs National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We are facing a loss generation of students. Some students fared quite well, but I believe many from all income levels suffered. School systems may have to invest in more mentoring/tutoring programs to help the students catch up. As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? No What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Experience. I feel that term limits have taken away institutional memory. As people gain more experience- they term out. New legislators- which isn't a bad thing either- hve to start over to gain the experience. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 27
Candidates
R	Gary A. Drinkwater	House District 27_	No response Gary A. Drinkwater Maine House of Representatives - District 27
D	Peter Crockett	House District 27_	Answers Peter Crockett Maine House of Representatives - District 27 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation and high energy prices are systemic macroeconomic problems with no easy solutions, especially at the state level. We need a multipronged approach that includes energy conservation, localization of energy production and consumption, and a rapid expansion of wind, tidal, photovoltaic, and geothermal infrastructure to replace (not add to) fossil energy. Reducing highway speed limits saves gasoline and greenhouse emissions. Microgrids linked to renewable/rebuildable energies can run heat pumps instead of oil furnaces and make communities more resilient to climate-related disruptions, especially as winters become milder but hotter summers demand air-conditioning. Maine should work with Federal government to levy windfall profit taxes on fossil-fuel companies to expand LIHEAP. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Contraception and Plan B should be readily available & affordable for any women who want it, and should be part of a comprehensive plan to ensure that all women have access to regular physical exams and preventative health care, especially in rural communities. This includes subsidies or coverage through Maine Care. Furthermore, Maine should be a sanctuary state for women whose home state has taken away their right to control their own bodies. We should welcome women traveling to Maine for an abortion and ensure our health care providers are protected from prosecution by other states. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Large corporations, especially financial/banking institutions, should not own residential housing, because their focus will be on maximizing profits on the backs of residents rather than providing safe, affordable housing for reasonable costs. Windfall taxes should be levied on companies who fail to provide safe, affordable housing and proceeds returned to low-income residents as subsidies to help cover high housing costs. Tax credits could incentivize property owners who demonstrate they can provide safe, affordable housing. Properties left vacant for long periods of time (say, 4 consecutive months) should be taxed at a much higher rate than occupied properties, and proceeds should also be used to subsidize housing for residents in need. 5 Yes Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has a strong record of ensuring its citizens the right to vote in safe and secure elections, which is the cornerstone of freedom and democracy. Easy access to vote both in person and absentee / mail-in ballots keeps Maine a leader in upholding our freedoms set forth in the constitution. We must continue providing and improving ease & access of voting for ALL eligible residents by increasing the number of dropoff boxes, expanding early voting, and designating election day a State Holiday, Maine should enact laws to prohibit intentional and malicious spreading of disinformation by politicians and operatives that discourage, prevent, or intimidate people from voting. Finally, we should implement ranked-choice voting for state and local offices. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Maine should expand rehabilitation centers and public services, supporting their health care professionals and social workers with good pay & working conditions to avoid burnout. Narcan should be readily available to first responders and any private citizen who might need it, for themselves or others. Systemic contributors of drug addiction such as poverty, lack of opportunity, and childhood exposure are resistant to ‘quick-fixes’ and solutions require long-term thinking and investments. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The economic divide among students and school districts has been a problem for decades, increasingly during COVID. Education is a vital component of democracy, and should be considered an investment rather than just another expenditure. Quality education requires well-paid and highly-trained teachers, small class size, equitable access to technology, and opportunities tailored to different learning styles for all students in all schools, not just those wealthy students and districts. Breakfast and lunch programs are vital for students who otherwise come to school hungry and can’t learn, and after-school programs help kids whose parents work long hours. Public funds should not be used to support private schools. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. While I support hunting, I DO NOT support Sunday hunting. Maine owns very little public land and most outdoor recreation occurs on private / corporate-owned property. Non-hunters should be able to recreate outdoors one day a week without fear of encountering hunters or bearhounds at bay, or risking injury from a stray bullet. Sunday hunting could lead to more posting of private property: non-hunters without a day of sanctuary will post their land to keep hunters off. Finally, wildlife and hunters benefit from a break in hunting pressure. My neighbors who hunt in both Maine and New York tell me they prefer no hunting on Sunday because deer are less stressed if they have relief after heavy pressure on Saturday. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I was a welder and pipefitter for 40 years, and own a small business. I know firsthand what it is like to be a single parent, working hard but still struggling to make ends meet, and being denied health insurance. Our economy should work for everyone, not just the rich and well-connected. I believe in a hand up for those who need it, hands off for those who don’t, and no handouts to corporations. My passion is protecting our environment, especially against out-of-state interests. I helped my community fight out-of-state trash and stop the proposed Argyle Dump. Economic opportunities for present and future generations depend on a healthy environment. Mainers have the right to clean air, drinkable water, healthy soil, safe food, harvestable fish and wildlife, and a livable climate. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 28
Candidates
R	Irene A. Gifford	House District 28_	No response Irene A. Gifford Maine House of Representatives - District 28
D	Natalie DiPentino	House District 28_	Answers Natalie DiPentino Maine House of Representatives - District 28 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is not just a Maine problem or a United States problem. Inflation is a world wide problem. When I am elected to the legislature it is my job to focus on the specific needs of Mainers and advocate for the unique needs of folks in my district. Maine has a 21% senior population. The largest town in my district, Lincoln, has 28% of it's residents age 65 or older. Nearly a third of it's residents living on a fixed income. Penobscot county additionally has 12% of it's residents living in poverty. For those residents I would ensure ease of accessibility to programs we already have in place like the winterization and HEAP. I would propose an outreach program to all qualifying residents. For the other 2/3 of residents, I will consider a rate freeze on utility providers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Above all else, I will work to ensure that peoples right to privacy is fiercely protected. I would consider increasing the penalty for violation of privacy (relating to abortion) as protected under the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. Harassments over healthcare will no longer be tolerated. It's between a woman, her doctor and her God, not any of us. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I would advocate to increase access and affordability for all women's healthcare. I would ensure that access and affordability to Annual check ups, birth control, Pre & post natal care, testing, EC and abortion, is expanded. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Aside of encouraging my brethren in congress to invest in housing development and pass that federal funding to our state, I will work on common sense solutions. We work with what we have. Within the confines of the law; I would work to enact preference for current Maine residents and limit corporate purchase of single family homes as investment properties during a housing crisis. I would work to enable Maine corporations to have preference in building multi family units so that those tax dollars and revenue are reinvested in Maine. I would stipulate a percentage of affordable housing in each multi-unit dwelling for this preference. Increase unit requirement for low income housing to out of state corporate developers. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I would move to apply the state's ranked choice voting to statewide elections, including gubernatorial. Increase education and understanding of how RCV works, starting in schools. Kids have a unique way of teaching us older generations how to do new things. If we have learned how to follow a thread and posts on social media, we can learn how to use ranked choice voting. It's much like telling a waiter what your first second and third choices are on a menu, if dinner were by consensus. If you only like one thing on the menu, you select only that one. If you are willing to have a second choice, select it as your second choice. If you only select one and it wasn't the top selection by consensus, you don't eat. Selecting a 2nd choice increases your odds of eating & getting what you want. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I would work to ensure that resources are available in every community for the substance use disordered people. I would ensure that all of those recovery support networks have the resources they need to help our citizens recover and thrive. Access to compassionate care is a good start. Listening to those who have recovered and how they arrived in recovery can help us devise a plan of action to heal our communities. We can look at how other communities overcame the crisis and model some of those strategies. We may end up with a plan that other states will model if we give this our attention and talent. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We did not have a roadmap for education during a pandemic. All things considered, our educators and communities banded together and rose to the occasion. Children in low income families had more to deal with than just learning, as they watched their caregivers struggle in real time. Some students didn't have access to the internet. We are working to expand broadband with will cure the latter issue. As for the rest of the issues, we learned from our experiences and we now have procedures in place if there is a next time. We are working on expanding childcare which was a huge issue for working families with children, during the pandemic. Preventing the next crisis and implementing what worked, is the best plan. The kids will catch up. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I am not a hunter. I don't know why we don't allow hunting on Sundays. When I am in the legislature I will either hear good arguments for the ban or I will move to allow Sunday hunting. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I foresee some huge challenges facing all Mainers in the next few years. I plan to mitigate these issues and hopefully get ahead of them before they reach crisis levels. I am talking about everything from inflation to climate change impact, and a myriad of issues in-between. That is my focus. My priority is to find solid & creative solutions with my fellow legislators, agencies and experts and implement these solutions so seamlessly that the good people of Maine do not experience interruption in their lives or livelihood. We need solutions that work for everyone. The goal is to not only survive but to thrive. The unique needs of my communities need to be heard and addressed in Augusta. I am prepared to make sure they are. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 29
Candidates
R	Kathy Irene Javner	House District 29_	No response Kathy Irene Javner Maine House of Representatives - District 29
D	Laurie York	House District 29_	No response Laurie York Maine House of Representatives - District 29

Maine House of Representatives - District 30
Candidates
R	James Lee White	House District 30_	No response James Lee White Maine House of Representatives - District 30
D	W. Louis Sidell, Jr.	House District 30_	Answers W. Louis Sidell, Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 30 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Heating and oil cost for Maine residents have been an ongoing challenge for us. There is a need to expidite assistance via LIHEAP or similar programs. Additional weatherization funding may help many dwellers with older structures that lack modern construction methods. This should also me made available to renters/landlords as well. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I am pro choice. I find it abhorrent that some states are making a woman’s choice a criminal act. There must be safeguards to insure that those seeking an abortion are protected from criminal investigations. There needs to be a provision that protects not only the individual’s rights but include protections to the medical facilities and staff that provide this service. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Many rural Maine communities have a considerable number of vacant dwellings. Some are owned by lenders or absentee landlords that find it more financially advantageous to demolish the structures than to repair or reinvest in the community. While there may be some buildings that do not warrant repair, there are many that are too large to attract new inhabitants due to utility costs. Land use restrictions should be changed to encourage these homes to be made into duplexes or low density apartments while providing minimum impacts to existing neighborhoods. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Allow Rank-Choice-Voting in all Maine elections; Strengthen the protection of absentee voting from future endeavor to abolish or weakin it by making any threshold to change the constitutional provision more difficult. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Treat addiction as the disease that it is and provide the educational opportunities to the various medical and educational institutions to keep abreast of the changing treatments. Focus more resources on the supply chain and require working with other state and federal agencies to go beyond the local drug pushers. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Ensure that all students have safe, capable access to high-speed internet. Provide 24 hour access to assistance when requested. Identify those who are having difficulties understanding and using educational processes and provide the educational institutions with the accessible resources to ensure the student gets needed support. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. As a farmer and a hunter, I support the Sunday prohibition of hunting. Sundays allow us to access our fields and woods without fear of being the hunted. It allows for hunting parties to engage in useful projects around the hunting camp or on the property during daylight hours. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am an environmental planner and I have a strong background in hazard mitigation and particularly with flood mitigation and flood insurance. Mitigation is less costly than recovery. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 31
Candidates
R	Chad Richard Perkins	House District 31_	No response Chad Richard Perkins Maine House of Representatives - District 31
D	Richard A. Evans	House District 31_	Answers Richard A. Evans Maine House of Representatives - District 31 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a global problem. It is important to understand that no single state is going to be able to resolve it. There are things that we are doing at the state level to help ease the burdens on families, such as streamlining the process for applying for heating assistance and providing financial assistance to eligible Mainers through the Home Energy Assistance Program to help pay heating costs and passing legislation for property tax relief for seniors aged 65 and older who have owned their homes for 10 yrs. While workers struggle to keep up with inflation, much of the money they spend is going into the pocket’s of corporate shareholders whose profits rose 25% in 2021, the highest in 45 yrs. We need to stop this price gouging and hold these corporations accountable for their actions. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I am adamantly opposed to any changes in Maine’s current abortion laws. As a physician, I find the U. S. Supreme Court’s recent decision of ending protections for abortion rights for women to be very disturbing. To say that a woman is incapable of making her own decisions regarding her own personal health care, and her decision in this regard must be approved by the government, is to openly say to women that they are second class citizens. This is an affront to every woman and makes it crystal clear that equal protection is not available to women. A woman’s decision on her health care is strictly one made between her and her physician and should never be superseded by government interference. Access to reproductive health care for women is not and should never be a political issue. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. In 2021, the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine released its report on this issue. Statewide, 72% of occupied housing units were owned and 28% were rented. Pre-pandemic, growth in rental units outpaced those that were owned. In 2020, the median home price in Maine was $256,000, a 14% increase over 2019, and the number of housing units sold in the same year was 19,921, a 10% increase. This median price is unaffordable for most Maine families. Maine can continue funding for the construction of new housing in partnership with the private sector, ensure that the entirety of Maine’s properties is not owned by out of state investment companies, evaluate policies regarding short term rentals, and ensure that agricultural lands are not driven into extinction. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. It is my belief that Maine’s election system is one of the safest and most secure in the nation. We also have the right people in place to ensure that the right to vote by every Maine citizen is well protected. Opportunities to make the system even better include the expansion of automatic voter registration and an enhanced process for voters to request an ongoing absentee voter status. Consideration should also be given to automatic registration at the time of age eligibility. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Deaths from substance use disorders is not an area that can be resolved via arrests or judgmental shaming. It is a multifaceted problem. A bill that I sponsored, An Act to Establish the Accidental Drug Overdose Death Review Panel, was signed into law as an Emergency by Gov. Mills, and tasked the panel to make recommendations to state, county, and local agencies on methods of preventing deaths from accidental drug overdoses. A Recovery Treatment Center will now be established in all of Maine’s 16 counties. Statewide education by the Office of Opioid Response and the support of the Attorney General’s Office to take on Big Pharma and the Slackler family for their egregious behavior in creating this problem will hopefully garner settlement funds to continue to fight this devastating problem. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? As a result of the pandemic, many students have fallen behind, especially those from low-income families. We must make every effort to identify those students and schools that have been affected the most, as they will need more support. As many of these students have already graduated and are now in college, much of the onus for support has fallen on our Community College System to ensure that students will have the essential tools necessary for them to catch up and be able to find gainful employment as they move forward. We must ensure that our educational system has the financial resources available to them to achieve this goal. Making community college free in Maine for the 2020-2023 graduating classes is certainly a step in the right direction. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. Sunday hunting prohibition has existed in Maine State Stature since 1883. In a recent comprehensive poll ordered by the Maine Legislature, both landowners and the general public in all parts of the state are strongly opposed to Sunday hunting. Hunting in Maine occurs every day of the year, except Sundays, for a total of 313 days per year. Maine has a tradition of keeping private land accessible for public recreation. Keeping Sunday hunting as the one day a week where no hunting is allowed is an established and effective way for landowners and non-hunters to enjoy the land without impeding the abilities of those who enjoy hunting. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a physician, a surgeon, a veteran of the USAF, a former USAF Hospital and Medical Group Commander, a past President of the Maine Medical Association, and a past Chair of the New England Delegation to the American Medical Association, I believe that my leadership skills have prepared me well for continued service and advocacy for others, especially for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In an environment where inequality and greed are over-shadowing the needs of the people, I will continue to fiercely advocate for accessible and affordable health care for every citizen, equal opportunity for all, no matter one’s gender, race, religion, or political party, and work tirelessly to hold health insurance companies, Big Pharma, and energy conglomerates accountable for their actions. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 32
Candidates
R	Steven D Foster	House District 32_	No response Steven D Foster Maine House of Representatives - District 32

Maine House of Representatives - District 33
Candidates
R	Danny E. Costain	House District 33_	No response Danny E. Costain Maine House of Representatives - District 33
D	Donovan E. Todd III	House District 33_	No response Donovan E. Todd III Maine House of Representatives - District 33

Maine House of Representatives - District 34
Candidates
R	Abigail W. Griffin	House District 34_	No response Abigail W. Griffin Maine House of Representatives - District 34
D	Frank Lawrence Roma	House District 34_	Answers Frank Lawrence Roma Maine House of Representatives - District 34 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Without a doubt inflation and the high cost of gas, heating, groceries, and the basic everyday necessities impacts all Mainers. Decisive action needs to be taken to give us all a break! There is no one solution to this very real challenge, but there are steps we can and should take. Putting a freeze on utility rates, making the process of receiving heating assistance easier, especially for Seniors. Holding accountable and prosecuting those who engage in price gouging are all good first steps. It is also important to take advantage of programs already in place that can help right now in these difficult times. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. No one should be subject to the government having or desiring to have control over our bodies or our ability to have choice regarding our health care. We should work to ensure existing legislation remains in place and that those seeking to utilize reproductive healthcare services, and those providing such services are safe in doing so. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Provide and create reasonable incentives for first time homeowners so that they may realize their hope of affordable homeownership if they desire to purchase a home. Rental assistance for those who may qualify if renting is the option they choose again providing that assistance is reasonable. Explore viable public/private partnerships to create new affordable housing options (single family, multi family) being sensitive to existing community standards and ability to support such projects. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The Legislature should work hard to create an environment where our greatest civic duty, the right to vote, is forever protected. Removing barriers to voter registration, making the casting of ballots as easy as possible and increasing the ability of Mainers to utilize automatic voter registration where possible need to be continuous works in progress and protected by law here in Maine. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to strengthen and expand community resources to aid in the recovery of those struggling with addiction. Expand access to, and training in the use of Naloxone (Narcan). Drug traffickers and dealers need to be subject to the full extent of the law and maximum sentencing. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The educational gap created as a result of the pandemic will not be closed within the same period of time that it was created in. School districts and local community colleges should consider looking at any best practices models that develop across the nation as this is not just a local issue. Bridge programs for those students most adversely affected should be developed to aid them in overcoming any deficits that they have suffered because of this unprecedented period of time. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I would support Sunday Hunting. However, I would ask that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife conduct a study after two years to see if the impacts of Sunday hunting have had any negative impacts on the game populations in the state, and identify any other unintended consequences, if any, of Sunday hunting that may arise. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am tired of the politics of obstruction and seek a return to the politics of inclusion, civility and respect EVEN when in opposition. Nothing is accomplished when "no" is the answer to every question. Elected officials must represent those they are elected to serve FIRST before self or party. All are entitled to effective, responsive and engaged representation regardless of color, creed or national origin. WE CAN DO BETTER! Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
U	Joshua James Pietrowicz	House District 34_	No response Joshua James Pietrowicz Maine House of Representatives - District 34

Maine House of Representatives - District 35
Candidates
R	James Ernest Thorne	House District 35_	No response James Ernest Thorne Maine House of Representatives - District 35

Maine House of Representatives - District 36
Candidates
R	David Haggan	House District 36_	No response David Haggan Maine House of Representatives - District 36
D	Kristen Card	House District 36_	Answers Kristen Card Maine House of Representatives - District 36 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is curently a global issue and state leaders do not have a one size fits all remedy for addressing inflation challenges. We need to collaborate to work strategically and practically to address this issue realistically, by creating streamlined processes, preventing large corporations from increasing rates, and ensuring that the work of the legislature is shared with Mainers, so that they are aware of all of the programs are available to assist them when navigating these challenges. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Mainers of all political parties' value having control and the power to decide what people do with their bodies and their healthcare choices. We should be free from government intervention when those rights are challenged. People should be able to access these health services in Maine, and healthcare providers need to be ensured protection. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Ensuring that programs that support first-time homeownership are able to compete in our current competitive real estate market. This would assist Mainers in having opportunities to purchase home. Reviewing how our currently policies regarding short term rental properties haven't met the needs of our communities, and how this impacts future housing development, while also including consideration of continuing to support healthy agricultural land, as we develop and implement housing policies. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Developing an effective and constant process for voters to request and obtain absentee voter status, so they will automatically receive and absentee ballot for state-wide elections. Increasing voter registration opportunities so that Mainers have greater access to state agencies that assist in helping them register to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. It is imperative that effective resources are available and easily accessible, and that recovery support services have adequate resources and funding to fully support people in recovery. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? It is important for schools to be identified that were significantly impacted during the pandemic. Students that have fallen behind academically need to have access to additional educational support systems, including tutoring, summer programs, and mentoring, and that these educational resources and opportunities are a priority and are accessible. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. Most of the land that people hunt on in Maine is privately owned, and therefore, we need to be sensitive about how private landowners feel about Sunday hunting. Sunday hunting has been a long-standing issue in Maine. In the past, private landowners have expressed that they want to be able to walk their lands on Sundays, and while there may be economic benefits to Sunday hunting, I want to support the will of the majority of Mainers. Landowners have expressed in the past that they would post "No Hunting" signs on their land if Sunday hunting were allowed, and we want to ensure that hunters are allowed access to hunting opportunities. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? It is crucial for Maine to focus on attracting young people to Maine in order to increase and maintain our workforce. More Mainers are retiring, (The Maine Chamber of Commerce reported that Maine has 75,000 people that will retire during this decade), than are currently becoming part of our workforce. Incentive programs to keep our young adults living and working in Maine, while also working to attract new people to our State, will ensure that our workforce continues to meet the needs of our economy, and also proves opportunities for growth in the future. Creating training programs and opportunities for retired Mainers to continue to contribute to the workforce, even part-time, will also assist in decreasing workforce challenges in communities across Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 37
Candidates
D	Margaret D. English-Flanagan	House District 37_	Answers Margaret D. English-Flanagan Maine House of Representatives - District 37 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Increase public awareness of the available programs for assistance: HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), DEL (Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled), the Homestead Exemption Program, Senior Property Tax Relief, Property Tax Fairness Credit, and the like. People cannot utilize these programs if they don't know about them. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has great health care in place for its citizens. This healthcare includes well woman care, and a significant component of that health care is reproductive choice and safe, affordable, and accessible abortion services for those who need them. Keeping funding available for rural medical facilities and emergency services would further the goal of increased maternal health and this is good for the health of the entire family. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. People are living longer, and this is increasing the demand for affordable housing as retirees seek to downsize into apartments. Supply has not kept up with the demand in Maine, or indeed elsewhere in the country. A viable solution is to continue funding the construction of new housing with state money,in conjunction with the private sector. This would have the additional benefit of jobs creation and a boost to our state economy. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter registration, or the failure to register, is a big issue in Maine. Outreach through many channels, including tv ads, social media, and streaming services, with reminders to register and instructions for voter registration, would be beneficial in increasing awareness. The legislature could also expand automatic voter registration so that state agencies can assist with voter registration. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Ensuring that municipal, county, and state organizations receive sufficient funding to continue their treatment and recovery services in our communities. Make no mistake, these services are vital to the health of everyone. Insufficient support of treatment facilities and providers leads to higher crime rates, poverty, incarceration, and the breakdown of families, and ultimately affects the economy. We need to treat addiction assertively, and in doing so will save lives and our hard-earned tax money. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? With the world growing more crowded, the likelihood that another pandemic will occur is increasing. We need to be better prepared for the future and this needs to include faster and more reliable broadband access for all, educational support in the form of tutoring and summer "catch-up" programs for negatively impacted students, and the like. This will help keep educational opportunities open to a larger group, and ensure that our children are better prepared to earn a living and contribute to Maine as adults. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Rules governing waiting periods for immigrants receiving work permits can be adjusted. Most people want to work and contribute to society, and people immigrating from another country are no different. Let's give them the tools they need to integrate into our country and state, by expediting the permitting process, assisting with finding jobs and housing, and, as a result, expanding our tax base for funding infrastructure in Maine. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am able to work with many people, listen, and consider many different viewpoints when confronted with any issue. I often say that if you ask 100 people the same question, you will get 100 answers, and maybe more. We are all unique, possessing unique insights into all we face in our daily lives. I want to ensure that the citizens in District 37 are heard in Augusta! Which chamber are you running for? House Region Coastal
R	Reagan LeeAnn Paul	House District 37_	No response Reagan LeeAnn Paul Maine House of Representatives - District 37

Maine House of Representatives - District 38
Candidates
R	Benjamin C. Hymes	House District 38_	No response Benjamin C. Hymes Maine House of Representatives - District 38
G	Heather Elizabeth Garrold	House District 38_	Answers Heather Elizabeth Garrold Maine House of Representatives - District 38 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We need to make the process for applying for heating assistance as streamlined as possible and there must be an easily accessible "off-line" option for applications. Policies that help people conserve energy and be comfortable in their homes is the way forward on the state government level. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We need to continue to protect women's bodily autonomy by keeping the decision to terminate a pregnancy between the woman and her care provider. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need to seriously look at the short term rental market and start to regulate it in such a way as to open up more rental properties to house people in a long term way. I would also want to take a look at the taxing of second and third houses that remain empty much of the year. This extra tax income should be dedicated to building more affordable housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We are so fortunate here in Maine to have good access to voting and because of that a very high voter turn out. Let's continue to support these excellent policies. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. More access to treatment versus incarceration for those who are dependent on opioids, more access to Narcan and other first line treatments, a serious look at the underlying causes of this increased dependency on opioids and policy that would address those core issues. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Well, finally funding education at 55% was a good start. We should definitely spend some of the Covid windfall on increasing our student's access to tutoring and other supplemental educational programs that will help them catch up. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Continuing to increase the minimum wage so that more people are able to afford to work would be a good start. And by that I mean if gas, childcare, etc are so expensive that it makes taking a job impossible or difficult that will be a hurdle to finding willing workers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I have, for the last 12 years, worked in the Legislature on re-localizing our food system here in Maine both the Food Sovereignty Act and the Right to Food Amendment are part of that work. I will bring that knowledge and network with me to House. I have also worked on bills regarding the inner workings of the state government and some educational issues. The skill set I have developed in getting these bills passed makes me the best choice for representing the people of District #38 Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
D	Robyn M Stanicki	House District 38_	No response Robyn M Stanicki Maine House of Representatives - District 38

Maine House of Representatives - District 39
Candidates
D	Janice S. Dodge	House District 39_	Answers Janice S. Dodge Maine House of Representatives - District 39 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I would support suspension of the gas tax for a short time. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would support a policy prohibiting the sharing of any identifying information that an abortion or other reproductive healthcare procedures were performed in Maine. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I believe local building codes and zoning ordinances must continue to be expanded to include accessory dwelling units (ADU's), tiny homes, mother-in-law apartments, duplex and triplex units and create more local and state incentives to make them happen more quickly. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe we should expand rank choice voting, In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Our opioid crisis requires increasing the presence of Narcan in our communities and expanding the availability of medically assisted treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We should expand access to universal Pre-K by investing in age appropriate facilities, staffing and right sized vehicles, increase focus on Pre-K to grade three literacy and expand high impact tutoring. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? I believe we should encourage our federal delegation to increase the number of work visas and ease or eliminate seasonal restrictions and incentivize providing work force housing and improve/expand local transportation networks in our smaller cities and towns. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Maine citizens are not getting appropriate representation that reflects our population in our citizen legislature. Many districts are represented by retirees or those with job flexibility. Steps must be taken to increase compensation so that anyone can afford to serve. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Stephen J. Hemenway	House District 39_	No response Stephen J. Hemenway Maine House of Representatives - District 39

Maine House of Representatives - District 40
Candidates
R	Joseph McLaughlin	House District 40_	Answers Joseph McLaughlin Maine House of Representatives - District 40 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The same types of groups that recently attacked Maines lobster industry have been waging a war against hydroelectric dams for decades now. It’s a proven, zero emissions way of generating huge amounts of power. I’d support expanding and lifting restrictions on hydro power. We also should recognize the massive increase we’ve had with everything from gasoline to heating oil and do what’s right by enacting a temporary tax holiday on fuel sales. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I don’t support tax payer dollars paying for abortions. I’m also completely against late term abortion. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We’re looking at this wrong, renting isn’t permanent housing. And private rentals aren’t low income housing. By lowering energy costs, tax burdens, building Maines economy, creating good paying jobs and making work a better deal than welfare, we can get families on track to becoming homeowners. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? No Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voter ID In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Addiction isn’t prejudiced and its effecting everyone, most of us know someone who’s suffering from it. Expanding access to inpatient services for people who want to get clean is important. At the same time, I’d like to see harsh penalties for traffickers bringing fentanyl into the state. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Parents should be in charge of their kids educations, not unions or poorly run school districts. I’d support a school choice bill like the one recently passed in Arizona that allows parents to use their tax dollars towards an education were they feel is best for their kids. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Preserve the tip credit so servers/bartenders can continue to make a living in the industry, and keep government from over regulating the industry. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I want to bring my relevant experiences to the Legislature as a full time worker trying to raise a family. We hear a lot of opinions from Augusta but they’re seldom from people with real experience dealing with the struggles working Mainers face. I want to represent the people of my district as someone who’s seen firsthand the damage caused to families by the opioid epidemic, what it’s like to to get up and go to work every morning trying to keep up with ever increasing bills while out of touch politicians spend money frivolously, someone who wonders if my car will pass inspection while being told I need to buy a Tesla and someone who’s seen what the taxes do to a paycheck with overtime. I want to bring the middle class back up. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
D	Stanley Paige Zeigler Jr.	House District 40_	Answers Stanley Paige Zeigler Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 40 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? 1.Our first approach is to protect Mainers from any price gouging as we have seen incredible profits in some businesses. Then we should raise the income level for heating fuel assistance so more Mainers who are right on the margins get what they need. Along with that help, we must be more proactive getting the information out regarding programs to help pay for fuel and put a moratorium on utility rate increases. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. 3. At this point, I support no changes because we have strong protections now in place. If we see pressure from the other states we should legislate protections for Maine providers who perform abortions on women coming from away. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. 4.The state has been moving to help communities deal with the housing issue this last session. We have enacted the Land Bank Act, we have passed a bill helping towns to increase density, and we have put more money into housing. We need to address the issue of homes taken off the market to be used as short-term rentals—probably in a tax bill. Of course, the federal government could review the taxes around mortgages so as to spur public housing construction. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. 6. Maine has a rich tradition of giving all citizens the right to vote and should continue to do so. It’s important that we protect our local voting officials from any intimidation. We passed a bill dealing with that issue but might want to strengthen it if there are more episodes of aggression at polling stations. Also, the state must continue to help train local voting officials. That would assist at the polling stations, but we should also look at making ongoing absentee voting allowed. Once you set up this arrangement, it will continue until you opt out. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. 7. First we need to reduce the production of prescription opioid painkillers enough to keep the oversupply from fueling the illegal market, while still giving doctors the freedom to prescribe them as needed. But several issues also compound the problem of drug use that ends in overdose. The first is fentanyl, a very strong synthetic opioid which, when cut in unknown ratios with other substances, can quickly be fatal. To combat the immediate reaction, we need to make Narcan readily available and train people to administer it. Likewise, the test strips that can identify fentanyl in an unknown drug before a user takes it should also be available. However, these measures only stop a possible overdose; they don’t address the problem itself. We need sufficient recovery programs—fully funded. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? 8.Maine prides itself on local control of schools. Unfortunately, this often has a negative effect on educational inequality, as districts with a lower tax base can’t fund the same quality programs as the richer districts. I would like to look at other ways of funding schools, rather than relying so heavily on property taxes. The legislature has fully funded the state’s share at 55% (as approved by the voters years ago), and we have set up a protected fund to continue this responsibility. Right now we need to deal with the effect of Covid and how some students without sufficient support have fallen behind. The State needs to make funds available to pay mentors and teachers to give extra attention to them. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? 9.Before Covid we allowed more foreign and out-of-state workers to help with our tourist businesses. That was only a stopgap, although we should continue it as the needs of our tourist sector dictate. But if we want to help more Mainers to work in this sector, we need workforce incentives. The workers need a living wage, child-care support, and help with housing so they can be close to their work. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? 10. When I was a captain in the Merchant Marine, I moved from commercial work to running research vessels for the National Science Foundation. I worked with climatologists all over the world. I witnessed firsthand the evidence of climate change, so I’m very aware of the associated problems we face. I also worked as a logger in my twenties, and I know how hard it is to make a living doing that work. I’ve also worked as a teacher of students with behavioral issues, as a school-board chair, and as a night counselor at a drug-rehab center. These jobs gave me insight into the problems faced by schools and recovery programs, and with this perspective I try to take a broad view of the problems and issues facing our state. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 41
Candidates
R	Susan Lee Butterworth	House District 41_	No response Susan Lee Butterworth Maine House of Representatives - District 41
D	Victoria Doudera	House District 41_	Answers Victoria Doudera Maine House of Representatives - District 41 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? While inflation is affecting everyone, it is certainly hitting senior and low income Mainers the hardest. I’m pursuing two avenues to help reduce costs. First, a local organization which distributes heating assistance money has contacted me about ways to make accessing this money easier for families in my county. I plan to put forth measures to streamline the process statewide and cut through some of the bureaucracy so folks can stay warm. Second, making sure our older housing stock is weatherized is key toward saving heating dollars and staying more comfortable. We passed legislation last session funding weatherization efforts and I am working with my local Habitat for Humanity to get a program up and running for Knox County that could be replicated in other parts of the state. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. The vast majority of Mainers favor the full range of reproductive rights and I support them too. But folks can’t get the care they need if rural hospitals close and if we do not have providers moving to Maine. So we need to keep access to healthcare available by supporting hospitals and emergency responder services. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. As a Realtor, I see this problem every day in my community. I want to ensure that first-time homebuyers — our young people who want to stay in our state or are moving back here — can purchase a home in this hyper-competitive market. Out of state investment companies are purchasing homes at breakneck speed, and their acquisitions are happening at the expense of our young people. I will work with the Maine Association of Realtors to champion ways to continue to boost first time home ownership in our state so that our young people have a fighting chance to find a home. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expand ranked choice voting to all races in Maine. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis continues to be a scourge, and while we have passed some legislation that will help (such as expanding the Good Samaritan law) much more needs to be done. I want to ensure that the funds from the Attorney General’s settlements with Big Pharma are going toward treatment of those suffering substance abuse disorder so we can fight this crisis and save more lives. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Yes, this is an issue that is not going to go away anytime soon and will wreak havoc on this generation of Mainers, and by extension our whole state, for the foreseeable future. I have an idea to bridge this gap that I will be exploring this month with educators in my community and then introducing as a bill. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Having owned several tourism businesses myself over the years, I know how exhausted and demoralized small business owners are right now after having faced these workforce shortages for many months. We need to continue to attract new young people to our state (and having attainable housing for them is key) and shorten the time before asylum seekers and refugees can work. Many Mainers are at or close to retirement age, and whether we can convince them to keep working remains to be seen but it is worth a try. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My focus is unique because I deal with new Mainers all the time in my job as a Realtor, and wrote a book about moving here that has been reprinted three times. I understand housing issues inside and out. As a returning legislator, I bring four years of experience to the table and success with bills to get plastic out of our environment, keep children safer in homes with firearms, protect patients’ rights, and ban dangerous chemicals, to name a just a few. I am a mom, a new grandmother, small business owner and environmentalist and care deeply about our state. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 42
Candidates
R	Roger Vincent Tranfaglia	House District 42_	No response Roger Vincent Tranfaglia Maine House of Representatives - District 42
D	Valli D. Geiger	House District 42_	Answers Valli D. Geiger Maine House of Representatives - District 42 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? This is a global problem due to the war in the Ukraine, price gouging, and continued supply bottle necks made worse by China and the labor shortage. Maine Democrats did several things last session to insulate families, by continuing the free lunch program in schools for all children. We also beefed up the available funding for heating assistance, increased funding for weatherizing low income people's homes so they require less energy use to stay warm. We passed the Senior Property Tax Relief bill and increased the amount of the Homestead exemption. I will continue to support heating and food subsidies. But I also support increasing the minimum wage to equal a living wage. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would make sure that providers are protected and any woman coming to Maine for an abortion are protected from any request for medical records, surveillance of their emails, texts etc. requested by states looking to criminalize providers who provide abortions and women who choose abortions. Republican colleagues in the State House last session introduced 6 bills to limit abortion rights of women. All were defeated by Democrats. With Republican Senator Lindsey Graham proposing a severe federal abortion restriction bill, now is the time to vote across the ballot for those who will allow women and their doctors to decide when and if to have an abortion. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. This is a nationwide problem. Like many states, Maine stopped adding to the affordable housing supply, we fell from 1100 new affordable apartment being build a year in the 70's and 80's to 300 per year over the last 10 years. Many older Maine homeowners would like to downsize, but no smaller homes are available in their communities. I actively supported LD2003, I will be seeking funding for Maine Housing to provide programs that will help property owners build ADU's for long term rentals. I will work to ensure that the focus of federal and state funds that went to Maine Housing in the last session are focused on building additional housing. The legislature's Commission on Housing is also looking at the role short terms rentals are playing in removing housing from the market. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Most of our voting process is overseen by both parties. This only remaining risk that I see, is when a voter returns an absentee ballot to the town or city clerk. The ballot includes party affiliation on the outside envelope. I would like to see a locked box in the town/city office that the voter places their ballot in directly after it has been checked by the City Clerk and it is sealed until both parties are present for the counting. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The State of Maine's Attorney General successfully sued Big Pharma, including the Sackler family for pouring opiates into this states, with false claims on their addicting nature. The settlement funds we will now receive yearly, must go exclusively to helping Maine people seeking substance abuse treatment. We must continue to find and prosecute traffickers and we must protect our children from early childhood trauma and abuse as that correlates highly with future substance abuse issues. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Students who have fallen behind need to be identified and given additional support such as after school tutoring, summer programing. Maine needs to continue to ensure that all Mainers have access to the internet and technology so that learning can take place no matter what happens in the future. Maine, thanks to Governor Mill's proposal is offering free Community College for the kids who graduated during the pandemic. This helps them get back into learning, with support and back into planning for their future work life. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Many older Mainers retired during the Covid pandemic to avoid exposure, most are not returning to the labor force and because Maine is the oldest state in the nation, we will continue to lose another 75,000 people due to retirement this decade. We have lost many women from the workforce due to lack of available, affordable childcare. One of the reasons seasonal jobs have been so effected, is that young people have been able to move up into full time, better paying jobs due to the Baby Boom retirement. We need to attract and keep young people, but Maine has a history of low wages and high housing costs, so those must change if we hope to resolve our labor shortage. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a nurse, a former healthcare policy analyst, I was a city councilor for 6 years, I have a Master's degree in Climate Change/Green Design. I bring deep and broad experience. I am passionate about housing, making sure that elders can stay in the community and young people can return here and move here to make a life. Improving Maine's ability to provide excellent, affordable and accessible daycare is critical to returning mothers to the workforce, confident their children are safe and well cared for and because it is a great way to help enrich children and prepare them successfully for school and their futures. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 43
Candidates
D	Ann Matlack	House District 43_	Answers Ann Matlack Maine House of Representatives - District 43 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a national and global issue and not something Maine can easily solve on its own. To help our residents cope with the high costs of energy, we need to make weatherization and heating assistance programs more readily available. We also need to make sure all residents know about existing programs that can assist them, like the Property Tax Fairness Credit, the Senior Property Tax Relief program and the Homestead Exemption. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support legislation that would make Maine a safe harbor state, protecting doctors and patients from overreach from other states seeking to impose bounties and restrictions on those seeking or performing abortions in Maine. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The State of Maine has set aside millions of dollars to fund housing across the state. We need to encourage local projects that provide housing for a variety of residents, including seniors, young people just starting out, families with children, and leverage state and federal funding to create housing in our neighborhoods. Much of the recent housing development has occurred in more urban and populated areas. With the amount of funding currently available, we should be supporting local efforts to expand housing options and to keep our towns vibrant. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I would like to see Maine broaden its vote-by-mail so that all registered voters receive a ballot, reminding them that it’s time to vote, and provide more opportunities for returning ballots outside of regular office hours. And we should expand Ranked Choice Voting to all levels of elections in the state, including for Governor. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid epidemic was inflicted on Maine and other states by pharmaceutical corporations that prioritized profits over patient health. We must use the proceeds from opioid settlements to help those experiencing substance use disorder by developing, funding and supporting programs to assist them. We should adopt a comprehensive approach involving prevention, treatment and follow-up care, along with counseling, support and general health care services, to help individuals succeed in their recovery. It is important to ensure that those who enter jail or prison with substance use issues have access to continuing treatment during incarceration and after release. We should also create and support programs that keep people from being incarcerated when what they need is recovery assistance. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? This is a chronic issue that faces many school districts across the state. The current school funding formula penalizes school districts that have higher property values but lower incomes. We should review the funding formula with any eye toward including income levels to balance a district’s needs with its ability to pay. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Mainers have long been known for their work ethic. It is not a lack of interest in working that has created workforce shortages; rather, it is lack of affordable housing and lack of access to transportation that hinder people who want to work. We should focus our attention on increasing the availability of affordable housing and supporting programs like “Don’t Despair Car Repair” to help people keep their cars running. Areas like the Midcoast have few if any public transportation options, and programs that support purchasing affordable vehicles are needed. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? In my first two terms in the Legislature, I focused on issues that are important to my constituents. From increasing fees on clams harvested by depuration companies, so that funds continue to be available to clean up local clam flats; to supporting assessors in their struggles to apply appropriate valuations to commercial real estate, and securing additional funding for Meals on Wheels, I have responded to local concerns with legislation that targets local issues. I will continue to aid our communities by supporting full municipal revenue sharing for local communities and full education funding for local school districts. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Heather Anne Sprague	House District 43_	No response Heather Anne Sprague Maine House of Representatives - District 43

Maine House of Representatives - District 44
Candidates
R	Crystal Lynn Robinson	House District 44_	No response Crystal Lynn Robinson Maine House of Representatives - District 44
U	William Donohue Pluecker	House District 44_	Answers William Donohue Pluecker Maine House of Representatives - District 44 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We must continue to take the pressure off of property taxes for the funding of our schools and towns. Prioritizing the full funding of the schools from the state level, means that the towns do not need to push this load back onto home owners. Keeping the municipal revenue sharing fully funded also makes a difference in keeping the pressure off of property taxes. Ensuring the strength and expanding the homestead exemption program, and making sure that the town is reimbursing the towns to the highest degree possible also means the towns have the money they need without taxing the people living in our towns. Any money that is not taken from the homeowners in the form of taxes means they have more for their other expenses where costs are going up such as fuel oil and food. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Access to appropriate medical care is the right of every individual in the State of Maine. I would support policies that ensure that we do not see government overreach into the medical choices we make as citizens. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We fundamentally have a lack of supply of affordable housing. By partnering with private home builders, the state needs to make sure that there are good incentives to build that housing. The state would do well to create economic incentives for the builders, and create partnerships with the future occupants so that the housing is built in the places it is needed, and at the price point people can afford. Many municipalities are creating Housing Trusts to help leverage funds from the federal government for the development of affordable housing in their towns. The state should continue to support the development of these sorts of programs that create housing run by local people for local people, and opportunities for local businesses. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Creating the Open Primary system in the last legislature was a huge win for Independent voters as it means that we will now be able to vote in party primaries. While maintaining electoral security, Independent voters may choose one party's primary to vote in without joining a party. With more and more voters growing disillusioned with party politics and choosing to not enroll in a party, this is an opportunity to move our electoral system to the middle. This is a huge win that we should continue to support and protect. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Right now there is no access to inpatient rehab programs unless you have the money or the private insurance to pay for it. People are dying while in search of help without the money to find the medical care they need. As a state, we cannot think that we are helping people if there is no access to programming outside of incarceration. Creating and funding rehab beds so that there is a place to find help while getting off of drugs must be our priority. Our kids are dying because they can't find help, we must create a place to help get our kids the support they need. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? My kids go to school in a district next to another with more money, newer buildings, and more programming. There are dividing lines being built in our communities between the communities with money versus those without it, and those lines are being perpetuated by our failure to deliver a consistent education no matter how much money the communities have. We must build programs that deliver additional resources, funded by the state, without increasing the burden on the working rural communities. Undoing generations of unequal funding takes time and long term work, but we must begin to address the issues. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We continue to need more people to come to Maine. We need workers. Increasing affordable housing, making sure that people know they are welcome, and that Maine is a great place to live, are all important avenues to encourage people to move here. We are doing a great job of creating good paying, secure jobs, and we need to use those jobs to entice people to the state. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As the House Representative with two of the four prisons in the state in my district, it is crucial that I advocate for the men and women who live and work behind the walls. Continuing to ensure that the professionals who work in the facilities are valued and compensated for the incredible work they do to protect all the people of our state is a first priority for me. Maine's safety and security as a state is tied to having great staff who offer strong programming and educational opportunities for those living in the prisons. This directly leads to reduced recidivism and more people living productive lives in our communities. Ensuring that the fundamental mission of rehabilitation within our Corrections Dept. is supported by great staff running great programs is very important to me. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 45
Candidates
D	Clinton E. Collamore Sr.	House District 45_	Answers Clinton E. Collamore Sr. Maine House of Representatives - District 45 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? A lot of houses in Maine could use weatherizing. My old home needed a lot. There needs to be help with getting this done for houses. An example may be the blown in insulation. I am also aware of the HEAP programs. Residents need to know this and find an easy-to-use process to apply. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Finding a way to keep courts and politicians out of Woman's right to choose. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. See that we have a policy that addresses the need of first-time ownership of homes that allows young adults the opportunity to be competitive in the housing market. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I have lived in Maine my entire life and never had an issue with the voting process. I have voted in person, and absentee. I know some elder people that really would like the process of having the automatic absentee ballot process. We should try it. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. People who live in our communities need to have a local resource for those who need help and help for their families. There should be a funding mechanism in place to help them. I know of a case personally, and I believe if there had of been a local resource, this person may be alive now. Very sad situations. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Very challenging situation. The pandemic has not gone away, and we need to prepare that way. We have to do everything that we can to make sure all students get the same opportunities to succeed in their academia. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Being the oldest population in the United States, Maine really has an issue. There are a lot of people retiring early. Results have shown, pandemic related, and just an older population. The issue will be how do we attract a younger work force to support the workforce shortages? A lot of things have been tried. I think that communicating in the classrooms about the opportunities people may have in their own towns and areas may help. Let them know and prepare them for some of these opportunities. It would be a win win for the person, and the business. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Think local politics. Augusta should be treated as local, because it is. Everything is way too political nowadays. Talking with people, this is their biggest issue they have. People are way to hung up on political party things. We need to create a relationship of trust and respect amongst all parties. I have lived in Maine my entire life. It has got nasty. We never were that way and should not be. This is Maine, not Washington, DC... LOCAL. Thank you. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Lynn J Madison	House District 45_	No response Lynn J Madison Maine House of Representatives - District 45

Maine House of Representatives - District 46
Candidates
D	Lydia V. Crafts	House District 46_	Answers Lydia V. Crafts Maine House of Representatives - District 46 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Coming from a county (Lincoln) where 10% of dwelling units are mobile homes and 34% of homes were built before 1939, home weatherization and heating efficiency are key areas for our state to invest in to help lower monthly heating costs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. One legislative policy to help protect safe and legal abortion in Maine is to ensure the legal protections of all medical providers performing abortions in our state, regardless of the patient's state of residence. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. 33% of residences in Lincoln county are seasonal; we don't have enough year-round housing and we have to increase the availability of units through local planning, recruiting, and incentives to attract housing development. The state can use a portion of the budget surplus to increase our investments in building homes. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has led in ranked choice voting and I believe we should expand this voting system to all state elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. As a member of the Opioid Settlement Council, I believe we have to continue to invest in community-based detox and treatment options across our state, ensuring we reach our most rural communities. For those ready to recover, they need options available in their community. Additionally, it is time to pass legislation to decriminalize the possession of substances for personal use. We have tried fighting substance use disorder in the criminal justice system and it's not working. Instead of incarceration, we must provide access to evidence based medical treatment for addiction. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We can continue to fully fund education to reduce economic barriers for low-income communities. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The Legislature can support the development of workforce housing to help alleviate the shortages. People need to be able to secure safe and affordable housing close to employment and for many coastal communities the housing market has pushed them out. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I will continue to fight to expand access to mental health services in our state. Covid-19 has resulted in an increase in demand for outpatient and inpatient services and our state has to respond by expanding the physical and financial infrastructure of mental health services across all 16 counties. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Merle James Parise II	House District 46_	No response Merle James Parise II Maine House of Representatives - District 46

Maine House of Representatives - District 47
Candidates
R	Edward Polewarczyk	House District 47_	No response Edward Polewarczyk Maine House of Representatives - District 47
U	Evan Goodkowsky	House District 47_	Answers Evan Goodkowsky Maine House of Representatives - District 47 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We must continue to invest in energy efficiency as this affects both home and business economics. We must be aggressive in investing in energy-saving lighting, insulation, and industrial processes, as well as increased incentives for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, etc. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support the state's current abortion statute, and I would support sending an amendment to voters to enshrine it in the state constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Make the availability of construction trades education more accessible, affordable, and attainable for both traditional and non-traditional students, while continuing to advance the goal of statewide broadband access for all. Having more trained people in the workforce, and more physical locations that have broadband access are two of the biggest steps we can take to tackle the low housing stock. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The Legislature should send an amendment to the voters for Ranked Choice Voting to be available for every election, thereby unifying how all elections are conducted and reducing confusion. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We must continue to identify and suppress the over prescribing of opioids, give people who suffer from Opioid Use Disorder options for a broader range of treatments (including easier access to naloxone), and supporting people going through treatment and helping them get standing on their own two feet with gainful employment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The best thing the state can do to help students catch up is to make sure the schools particularly in rural areas are adequately staffed, whether that means raising the state minimum wage for educators or a different policy of funding local education, we ultimately cannot afford to have understaffed schools. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We need to look at expanding the eligibility for MaineCare. Ultimately, there are many people who want to work more, but fear doing so at the risk of losing their health insurance. The solution is not throwing people off of MaineCare, but investigating expanding it. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My unique focuses would be addressing tax policy to be more equitable and energy policy to try and address the outrageous prices of energy in our state. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
U	Leslie T. Fossel	House District 47_	Answers Leslie T. Fossel Maine House of Representatives - District 47 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? A "Performance standards" alternative for energy savings in the state building code. I am a contractor specializing in existing housing. With heat pumps, solar panels, a cap of insulation of insulation, and storm windows, we get to net zero - less than $18/month for heat and electricity (CMP's connection fee). The payback it 7 years. This is much better than many of the mandated energy requirements imbedded in the current building code. If we are smart about it, then we can lower energy costs and housing costs at the same time. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. A Maine constitutional amendment guaranteeing freedom of choice. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. For existing housing, reward best practices. Existing housing is much cheaper per square foot than new housing. The cost of modernization is also much cheaper - if the contractor knows what he's doing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Eliminate voter registration. Everyone automatically is a voter, unless they opt out. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Drugs are one form of addiction. Create a real public health system. Treatment is too late - we need to focus on prevention. Dedicate the tax revenues (over and above the standard sales tax) from tobacco sales and alcohol sales to public health. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Is this true for Maine? If so, we need to identify the students who are lagging behind and give them the individual help they need to catch up. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We suffer from a seasonal economy - too many people need to make a year's income from the high Summer season. Reward employers who are counter cyclical (which is what my business does without incentives). This might be the answer to getting movies made here without crazy incentives. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am creating a "Responsibility Agenda" which will be the theme of a series of bills I will introduce before cloture - my responses above indicate my thinking. We must transition from the politics of blame to rewarding responsible political behavior. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 48
Candidates
D	Holly B Stover	House District 48_	Answers Holly B Stover Maine House of Representatives - District 48 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflationary costs have increased and there is not one single policy initiative that will address the confluence of issues impacting costs. It is more effective to support existing assistance programs that are already in place and available to income eligible Mainers. One way to assist is to ensure people know where to go for existing assistance programs like the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Central Housing Improvement Program, and weatherization programs through Maine’s Community Action Programs. An additional resource is the Maine Wastewater Assistance Program offered through Maine Housing. These programs offer energy and cash assistance to keep our neighbors safe and warm. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has strong protections in place that ensures that people have access to abortion care. As we have seen many states have restricted access to reproductive healthcare. In Maine, all people should be allowed to access these services without fear of consequences. Our medical providers must be allowed to provide healthcare without fear of reprisal. Healthcare is a right and abortion is healthcare. We must ensure that reproductive healthcare services are available in the urban and rural areas of our state. The expansion to allow mid-level practitioners to provide abortion care is a policy that I supported because it ensures access to needed healthcare, including abortion services in all geographic areas of our state. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I believe that all people have a fundamental right to housing. The lack of affordable housing in Maine has been an increasingly significant problem, governed primarily by supply and demand. In my District, we have seen prices nearly double as the availability of affordable houses to purchase has become nonexistent. I think that some of the most creative solutions are created within communities where initiatives are developed through public/private partnerships. In my own community there is a new initiative where generous philanthropists are partnering with the Town to create multi-unit housing. I think the strongest solutions are those that can combine state, local and private investors to bring about housing solutions for local people. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Yes. Elections in Maine are fair, safe and secure. We could further reform voting by expanding automatic voter registration so that eligible persons are automatically registered when they have contact with official state agencies. There is also a provision to opt out if they choose. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We have made investments in community-based treatment and recovery services for people living with substance use disorders in Maine. There have been increased investments expanded peer recovery supports available across the state. It is important to increase access and availability of medical detox, treatment beds and certified recovery residences in this state. We also need to invest in harm reduction strategies, including fentanyl testing strips and increased Naloxone education and distribution. Maine’s Attorney General has successfully secured opiate settlement dollars. It will be important for the Legislature to ensure that those settlement funds are directed towards treatment and services for people living with substance use disorder. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? It is important that the students are identified through the respective school districts and ensure they have additional supports and services, including tutoring. The approach needs to be individualized and based on an assessment of need and not as a collective class or group. This past Legislative session, we committed funding that makes our community college free in Maine for the 2020-2023 graduating classes. By investing in the future of those students, our community college system can help those students complete a two-year degree and be prepared to go into the workforce or continue on to additional college education. This is another way we have mitigated some of the challenges laid before these students because of the disruptions brought about by the pandemic. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? I represent a District that is heavily reliant on tourism, hospitality and a summer workforce to survive. There are not enough available workers in this State, and in order to meet the demand, we must become creative in our solutions to this growing problem. It would help small businesses in our community if there was an effort to recruit out of state workers to Maine for the summer in an organized fashion. The Legislature needs to work in collaboration and partnership with the Department of Labor, the Maine Tourism Association and Hospitality Maine to create solutions to Maine’s workforce shortage. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I was born and raised in this District know so many of the issues and problems that affect my neighbor’s, day in and day out. There is a critical need for us to expand our workforce for our businesses that need the help. Our fisherman are being attacked by both the global economy and activists. It is imperative that we work with them to support and counter the attacks on this industry. We must address the economic impact of inflationary costs and help and every senior in Maine who is worried about how they are going to fill their oil tank this winter. These are the faces and the voices I reflect upon with each decision I make in Augusta. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Tricia Warren	House District 48_	No response Tricia Warren Maine House of Representatives - District 48

Maine House of Representatives - District 49
Candidates
D	Allison L. Hepler	House District 49_	Answers Allison L. Hepler Maine House of Representatives - District 49 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Maine needs to make it easier for residents to apply for LiHEAP and other heating assistance. Even though some parts of the system have been simplified for applicants, we could do more. If there are no changes to an application from one year to the next, that can be streamlined, especially given the delays in playing phone tag, for instance. This is directly related to staffing – these agencies are short staffed, which makes it challenging to process applications in a timely manner. As a result, people could also avoid finding themselves in emergency situations. We also need to boost housing weatherization programs so that whatever fuel you use, you are using less of it. Many agencies are already doing this work. Let’s provide sufficient resources for accomplishing this work. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. It’s important that Maine protects Maine providers from harassment or prosecution from those states where abortion is banned if they have performed an abortion on a resident of that state. I would also support policies that strengthen protections of Maine people against harassment or prosecution within our borders. I’m pleased to see a new law that establishes safe zones around areas that perform abortions. The new eight foot “medical safety zone” seems to strike a good balance between patient protection and freedom of speech. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I represent five rural coastal towns served by private wells and septic systems. I’d like to create a regional approach to affordable housing to create and enhance housing, and housing of all kinds. What works in Bath and Brunswick won’t work in Georgetown, for instance, but all towns can collaborate to create housing where it is most feasible and that benefits the entire region. I’ve also been working with the towns I represent to ensure sustainable efforts so that there is adequate and sufficient water where new housing is allowed in towns like ours that rely on aquifers. This may require better studies to assess water supplies, using the results to analyze the impact of new housing on these water supplies. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Our voting system is safe and secure. We recently made it more secure by developing a “chain of custody” for ballots from the local level all the way up to the Secretary of State’s Office. In terms of voting reform, it is past time to establish Ranked Choice Voting in the General Election for Governor. Mainers have repeatedly supported ranked choice voting and elections using this system have become easy to understand and to process. We need a Constitutional Amendment to allow RCV for Governor. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Fighting this requires a focus on three things: treatment, prevention, and enforcement. Treatment requires sufficient staffing and resources wherever we find people with SUD – doctor’s offices, hospitals, jails, mental health centers. Effective mental health treatment and needle exchange sites will keep people from dying. Prevention? The widespread availability of Narcan, education in high schools, community colleges and universities, and encouraging more people to step up through our Good Samaritan law. Enforcement means ensuring that people suffering from addiction caught up in the criminal justice system get the help they need, while preventing the importation of illicit drugs, especially fentanyl. It’s a crisis, it’s tragic and this is an “all hands on deck” situation. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? All families struggled. When parents’ work was disrupted due to closed schools and daycares, students faced multiple challenges. For kids already “at risk,” it was even more disruptive, but all students experienced this to some extent. Being in the physical classroom makes a big difference. Resources are more available and the adults in the building – professional staff, faculty, office and facilities workers – can better identify students who need extra help, stability and opportunities. Regular breakfast and lunch available at no cost is really important. I support instructional coaches to help kids catch up and summer school opportunities. JMG and internships can open new worlds. So can expanding broadband in our communities. None of this happens without talented faculty and staff. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Tourism was hampered by staffing shortages but statewide, Maine is seeing a workforce shortage, and reasons vary – early retirement caused by the pandemic and an aging population, and Mainers changed jobs or began their own businesses. We need to attract and keep young people in Maine. To do that we need: quality schools, broadband, good roads, reasonable property taxes, affordable housing, childcare, access to health care. This benefits people we want to bring to Maine, and it’s also critical to our current work force. We recrafted a tax credit that applies to every college graduate living and working in Maine and paying off loans. For others, we need better and more on-the-job training. And if there was ever a reason to support our public technical high schools, this is it. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Every person elected to the legislature and every person who runs for the legislature brings a unique focus, based on their own experiences and education. I represent a mixed district demographically. I get to listen to the concerns of people of all ages and from all backgrounds. It also makes me a better legislator. My work experience also affects how I think about issues. As a historian and as a teacher, I see events in a broader perspective without losing sight of the immediate impact of a policy. As a local selectperson, I can see the immediate effects of financial decisions on residents in our small town, and I’ve learned how to respond quickly to issues as they arise. As a selectperson, a legislator, and a teacher, I know how to work collaboratively. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Kelly James	House District 49_	No response Kelly James Maine House of Representatives - District 49

Maine House of Representatives - District 50
Candidates
R	Jason Edward Desjardins	House District 50_	No response Jason Edward Desjardins Maine House of Representatives - District 50
D	Sean C. Paulhus	House District 50_	No response Sean C. Paulhus Maine House of Representatives - District 50

Maine House of Representatives - District 51
Candidates
R	Linda Baker	House District 51_	Answers Linda Baker Maine House of Representatives - District 51 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Speaking candidly, energy prices are driven more by policy coming out of Washington and not Augusta. However, in recent years we’ve seen our Legislature attempt to increase taxes on gas and home heating oil. Now is not the time to entertain any policies that will increase costs to Mainers trying to heat their homes and get to work. We have incentives for people to invest in energy efficient equipment, but many lower income families lack the necessary money to install them. I would propose working with Efficiency Maine to revisit policies that may unintentionally carve out those who can least afford it, and restructure the current financial benchmarks to be more inclusive to all. Mainers shouldn’t be punished because of inaction from the federal government. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. As a State Senator, I voted to protect women’s reproductive rights from burdensome regulation on the providers. In the next legislature, I will vote against changes to Maine’s existing laws. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Our first priority should be to allow people to stay in their homes should they choose to. This past legislature made some progress on this by freezing property taxes for eligible senior citizens. However, this law doesn’t solve the problem for younger Mainers starting out or working families trying to make ends meet. I would like to revisit the Circuit Breaker program that helped many Mainers with their property taxes based on ability to pay. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe that we should pass Voter ID here in Maine to help strengthen our already strong elections system. I also believe that our Town Clerks do a fantastic job administering free and fair elections in our state. I would look to them to see which areas of Maine election law they feel could be improved. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Solving the opioid crisis won’t be done in a single policy, and will require many seats at the table including law enforcement, mental health experts, and those in recovery to collaborate on positive policy reform. It’s tested that early intervention and education is the most effective way to prevent opioid use. Once use begins, it’s incredibly difficult to abstain, and is often accompanied with legal consequences. We must invest in resources such as community mentors who will work with individuals as they transition from use to stable living conditions. Apart from this, the state recently saw egregious attempts to scale-back penalties of trafficked drugs such as fentanyl. This would have worsened the crisis. I will work to ensure common sense policies remain in place to protect Mainers. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Schooling at home was very detrimental for students of working families. Many families, especially low-income, were forced to choose between stepping back from a job to ensure a quality education for their child, or remaining in the workforce because they couldn’t afford not to. Maine should invest in programs that will help get kids back on track like head start and after school mentoring. We should listen to our teachers, and equip them with the resources they need to give their students the education they require. Our state should make investments in children’s social and emotional health. The pandemic has caused major behavioral setbacks, and we are already seeing the immediate consequences. We must do everything we can to ensure the mental well-being of our youth now and in the future Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The pandemic took a toll on our workforce. There is agreement that workforce shortages have put major strains on our small businesses, however we are still exploring why this shortage exists in a mostly post-pandemic world. We know the high cost of childcare has forced many families to forfeit their job to provide child care, and we must invest in solutions that return them to the workforce. Young Mainers have been leaving our state. While we need to continue to attract people to Maine, the state should take advantage of the retired labor pool consisting of reliable and experienced workers, and partner with employers to fill gaps in shortages. We need to continue studying what is contributing to workforce shortages by hearing from all stakeholders, and working together to find solutions. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I lost my husband Skip, Topsham’s first full-time Fire Chief, to cancer, something that was likely caused by the dangerous flame retardants in furniture. When in the Maine Senate, I worked hard to fix that problem so that other families wouldn't have the same experience. I crossed the aisle and was the lead Senate co-sponsor on a bill that would have strengthened the Kids Safe Products Act if passed. Today, I’m very concerned about the prevalence of forever chemicals like PFAS. The CDC notes that PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer, decreased fertility, liver damage, and increased risk of thyroid disease and asthma. In the next legislature I am committed to work with legislators in both parties to find responsible solutions to the impacts of PFAS that affect all of our communities. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
D	Rebecca L. Jauch	House District 51_	Answers Rebecca L. Jauch Maine House of Representatives - District 51 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation remains a global concern and will not be solved by state legislators alone. The state and its government should do all in its power to ensure the most vulnerable Mainers, particularly those who have a fixed or low-income, are warm this winter. This includes publicizing/expanding existing state and federal assistance programs such as HEAP/LIHEAP, streamlining current programs, and improving, or initiating, public/private partnerships with the goal of easing heating expenses. With an eye toward the future, such programs should also promote weatherization to foster more energy- and cost-efficient homes. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I am a proponent of amending the Maine Constitution to codify one’s right to abortion. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I support levying a tax or fee on non-resident owned vacation and rental homes (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.). The preponderance of such properties continues to exacerbate housing costs and revenues generated from these taxes/fees could be used in the creation of affordable housing opportunities for working class Mainers. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I support creating a process that would allow Maine voters who want to continually vote absentee to register as such and automatically receive an absentee ballot for each statewide election. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Following on Attorney General Frey’s announcement of the National Opioid Settlement agreement that will see $130 million distributed to Maine over 18 years, we need to ensure that those funds go to programs that help Mainers experiencing substance use disorder. The State Legislature also needs to collaborate with local/state law enforcement agencies and the Attorney General’s office to review existing laws and potentially craft new laws that support efforts to remove drugs from our streets and hold traffickers/dealers accountable. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? I am a proponent for continuing Maine’s current free community college program for low-income students with an expansion to include trade schools as well. In addition, the state should identify schools that struggled the most during the pandemic and ensure they are prioritized to receive resources and funding to help their students get back on track. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? I support the Maine Compact on Immigration which asks our federal representatives to change immigration policies to shorten the waiting time before immigrants are allowed to work. Immigrants make up approximately 4% of Maine’s population and fast tracking their ability to start working and contributing to our economy should be a priority. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am currently finishing my master’s degree in statistics with a concentration in data analysis. If elected, I will bring an analytical skillset and problem-solving approach to the Legislature. I have been particularly focused on water data throughout my studies, and this will continue to be a personal interest and focus of mine in the Legislature. Maine is often referred to as a water-rich state, but we saw this year how things can change quickly. Drought conditions, increased water use, and leaking pipes, when compounded, can lead to water shortage situations such as the town of Stonington faced this summer. We need smart stewardship of our state’s water resources to ensure current and future Mainers have access to the water they need. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 52
Candidates
U	Peter Anthony Lewis	House District 52_	No response Peter Anthony Lewis Maine House of Representatives - District 52
D	Sally Jeane Cluchey	House District 52_	Answers Sally Jeane Cluchey Maine House of Representatives - District 52 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I would be supportive of policies that direct state resources to assist with home weatherization, and enrollment in state and federal programs that can help save Mainers money (e.g., HEAP, SNAP, Affordable Connectivity Program, Property Tax Cap for Seniors, Sales Tax Fairness Credit, Property Tax Fairness Credit). The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I’d be supportive of policies that promote more awareness of and ease of access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need to incentivize housing growth in places that are best suited for growth and development. For example, municipalities could be incentivized to modify zoning regulations in already dense areas, such as business districts that have experienced office closures during the pandemic, or to promote creation of new multi-family housing units. In incentivizing development, it is also critical that we do so in a way that is mindful of the impact on our climate and that preserves contiguous wildlife habitat. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe we should expand Ranked Choice Voting to all elections, including the gubernatorial election. I would also support automatically sending absentee ballots and voter guides (with information from candidates) to all registered voters for all state-wide elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to reduce the stigma associated with opioid addiction and improve access to treatment. One way to do this could be to classify treatment to opioid addiction as preventative care and require state and private payers to cover the cost of treatment at 100% without copays or deductibles applying. This would be similar to the way that the Affordable Care Act changed how women's health care and access to contraception is covered. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? It is important that we work to ensure all students in Maine have equal access to high quality education and that appropriate intervention services are provided for students in need. Tutoring support, extended school year options, and before and after school programs are all ways that we can work to close those achievement gaps. It would be important to target this support to communities with students most at risk of falling behind, as was done with resources in the recent climate education bill. While these interventions do carry costs, I can think of no better way to secure Maine’s future than by investing in our students and bolstering our educational systems. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine is uniquely well positioned to address this challenge. Although we have a large number of Mainers permanently leaving the workforce as they age and retire, we have increasingly seen growth in populations of New Mainers coming into the state in search of a safe place to live and build their lives. By expediting the work permitting process, we can not only fill open positions in the workforce, we can also promote the dignity and self-sufficiency of these individuals. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? A top priority for me is to identify policy solutions that will increase the number of home health workers in all communities. We are already in the midst of a long-term care crisis, and over the next two decades it’s only going to get worse. If we want our aging population to be able to age in place and with dignity, we must decrease the burden of this crisis on Maine families. Doing so will also help keep younger family members currently serving as caregivers in the workforce. This is a solvable problem with the right political will and collaboration. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 53
Candidates
D	Jane L. Beckwith	House District 53_	Answers Jane L. Beckwith Maine House of Representatives - District 53 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Since record corporate profits are driving inflation, reducing minimum wage for workers who cannot afford rising housing and energy costs is unwarranted. In addition to working to prevent grocery, pharmacy and energy sector price-gouging, I will support policies that help Mainers rejoin the work force, including direct child and elder care support, and improved educational, certificate and regulatory pathways for people who wish to provide these services. Removing barriers to workforce participation can prevent wages from contributing to inflation in the future and provide needed jobs and services, as well. I will strive to reduce housing costs by supporting an increase in our housing supply and providing incentives to making current housing stock energy efficient. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. The right of a woman to choose abortion before the fetus is viable is an inalienable right and that premise should underlie all legislation related to abortion. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Last spring, Governor Mills announced the launch of a 20 million dollar program to affordable rental housing in rural Maine. We also have a property tax stabilization program which allows qualified seniors to freeze the property taxes on their homestead. The state should continue work with communities to identify how possible local reforms such as increasing the number of homes allowed on back lots, reducing restrictions on mobile homes and allowing accessory dwelling units in larger lots can provide housing choices for Mainers without changing the character of rural communities. We should preserve current housing stock, expand the number of single family homes and increaseMain housing for seniors and the disabled, including veterans. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has a very safe, secure election system.The paper ballots we use mean that we can recount and verify the results of the election with great confidence. We have increased the accessibility of voting and made it easy to register, even for students. Our poll staff include equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans at each place of polling. If you are registered, you cannot be turned away from the polls. Your ballot may be challenged, but your vote will be recorded. To affirm the significance of our right and duty to vote, I propose that election day be made a state holiday. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Fighting the opioid crisis requires collaboration among medical personnel, educators, mental health and substance abuse organizations, insurers, and first responders among others. We need integrated policies that support treatment, prevention and recovery. As a specific measure to prevent deaths, I support low barrier access to Naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses and expanded community education to de-stigmatize Naloxone and train people in its use. To help all Mainers addicted to opioids, I will support access to housing, counseling and other medical care including pain management, and job opportunities. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We all care about Maine's students. Consequently, the education gap identified by the Brookings Institute and other researchers is disheartening. However, for many students, we have time to identify those who need the most help and to come up with ways for schools to adjust grade level expectations and provide curriculum modules designed to fill common gaps. I intend to work closely with the Maine State Board of Education and with the parents in my district to support students, teachers, schools and families as we meet the ongoing challenge. We should explore tutoring, mentoring, expansion of the school year or school day, and other creative strategies to help Maine students succeed. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Telework and hybrid schedule will help Maine attract the best employees, so I do approve of this focus. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a student and teacher of history, I have a great respect for Maine's tradition for defending individual liberties and human rights. We should keep and expand on those traditions and I will fight for them. Although I have great respect for the past, I am also committed to making the most out Maine's future. We need to create a plan to mitigate the impact of global climate change in our state. Our goal should be to participate in and help develop the technologies and industries that will come about as a consequence of transitioning to renewable energy sources. We need to address the needs of our fisheries and island communities. Building the future of Maine will require the ability to face up to reality and to understand the scientific conclusions that should inform our conduct. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
R	Michael H Lemelin	House District 53_	No response Michael H Lemelin Maine House of Representatives - District 53

Maine House of Representatives - District 54
Candidates
R	Charles J. Bussell	House District 54_	No response Charles J. Bussell Maine House of Representatives - District 54
D	Karen L. Montell	House District 54_	Answers Karen L. Montell Maine House of Representatives - District 54 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is an issue all over the world right now. We need to stop companies from price gouging, and utility companies from raising rates. Let's continue investing in weatherizing efforts so Maine families have strong support to keep their homes safe and warm. In addition, let's streamline the process for our neighbors in need of applying for heating assistance, and help Mainers access the programs passed by the Legislature: utilizing the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program (DEL), Senior Property Tax Relief, Homestead Exemption Program, Property Tax Fairness Credit. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has strong protections in place that prevent government control over our bodies. Maine people should be free from the government trying to strip those rights away. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Expand the use of incentive programs and innovations to develop affordable solutions to tackle housing affordability. Maine can continue funding the construction of new housing in partnership with the private sector. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Continue to make voting stronger while making voting more accessible, and to expand automatic voter registration so that more official state agencies can help register citizens to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Providing community resources and compassionate care for Mainers in recovery, making sure the recovery support networks have the resources they need to help people recover and thrive. We need to continue to go after Big Pharma and use the settlement funds to help fund programs for Mainers experiencing substance use disorder. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? By identifying Maine students and schools that were most negatively impacted by the pandemic, we can create thoughtful ways to help those students who need additional support, like mentoring, tutoring or utilizing summer programs. Additionally, these students could attend the free community college programs and garner support and skills to help them thrive in the Maine workforce. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Hybrid work schedules have many positive benefits for Maine workers and employers. With proper implementation hybrid or telework schedules can increase workplace health and safety, have less of an environmental impact, reduce operating costs, and create greater worker participation, while increasing worker productivity and efficiency. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Mainers deserve to have safe food, water, soil and air. Working to keep toxins out of our environment and reduce our carbon footprint is in the best interest of all Maine people. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
U	Nicolas Delli Paoli	House District 54_	Answers Nicolas Delli Paoli Maine House of Representatives - District 54 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I would be happy to support giving subsidies to people and small businesses under a negotiated income threshold. Making the energy sector, production and distribution, public would also help by taking out the profit incentive surrounding this basic human good. Big government is terrible, but monopolizing corporations are worse and also inefficiently governing our lives. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe in a single-payer healthcare system because prices can be negotiated by our representatives with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. Access to abortion, and healthcare overall, should be available since we live in a free country. I don’t need to choose between a few horrific insurance plans. I want, for myself and my neighbors, to be free to go to the doctors we want and get the services that we require for our physical and mental health. Your body, your choice- not our government’s choice. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I love this question because it has such a nice answer: we build houses. Not just “affordable housing” that you rent, but lease to own housing with little down payments so people can get ahead. Housing that actually increases inter-generational wealth and stops people from being forced to rent. The state and federal government should be investing in housing and incentivizing development in a more resilient, permaculture-based way. We pay for endless military expenses without pause, so I know we can give housing and healthcare to all Americans. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Democrats say Russia rigged the 2016 election and Republicans say the 2020 election was stolen. Both sides make up unsubstantiated claims because they’re scared of losing power. We should keep on using paper ballots so we can always do an audit comparing the scanner’s numbers. Maybe we do a “What your local election process is like” video. Maybe all the people who don’t believe in election integrity should volunteer to help with elections so they can make sure it’s super secure. I get why people don’t trust our government, but that’s more the reason to get involved. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Proponents of the War on Drugs and the pharmaceutical lobby, with the officials they legally bribe, are destroying so many lives. We need to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable, use alternatives that have less side effects and addictive qualities, and give immense support to those who are struggling with addiction. We must understand the reasons why people become addicted and give resources that lead to healing and prosperity. Universal healthcare would also help because, again, the opioid epidemic is fueled by greed, not by a system of care. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? You should have access to a high caliber education regardless of your income level. I am a huge proponent of vocational education and expanding alternatives to conventional education into the public sphere. From middle school on there should be internship and or hands-on learning available. We should be investing way more efficiently into our education, making sure teachers get a competitive wage compared to workers with similar degrees in the private sector. There is so much bureaucratic waste in our education system that could be going towards diversifying the education, and therefore future opportunities, for learners. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Productivity doesn’t decrease when working from home, if your job allows such a thing. If you’re more introverted it can be nice too. I think workplace moral and team building is amazing, but I also think desk jobs can be done from a desk anywhere. I’m mixed on this so I’ll stick with supporting a hybrid strategy with exceptions being allowed depending on a person’s situation. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I believe politicians should run on issues and solutions, not parties. We have to leverage our government against large monopoly corporations in the energy, healthcare, and food sectors primarily. Forming resilient, domestic supply chains that are able to supply all citizens with vital resources for survival at a low cost should be our government’s biggest focus. The party divide and culture war is manufactured to make us all ignore our shared class struggle. Let’s take from the rich, who, most of which, are benefiting from a global market that exploits people and the planet, and make a more harmonious society. Single-payer healthcare, local supply chains, housing, food sovereignty, and education are my primary focuses. It would be an honor to serve the people of Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 55
Candidates
D	Dan Shagoury	House District 55_	Answers Dan Shagoury Maine House of Representatives - District 55 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Unfortunately, high inflation is a global problem right now, and there is not a lot that can be done to address it at the state level. Paying for heat this winter is a particular concern, and there are some steps we can take there. We can make it a faster, easier process for people to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program, we can prevent utilities from raising their rates, and we can take measures to punish those who take advantage of the situation by price gouging. We also have programs to help Mainers with their cost of living, particularly those on low or fixed incomes. These include the Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program, the Homestead Exemption Program, The Property Tax Fairness Credit and the new Senior Property Tax Program. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would support an amendment to the Maine Constitution protecting a woman’s right to abortion services. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. If we increase the supply of housing, particularly affordable housing, then prices should fall. I would strongly support measures to increase our stock of affordable housing, especially by encouraging the repurposing of existing buildings for use as housing. For example, since the pandemic began many people have been working from home, reducing the need for office space. Owners should be encouraged, through tax credits and other incentives, to convert these spaces into affordable housing when it is practical to do so. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Ranked choice voting in federal elections in Maine has been shown to be an effective way of giving voters a better way of expressing their preferences. The Legislature should make the necessary changes to state law, and pass changes to the Maine Constitution subject to approval by the voters, to allow ranked choice voting to be used in state level elections as well, including those for the Maine House, the Maine Senate and the governor. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Prevention of substance use disorder is complicated and requires a combination of education and support to prevent substance abuse, penalties and punishment for those who profit from this scourge and treatment for those who need it to help them recover. Of these, I believe the top priority at this point should be more resources in the area of treatment and recovery. When people get to a point where they ask for help, they need it at that moment, not to be put on a waiting list or be told that they have to travel many miles for care. We have to make sure that people with substance use disorder get the help they need when and where they need it. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Schools were particularly hard hit by the pandemic and all students were affected somewhat. We need to identify those students that need the most help and make sure there is an adequate number of adults available in the schools, especially in terms of teachers and ed techs, to get them the help they need. This will be difficult, as many schools in Maine have had a hard time hiring necessary staff this school year. The state should help fund these additional personnel, as well as helping to pay for after-school and summer programs where and when they are needed. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Yes, I do, when working from home is appropriate for the job. Work from home and hybrid schedules make employees happier, saves them time and money on commuting and saves the state in terms of office space needed. It also helps the state compete with the private sector, where such policies are becoming increasingly common. Of course there are positions where this is not possible or practical, but when and where it is an option, it should be allowed. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I recently retired from state service, but for the last 19 years I worked as a staff person at the Maine Legislature. This gave me a lot of experience with procedures at the State House, so I can hit the ground running. The job also gave me a good working knowledge of how all the various state departments work, and what a lot of their shortcomings are. I hope to use this experience and knowledge to help craft policies and legislation that will make the state government more responsive to the needs of Maine people. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
R	Phillip Ryan Wiseman	House District 55_	No response Phillip Ryan Wiseman Maine House of Representatives - District 55

Maine House of Representatives - District 56
Candidates
U	Kent Ackley	House District 56_	Answers Kent Ackley Maine House of Representatives - District 56 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Though inflation is a national issue, we need to look for local solutions. I will sponsor a bill that will make it easier for municipalities to offer local recycling and salvaging opportunities at their transfer stations. Removing building materials, parts, and lumber from the waste stream will lower municipal disposal costs and put wasted materials back to work locally. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I do not support mandates - neither for vaccination nor for abortions. Mandating people to carry pre-viable pregnancies to term violates their bodily autonomy. Early, well-funded, and accurate sex education is the key to making sure that every pregnancy is a wanted pregnancy. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. One major driver of increased housing costs is the complexity and one-size-fits-all approach of the Maine's Universal Building Code (MUBC). We need to take a fresh look and find the opportunities in MUBC that are unnecessary. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Our voting system is secure, the campaign financing of it is not. By exploiting a legal loophole, foreign governments are allow to spend money in Maine elections like they have 1st amendment speech rights. They are not Maine citizens. They don't have a 1st amendment rights. Maine needs to exert its sovereignty and close the loophole. Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. In 2020, I proposed and sponsored the bill to prevent foreign governments from interfering in Maine elections. It didn't pass. The same bill was introduced in 2021. My opponent voted against it. It didn't pass. Now we have a citizen initiated referendum effort underway because the loophole in Maine election law has been exploited that allows Canadian taxpayer money to be legally spent in a Maine election. It is illegal for Mainers to do this in Canada, so why do we tolerate it in Maine? We need to enact my legislation to close the loophole and protect Maine's elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid crises is a problem that has been building for more than a decade. We need to be focusing on addiction treatment and law enforcement as a short term reaction. The long term solution lies in asking how we can prevent the seeds of addiction from taking root in the first place. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers. More work needs to be done on making teaching (especially in rural Maine) an attractive and fulfilling profession. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? I do. Across the economy we are seeing the need for added flexibility with employees. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As Your Local Independent, my focus will be on the local issues that my constituents think are important: Clean drinking water, ensuring public access to and protecting lakes, fiscal responsibility, local recycling, protecting Maine's elections. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
R	Randall Adam Greenwood	House District 56_	No response Randall Adam Greenwood Maine House of Representatives - District 56

Maine House of Representatives - District 57
Candidates
R	Corey Wilson	House District 57_	No response Corey Wilson Maine House of Representatives - District 57
D	Tavis Rock Hasenfus	House District 57_	Answers Tavis Rock Hasenfus Maine House of Representatives - District 57 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We should start by making sure we pull every ounce of funding available to Maine in the Inflation Reduction Act. Hundreds of thousands of households in Maine will be eligible for the rebates on appliances, ranging from heat pumps and cooktops, to wiring upgrades and new panel boxes. Making use of these subsidies in addition to the funding we provided last year for Mainers to make weatherization and efficiency upgrades to homes and businesses will bring huge energy savings. We may need to put even more funds into the LIHEAP program and must try to bring down electricity rates. Additionally, we need to consider ways to lighten the tax burden on Maines working families and seniors, and make sure cost of living adjustments to state retirements and salaries keep pace with inflation. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I fully support our current laws that make abortion safe, legal, and available. I will oppose efforts to restrict these personal decisions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Along with investing over 120 MM in housing we passed important bills to address housing and development. LD 2003 gave owners more rights by allowing multi-family housing to be built in residential zones, as well as provided technical support to help towns revamp zoning ordinances to expand housing. LD 1694 a bill I was instrumental in moving out of committee with significant bipartisan support, created the Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, to help towns rehabilitate abandoned property and find ways to transform unused properties into apartments etc. Though a great first step both require continued work to maximize impact. We need to review Maine subdivision law to complement the progress made and find ways to make housing development quicker and easier for developers and landowners. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We must continue to pass legislation like LD 231 which allows Independents to, for the first time ever, vote in a primary. We must also remove big money from Maine politics. We can close the loophole which allows foreign corporations to spend huge money on Maine referendum questions. We should expand ranked choice voting to all state elections. Safe, secure and accurate elections are instrumental to a functioning democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect the integrity of our elections. Every vote must be counted, but no vote counted twice. I have been pleased with Shenna Bellows commitment to keeping Maine elections free, fair, inclusive, and precise. One of my top priorities regarding elections is to vote again for Shenna Bellows as our secretary of state. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. This session we passed legislation allowing EMS to dispense take home Narcan kits, allowing schools to have naloxone on hand and that prevents prosecution of any person who is aiding an overdose victim. This legislation along with making fentanyl test strips more available will keep people alive. Additionally, we need to expand alternative sentencing programs that focus on rehabilitation and treat drug dependency. We need to prevent new dependency though improvements to the prescription monitoring program and more scrutiny of opioid prescribing as well as through education for consumers and youth. Most importantly, we need to provide quality, accessible and affordable treatment services in every community and end the stigmatization around drug addiction. Get Fentanyl off the street National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Continuing to fund education at the promised 55% will make Maine schools more equitable by reducing the financial burden on towns. This will especially be felt by schools in less affluent areas that don’t have the tax base of larger Maine communities. We need to continue and strengthen the programs developed by LD 1962 which used federal dollars to address and improve student achievement losses as a result of remote learning by establishing tutoring programs. Additionally, increasing the access to early childhood education will help bridge the income gap as study after study has shown how introducing children to learning settings early exponentially increases their aptitude in the later years of school. Finally, all students must have access to high-speed internet and nutritious food. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? It should not matter where you do your work as long as your work is being done well. Maine is wise to meet employees where they are. There are certainly jobs that require a physical presence, or don’t lend themselves well to remote work, but every job and employee should be evaluated on the particularities of the job. Having a more flexible work environment may also attract more applicants and obtain better employees. Additionally, there is potential to save in the long run on office space and supplies. Maine is well suited for telework, as it is spread out geographically, and eliminating commutes and significantly reducing travel time just makes sense. Ultimately the decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, and not be left up to the legislature to decide. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I have built a reputation as a strong advocate for our lakes, and recently spoke about my lake protection bill at Maine’s annual Milfoil Summit. I intend to expand on this to develop a comprehensive statewide response plan to prevent new invasive species infestations and eradicate present infestations. My legal background is also an asset. It is instrumental in my current service on a legislative commission designed to reduce the prevalence of children entering the foster care system and is extremely helpful when navigating the intricacies of making law. Yet, above all else I strive to bring a sense of integrity and honesty to government. Now more than ever elected officials must be role models for our children, by modeling respect, restraint, humility and compassion. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 58
Candidates
R	Daniel Jesse Newman	House District 58_	No response Daniel Jesse Newman Maine House of Representatives - District 58
D	Robert Smith Neal	House District 58_	Answers Robert Smith Neal Maine House of Representatives - District 58 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Augusta can do a little to help. The $850 checks that most of us received back from our tax money covered the inflation for about $10,000 worth of purchases. Beyond that, Maine should work to broaden work opportunities, especially in rural Maine, so employees have a wider choice of jobs and can improve their incomes, which will help us deal with inflation. And, there are signs that some inflation is starting to inch downward. Remember, prices rise like a rocket, fall like feathers. Gasoline in my town has come down to $3.50 from $5.05. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Make sure all people have ready access to contraception. Better to prevent pregnancy than to end it. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. This is a long-term issue that won't be solved by any single legislative action. Government may intervene in the market system better when it works by incentive than when it works by compulsion. So, rather than force through such measures as rent-control and requirements to build set numbers of affordable housing units, government should provide incentives to landlords and developers to make housing affordable for all Mainers. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Making sure that multiple registration doesn't happen. We have a system that cancels a voter's registration when the voter moves and registers to vote in her new town, but in talking with voters, I'm finding that we don't do so well when a voter moves out of state or moves without registering in her new town or when a voter dies. My late wife was deputy town clerk in New Sharon and found several hundred enrolled voters had left town or had died. A great deal of her work time was devoted to updating our voter rolls. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Enhanced law enforcement to slow this stuff from coming into our state coupled with rapid and complete access to treatment for those who want to get clean. You can't tell someone at the end of her rope that she has to wait two weeks to get into treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Our student-to-teacher ratios are among the lowest in the country. That should give teachers more time to work individually with students to assess their progress during the pandemic. Each school district needs to come up with a procedure for screening where students stand and in designing programs to get students back up to speed. If the Legislature needs to support these programs, I will support that. But it won't be easy or overnight. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? I'm skeptical. But I have talked with several state employees, especially in IT, who feel they are more effective working at home. One told me that the state's bureaucratic overhead is biased toward preventing work from getting down. Tech lovers underestimate the value of a workforce being together to do the work. I fail to see how not being with the people doing similar work benefits a state employee or gets the state's work done better. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Opportunity for rural Maine people. And working together for Maine people. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 59
Candidates
R	James E. Orr	House District 59_	No response James E. Orr Maine House of Representatives - District 59
D	Raegan French LaRochelle	House District 59_	Answers Raegan French LaRochelle Maine House of Representatives - District 59 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I've been speaking to people at their homes and heating costs and inflation are top concerns. Last session the Legislature passed programs to help Mainers reduce household spending. Combined with programs already in place, there are resources that people can access. These include the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Senior Property Tax Relief, the Homestead Exemption Program, Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program (DEL) and the Property Tax Fairness Credit. If my constituents have questions about how to access programs, please reach out to me directly. Another way of attacking this issue is to demand accountability from companies and utilities that raise prices unnecessarily. Finally, promoting weatherization of homes will pay off both environmentally and economically. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Protecting women's health is a top priority. I am thankful that in Maine we have strong, thoughtful laws that allow women the right to make decisions for themselves. One specific policy I would continue to support is for women who live in states that have restricted reproductive health care to be able to access services in Maine privately and without negative repercussions to themselves. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. In Augusta and across Maine, more housing is needed for all income levels, but particularly affordable housing. I see this particularly with 55+ Mainers who want to sell their homes and move to more manageable properties in their community. However, the supply of affordable and accessible apartments and condominiums is lacking. Providing funding for new affordable housing will help to relieve that bottleneck for older Mainers, which will in turn open up housing for younger families needing first-time homes. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voting in Maine should be easily accessible to all eligible residents. One way to improve accessibility and accuracy of voting records would be to expand automatic voter registration. This change would allow more state agencies to assist in registering citizens to vote when moving or voting for the first time. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Fighting substance use disorder is one priority of mine. Too many families have been devastated by this epidemic. It crushes individuals, their loved ones, including children, and negatively affects our economy. Although the Mills Adminstration has worked to address this issue, Maine still has much more to do. We need to address this problem at every level from youth prevention to long-term recovery support. Detox and rehabilitation options need to be expanded in Maine instead of sending people out of state for adequate treatment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Our students were negatively affected in many ways during the pandemic. Remote learning was difficult for my own children and many others. Understanding that some our our students fell behind, we must be prepared to offer additional resources to ensure students can get up to grade level. This could include summer programming, tutoring or utilizing other school resources. Our children are our future workforce and we must work to ensure they are successful. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Allowing flexibility in the workforce is one way to to attract and retain workers. As more Mainers approach retirement age, we need to encourage government and business to create smart workplace policies overall. It will take more than telework to fill the employee gaps that we are seeing. Additionally, our service and tourism economy relies on employees who are present and Maine needs more people living here in order to fill those jobs. New Mainers and non-traditional workers should be welcomed into the workforce at all levels. Other issues that need to be addressed to ensure a robust workforce in Maine include child care cost and availability, substance use treatment and educational opportunities, such as the Governor's free community college initiative. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Specifically, as a mother of teenagers and a small business owner, my priority is ensuring our children grow up feeling safe and are well prepared to succeed in Maine's workforce. That priority also includes developing Maine-based businesses, promoting entrepreneurship and building on Maine's strengths as we advance new, innovative industries. Generally, as someone who represents the district in which I grew up, my focus is also to make decisions that are in the best interest of that community. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 60
Candidates
R	William L Clardy	House District 60_	Answers William L Clardy Maine House of Representatives - District 60 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? First and foremost, the state should put on pause policies which increase hidden costs, especially the practice of penalizing some energy sources in order to subsidize the cost of "sustainable" sources. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Instead of pursuing some one-size-fits-all goal regarding abortion, we need to have some uncomfortable discussions about how we distinguish post-intercourse contraception from fetal homicide. At least at the state level, we stand a chance of not letting the most strident voices drown out the majority. It's too important an issue to rush into a wrong policy. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The housing shortage has been building for longer than 2 years, with an aging housing inventory that is expensive to keep up. Solving it will require having enough skilled workers available to build more housing, and encouraging the growth of opportunities for Mainers to earn enough money to pay for better housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Secretary Bellows says that Maine has 1,114,582 registered voters out of about 1,120,000 adults 18 and over (according to the U.S. Census). Really? Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Selecting a Secretary of State who will look objectively at what is needed to honestly maintain accurate voter registration would be a good start. How can you have confidence in a system which doesn't know how many voters you really have? In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. This is another complex issue where no single policy can fix things. We can't just treat the symptom of opioid addiction without also addressing the paths leading more people to addiction. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? First and foremost, the Department of Education needs to remember that its first priority should be educating the coming generations, not social reform. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Despite Commissioner Figueroa's far from inspirational track record overseeing the Workday project, she is correct that hybrid work arrangements are here to stay. The real question is whether the state's managers are prepared to manage a dispersed workforce. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a firm believer that that we should measure the actual results of our policies, not just the promises we made for them. I also we should work as hard to recognize our common beliefs as our differences. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
D	William R. Bridgeo	House District 60_	Answers William R. Bridgeo Maine House of Representatives - District 60 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The cost of energy in all forms - gasoline for cars, oil and gas and wood and solar for home heating, electricity for everyone - are major contributors to inflation and financial hardship. I will support immediate relief to Maine consumers when it is possible. I will also support the development of a long-term strategy for financing the conversion of our economy to sustainable local energy over the coming decade. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would support memorializing the current rights of women into the state constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I will support the issuance of state bonds that support the creation of new affordable housing. I will work to ensure full coordination of various state agencies (DECD, Maine Housing, DHHS, FAME) so that their housing resources are fully leveraged. I will work with representatives of Maine's municipalities to identify new opportunities to create more housing (we were very successful at this while I was city manager of Augusta) without unduly compromising local land use control. Landlords are often an overlooked resource when exploring improved housing options. I will support programs that engage them as partners. Grants that assist public employees like police and fire and teachers to live where they work should be created. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I would support providing additional security to municipal voting workers and volunteers. These people perform an essential role in our democracy and we need to provide them with safe and secure working conditions. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. This epidemic is much more deadly than Covid to Maine people. I support providing additional state funding for treatment programs and facilities in Maine. I would also support funding of collaborative programs that engage the state, local governments and not-for-profits whose mission is to address this epidemic. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? This is a serious challenge to our state's future. There is no quick fix, and there is no substitute for spending more hours in the classroom to catch up. I would support state funding for after-school and summer remedial education. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Yes. With the shrinking Maine labor force, the job market is more competitive for all employers. I support the State of Maine doing whatever it takes to attract and retain talented employees. During my tenure as Augusta's city manager I gained great respect for the dedicated state employees I worked with across the spectrum of state agencies and bureaus. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My background is forty-plus years of managing local government. I think my experience will enable me to identify ways that state government can manage its programs - both old and new - in ways that are more efficient and more productive. As Augusta's city manager for twenty-three years, I was called upon on numerous occasions every session to testify before various committees of the Legislature and I gained a strong familiarity with its workings. I expect that experience will be very helpful if I am elected. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 61
Candidates
D	Amy Davidoff	House District 61_	Answers Amy Davidoff Maine House of Representatives - District 61 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Weatherizing and upgrading heating/cooling systems will help reduce energy costs for individuals and reduce adverse effects of burning fossil fuels. Efforts will positively impact many aspects of our society (e.g., job creation, climate change resilience, affordable housing costs, training workforce, improving inequities in housing). The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Support an amendment to the state constitution to protect the right of an abortion as a comprehensive right to reproductive health care, with full protection for providers from any anti-abortion laws of other states. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Provide tax incentives for the construction of affordable housing that complies with energy efficiency standards, utilization of local and renewable materials, and train/use local labor. Municipalities as well as builders/developers should have incentives to enhance access to affordable housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. It is in everyone’s best interest and essential for the continuance of a free and fair Democracy, to minimize disinformation especially close to election dates. It will be important to be effective in this goal without violating the first amendment rights of free speech. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Treating/preventing drug addiction is a heath care issue, not a criminal justice issue. Mental health is an extricable part of overall health and we must devote more resources toward providing health care to all of us in Maine. A specific approach to attenuate drug addiction and overdoses is to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent and treat addiction (e.g., through education and treatment programs). We could use some of the opioid settlement funds toward supporting such programs in addition to improving mental health care. Maine was one of the few states that used the tobacco settlement money for smoking cessation. It was extremely successful until we stopped investing in the outreach and treatment programs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? One critical inequity that became evident was the disparity in access to high speed internet at home. With Federal infrastructure funds now available, Maine should invest in the future by installing fiber optics throughout the state, as was done to electrify the county. We also desperately need more teachers at all levels, so extra support for teacher training programs and incentivizing people to be educators is critical. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Yes. I also think it is important for government proceedings (e.g., legislative floor discussions and votes) to be made available over the internet to enhance public access. I hope the public committee hearings continue to be remotely available, and would encourage municipalities to do the same. Again, infrastructure funds could be used to make access affordable and available to all Mainers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a research scientist I studied the link between diabetes and heart disease. As a teacher, I helped educate the next generation of doctors, nurses, and other health care providers. As a lifelong sailor along the coast of Maine, I have seen firsthand the destructive effects of climate change on our coastal communities and marine life. I hope to bring my expertise in health sciences, data analyses, and critical thinking to the State legislature. These experiences have given me an understanding of the connections between our environment, our economy, our educational and health care systems. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
R	Richard T. Bradstreet	House District 61_	No response Richard T. Bradstreet Maine House of Representatives - District 61

Maine House of Representatives - District 62
Candidates
R	Katrina J Smith	House District 62_	No response Katrina J Smith Maine House of Representatives - District 62
U	Lindsey Harwath	House District 62_	Answers Lindsey Harwath Maine House of Representatives - District 62 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Anyone who qualifies for government assistance, be it MaineCare, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC etc, should have their means of winter heating covered. No one should be freezing to death, or deciding between food or fuel. No one. Furthermore, there should be more oversight on electric companies and price gouging. Doubling prices with no warning and no explanation is criminal and should never have been allowed to stand. Using only consumer-owned utilities, rather than foreign investor-owned utilities, would reduce user charges by 49%, create a more reliable energy grid- less frequent outages and faster restoration, and give a clean energy choice that will help Maine attain the "net zero" goal that has been set of 2045. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. The right to bodily autonomy in all its forms should be codified in the state constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Create a housing crisis task force. Identifying where housing shortages are around the state, hire qualified architects, contractors, tradespeople etc and make a plan to create affordable housing in those areas. Deploy the National Guard as the extra labor needed to get buildings up in a timely manner to meet this crisis head on. At the current rate of building it will take 20+ years to build enough housing for the number of people currently seeking a home. One of the largest shortcomings in meeting the demands of the housing crisis is the workforce needed to build on schedule. This is a task perfectly suited to the National Guard, to help the state in a crisis. Outside of this task force build project, 75% of all new construction should be affordable housing until the need is met. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Ranked choice voting should be codified in the state constitution as has already been decided and voted on twice by the people of Maine. The legislature betrayed the people by refusing to enact their will. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Shift government resources away from punishment and incarceration, and towards a public health approach. Increasing funding for medication assisted treatment (MAT) and overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs. Make prevention a larger piece of solving this crisis and at the same time holding accountable the pharmaceutical companies and other corporations who knowingly contributed to the crisis. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Funding for schools should be higher at the state level and further help alleviate the burden from individual municipalities. This allows for more equitable distribution of funding to schools around the state. But ultimately addressing the larger systemic issues of inequality is what truly will make a difference to children. You can have the best teachers and funding in a school, but if a child has no home, or no food, or parents who work multiple jobs and aren't home, then education won't make the impact it should. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Absolutely. Any employee, government or otherwise, with a job that can be completed at home should be given that option. It's better for the environment, better for employee retention, better for family stability, better for mental health. Yes. Fully agree. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I recognize the need for radical change in the world as well as in our state and local communities. Change starts at home. The stakes are too high for slow incremental change that has been the promise of the 20th century that has brought on the problems of today. In order to make radical change we need to tackle systemic issues and stop putting band-aides on the wounds of our historical failures. We don't have enough time or luxury to continue with small bloodwarm steps that lead us closer and closer toward catastrophic problems. If I'm elected my focus will be on bold and radical change to address systemic issues that are causing harm and to look toward a radically brighter future. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
D	Pam Swift	House District 62_	Answers Pam Swift Maine House of Representatives - District 62 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The entire world is still suffering from the “perfect storm” created by the pandemic when businesses were shut down, causing severe disruptions in the global supply chain. Add to that, sky-rocketing gas prices as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine. High gasoline prices increase the costs in every other sector of the economy because it becomes more expensive to produce and ship goods. The situation, however, was exacerbated due to price-gouging by companies. Several major corporations posted record profits during this period of inflation—they’ve taken advantage of their customers by using inflation as an excuse to jack -up their prices. I supported the windfall-profit tax that the U. S. Congress tried to pass, and I would support a similar measure in Maine at the state level. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. While abortion access is safe in Maine for now, national GOP leaders and Supreme Court Justices have stated that if they gain control of Congress, they will pass a nationwide ban on all abortion—and will ban contraception as well. We need to believe them when they tell us what they’re going to do. A state can’t simply opt-out of a federal law, even if that law strips half our country’s population of basic human rights. A single abortion policy change in Maine is not going to protect women’s reproductive rights—this is a battle that must be fought nationally. We must vote for the congressional representatives that will codify abortion and contraception rights into federal law. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would love to see the old brick factory buildings along Maine’s rivers come back to life. These could be retrofitted with affordable apartments and condominiums interspersed with commercial businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, clothing stores, art galleries, and restaurants. Mixing residential and commercial would obviate the need for residents to have transportation and would possibly provide job opportunities as well. This model would help revitalize the factory towns in Maine. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I would support expanding ranked-choice voting (RCV) to ALL elections in Maine. Currently, RCV is only used in state-level primary elections and only for federal offices in general elections. This method of voting allows one to “vote with their heart” without fear that voting for their first-choice candidate will split their Party’s vote. RCV reduces the risk of extremist candidates getting elected because the candidate will need to try to appeal to voters other than just their base. It also ensures that a candidate wins with a majority of the votes, meaning they have support of more than 50% of the constituency. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Maine needs to increase its capacity to provide drug rehab treatment to people seeking care, more long-term treatment facilities, and treatment needs to be covered adequately by MaineCare and insurance. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Remote learning during the pandemic was difficult for everyone involved, but it was especially hard on children. Lockdowns lead to isolation for school children which translated into depression and anxiety. Mental health must be the first priority in closing the educational gaps. Social and emotional health needs to be seen as a component of learning. While reading, writing, and arithmetic are important, if the social and emotional needs of a child are not met it doesn’t matter how good the instruction is, a child will be unable to absorb it. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? Yes. Many prefer, and are more productive, when working from home. If employees are allowed to work in their preferred environment, it is easier to recruit and retain them. Having to constantly hire and train new employees is expensive. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Having worked as a physician and now as a farmer, I am able to see and understand that healthcare, agriculture, and the environment are inextricably interrelated. It all boils down to health—health of the body, healthy nutritious foods, and health of the planet. Just as we are what we eat, what we do to the environment, we do to ourselves. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec

Maine House of Representatives - District 63
Candidates
R	Scott Wynn Cyrway	House District 63_	No response Scott Wynn Cyrway Maine House of Representatives - District 63

Maine House of Representatives - District 64
Candidates
D	Colleen M. Madigan	House District 64_	Answers Colleen M. Madigan Maine House of Representatives - District 64 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation, particularly rising fuel and food costs are the top concerns I hear. Much of that rise is outside of the control of the the legislature. This phenonoma is not a local issue But we can take some measures to helps Mainers at this time. I think we can make it easier for those in need to apply for and qualify for heat assistance. I am particulary concerned about elderly people. Let's make sure all seniors and all residents know about Home Energy Assistance Programs, the Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly Program, Senior Property Tax Relief, and the Homestead Exemption Program. We should also contiue our efforts in investing in weatherizing homes. We should hold companies accountable for price gouging and stop price increases for Maine familes that are already struggling. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. People in Maine right now have access to a full range of reproductive health care, including abortion. I think most Mainers recognize that this is a deeply private decision best left to a woman and her doctor or family, not the government. That is not true for others states. I support protecting Maine health care providers and patients from being prosecuted for health care provided in this state. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maine has not kept up with demand in building new homes. We need to work as partners with developers to construct more housing. I also support working to develop more robust programs to help first time home buyers. We want families to be home owners in our communities, not out of state investors. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expand automatic voter registration, so more state agencies can help register or update info for voters. This can help streamline the process, making it easier for town clerks and voters. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need more treatment options at every level of care. That means more detox beds, more residential/rehab beds, more recovery residences, more intensive outpatient and outpatient options. I would also add that families have been bearing the burden of the increase in substance use disorder and it's not just opiates, but also alcohol and other drugs. Assistance and support for families is also needed.I support using the Opiate Settlement Fund monies to expand available treatment resources. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Remote learning during the pandemic was not helpful for a number of students. I think we should identify those students and schools that have had the most difficulty and strategize on how best to help them catch up. Importantly this should include working with teachers and families. I also think making 2 years of community college free for Maine students is helpful for our students and our workforce. We need to make sure these students are successful. Telework or hybrid schedules are "here to stay" for many state government employees, the budget commissioner said this spring. Do you agree with this focus in Maine's recruitment and retention strategy? I do agree. Work from home options are here to stay for many employers, not just state government. To stay competitive, the state needs to offer this for positions where it makes sense. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, State Substance Use Disorders Commission, a social worker and a family member of someone who died from Substance Use Disorder, I understand deeply the concerns I hear every day from people and families that are experiencing increased stress. I will continue to focus on improving access to high quality affordable effective mental and physical health and substance use disorders services. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Kennebec
R	Ruth Ann Malcolm	House District 64_	No response Ruth Ann Malcolm Maine House of Representatives - District 64

Maine House of Representatives - District 65
Candidates
D	Bruce A White	House District 65_	No response Bruce A White Maine House of Representatives - District 65
R	Tammy Brown	House District 65_	No response Tammy Brown Maine House of Representatives - District 65

Maine House of Representatives - District 66
Candidates
D	Alicia Barnes	House District 66_	No response Alicia Barnes Maine House of Representatives - District 66
R	Robert W Nutting	House District 66_	No response Robert W Nutting Maine House of Representatives - District 66

Maine House of Representatives - District 67
Candidates
D	Robert Sezak	House District 67_	Answers Robert Sezak Maine House of Representatives - District 67 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Budgeting plays a large part in reducing costs. While there is no one answer there can be a team effort of multiple solutions such as greater support of and improved reliable public transportation to help Mainers be able to reduce their travel expenses saving on travel costs for home energy costs, to building codes that require greater efficiency in home appliances and heating units, to immediately raising the minimum wage; to restricting price hikes; to investing in workforce development, and increasing not just HEAP eligibility but the HEAP allowance as well. Where we cannot reduce or eliminate costs we can help to reposition resources. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. While I would like to see abortion become obsolete I remain pro-choice. People have a right to privacy and a right to ones own personal destiny. Enhancing privacy laws so that a person coming from another state that has stricter abortion laws will not be effected when they return home; prohibit courts from cooperating with out-of-state civil and criminal cases that stem from abortions that took place legally within our state borders; eliminate reporting requirements where identities are exposed; and increase protections for pre-natal medical providers are some avenues that may be taken to protect the sanctity of the individual and individual rights. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Eliminate single-family zoning while reducing regulatory barriers at all governmental levels while maintaining environmental integrity and quality construction; utilize more federal block grant money for affordable housing; allow for the 3-D printing of construction materials; and move away from financial restrictions like security deposits while providing more cost-effective rental insurance that protects both renter and landlord. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Amend Maine’s Constitution to allow ranked-choice voting to be used in the general elections for governor and the legislature. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Establish a trust fund to dedicate resources for the prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery that would include treatment providers, hospitals, community organizations, law enforcement agencies and other interested parties while decriminalizing addiction and ensuring that traffickers, profiteers and dealers are met with the full extent of the law. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Expand and preserve core teaching time by providing more teacher to student time; teach learning to learn; develop early-warning systems regarding student disengagement that trigger quick and timely response; develop a hybrid schedule (ZOOM time and Class time) that would be able to utilize vacations, weekends and summers for more learning time; ensure students are ready to successfully move on to their next level i.e. be certain they have acquired the skills in reading, writing, and math before graduating to the next class; lessen the bureaucratic burdens of teachers. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I am against hunting on Sundays based on the need for animals to rest and people to be able to safely enjoy the forests in October and November. I recognize it doesn’t need to be Sunday, it could be another day such as Wednesday. Yet, Sundays rather than any other day should still remain without hunting for those who enjoy a trip into the woods. Whatever their reason for such they should feel they are safe from accidental shootings, and be able to enjoy the quiet, natural sounds. For those working in high stress jobs Sunday may be the only time they are able to get into a relaxing peaceful environment. Extending the hunting season while maintaining the prohibition of Sunday hunting may be another consideration. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? PFAS elimination in the water supplies and soils of Maine. Youth engagement and youth intervention starting with a focus on early education. A healthy environment and a strong education will make for a healthy and strong citizenry. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Shelley Rudnicki	House District 67_	No response Shelley Rudnicki Maine House of Representatives - District 67

Maine House of Representatives - District 68
Candidates
R	Amanda Noelle Collamore	House District 68_	No response Amanda Noelle Collamore Maine House of Representatives - District 68
D	Stanley B. Short Jr.	House District 68_	Answers Stanley B. Short Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 68 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Currently inflation is pretty much a worldwide issue and I seriously doubt that it can be rectified totally by any member of the Maine State Legislation. I do believe that we most certainly can and should provide assistance to those in need. We need to inform them as to what programs are available to them. We must simplify the process for those in need to receive heating assistance. I live in an old farmhouse, and I understand how beneficial it is to winterize. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Reinstate Roe vs Wade. Maine has strong laws that prevent government control of our bodies, and these laws need to remain in place A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We have many abandoned buildings in Maine that can be turned into affordable housing, and I would start by championing an effort to investigate those opportunities. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I would support laws that will make it easier for the people of Maine to vote. I do not believe the big lie so therefore I do not believe we need voting reform. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The Attorney General has gone after big pharma and others that have profited from the opioid crisis. These people created the drug that hooked so many Mainers. We need to make sure that the settlement money goes toward helping those that fighting substance abuse disorder. We must punish traffickers and dealers to the fullest extent of the law. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Those students that fell behind and need additional support should receive that support in the way of tutoring and summer programs. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. No. I am a hunter and have been since I was 12 I am now 71 and I believe that landowners should be able to roam their property one day a week without the fear of being hit by a stray bullet. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My unique focus and priority would be to concentrate on hydro energy. I believe we have a tremendous opportunity in our state to produce our energy and the energy for Massachusetts by the utilization of our rivers. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 69
Candidates
R	Dean Cray	House District 69_	No response Dean Cray Maine House of Representatives - District 69
D	Stephen Alfred Hale III	House District 69_	No response Stephen Alfred Hale III Maine House of Representatives - District 69

Maine House of Representatives - District 70
Candidates
D	Iver Lofving	House District 70_	Answers Iver Lofving Maine House of Representatives - District 70 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Weatherization! We need to do something similar to Keep Maine Warm. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Protecting a woman's right to choose. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Speaker Fecteau's idea of allowing people to have another housing unit where it's possible. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Keeping it same day registration and voting. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Create more opportunities for rehab, and get more narcan out there to first responders and family members! National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Keep the free tuition in Maine Community Colleges going, even after this next few years! Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. No. I am a hunter, but I know that it's the only day my non hunting friends can take a walk in the woods in November. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My priority is getting Mainers through the winter without breaking the bank! Weatherization, insulating and alternate forms of heat, like heat pumps are the way to go. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Jennifer Lynn Poirier	House District 70_	No response Jennifer Lynn Poirier Maine House of Representatives - District 70

Maine House of Representatives - District 71
Candidates
D	Allison Mary Perkins	House District 71_	Answers Allison Mary Perkins Maine House of Representatives - District 71 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Cracking down on price gouging and stopping utility companies from raising rates. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I think the current Maine laws on abortion are sufficient, and would favor access over restriction. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Healthy, active agricultural land is critical to the economy my District, and cannot be overlooked when considering housing development policies, including the consideration of rate caps on current subsidized housing, so that Mainers on fixed income aren't forced out by unreasonable rate hikes. The on-going investment in new housing in our District, particularly in Madison, can serve to attract more investments in currently unused spaces for workforce, family, and senior housing that will be safe, affordable, efficient and help boost our local economy. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Applying the state’s ranked choice voting system to all statewide elections, including the gubernatorial election. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. There is a need for compassionate care for Mainers in recovery, and we cannot let traffickers and dealers off that profit from people’s pain and contribute to this crisis. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Students may need additional support that might not exist today such as after-school mentorship/tutoring, summer programming, or other individualized instruction options. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. Yes, the antiquity of the current law comes from a time when folks availability to hunt on other days were not as hindered as they are today. No conditions. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a working-class mother of 2 young children, and a dedicated labor leader with proven experience, I will continue to work on behalf of rural Maine, with a particular focus on increasing access for our most vulnerable population to mental health and behavioral services; and improving infrastructure support to strengthen our economy. I will keep rural Maine part of the conversation with lawmakers by representing our District in Augusta, working towards solutions with my constituents, and encouraging folks to be engaged in the legislative process to get things done. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	John E. Ducharme III	House District 71_	No response John E. Ducharme III Maine House of Representatives - District 71

Maine House of Representatives - District 72
Candidates
R	Larry C. Dunphy	House District 72_	No response Larry C. Dunphy Maine House of Representatives - District 72

Maine House of Representatives - District 73
Candidates
R	Mike Soboleski	House District 73_	No response Mike Soboleski Maine House of Representatives - District 73
D	Vincent House	House District 73_	No response Vincent House Maine House of Representatives - District 73

Maine House of Representatives - District 74
Candidates
D	Greg Kimber	House District 74_	Answers Greg Kimber Maine House of Representatives - District 74 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? While the causes of inflation are primarily global, they certainly do impact us locally and personally. Even if there's not much we can do at the state level to impact the core problem, there are things we can do to help Mainers deal with the challenges of high costs. Regarding the question of heating costs mentioned here, streamlining the process to apply for heating assistance and investing in helping with weatherization improvements through Efficiency Maine are examples of things we can do. This page from the Governor's Energy Office provides some tips and resources that can help on this front: www.maine.gov/energy/winter-heating-resources The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I'm grateful that Maine supports a woman's right to make personal decisions about healthcare and family planning without interference from the government. Maine has worked to make reproduction healthcare services increasingly accessible, and as Representative my top priority would be to maintain the progress that has already been made. For example, I am supportive of recent legislation that allows qualified medical professionals other than physicians to perform abortions as well as legislation allowing MaineCare to provide abortion services. I would also support state laws that would protect women who come to Maine from other states to receive an abortion. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. When the wait list for affordable housing vouchers is 20,000 people long, you know there’s a shortage. Good progress was made in the most recent legislative session. For example, Maine’s zoning laws were reformed to allow for the construction of more housing. (Incidentally, it provided a win for the environment as well by promoting centralized development rather than sprawl.) Another law funded the construction of more affordable, energy-efficient housing, giving an economic boost in the process by require labor standards and a local workforce. My priority moving forward would be to continue to invest in these kinds of efforts and to promote residential homeownership over ownership by out of state investment companies and buyers looking for short term rental, Airbnb-style investments. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Elections officials at the national level have reported that 2020 was the most secure election in American history. And if anything, Maine outshines a lot of other states in how secure our process is, as well as in the steps we take to encourage a high participation rate. It helps that we use paper ballots and that electronic systems are not connected to the internet. Recent legislation like requiring post-election audits and instituting automatic voter registration have continued to move us forward. But there is always room to improve. For example, I'd like to allow state agencies other than the DMV to provide automatic registration to continue to facilitate participation. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. It’s important that we continue to follow the direction recent statewide legislation has taken by investing in public health solutions to address the rise in substance use disorder. Studies have established that incarceration does not address the problems caused by this health epidemic. Drug sentencing reform and decriminalization of needles are steps we’ve already taken in the right direction. Setting up more recovery centers has also been a great move forward and can be further expanded; the Maine Opioid Response Strategic Action Plan that was formulation in 2019 outlines actions like this and lays out a good roadmap for moving forward. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? As a new appointee to the RSU 9 school board, I am getting a front-row view on data about where our local school district stands. It's true that the pandemic has had an unfortunate impact on many students. I’m proud to be able to say that the schools in our district are already working hard to meet the challenge. But it's important that all schools in the state (especially those that need an extra push to catch up) get the resources they need to invest in things like summer programming and special tutoring to bring students up to speed. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. My inclination would be to maintain our tradition of not allowing hunting on Sundays. My feeling is that it might be nice to keep that one day of the week free for folks who want to get out in the woods to pursue other activities during hunting season. I'd be interested to hear arguments on both sides of the debate though. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? The number of older people who require support is outpacing our ability to meet their needs, and many families are stretched thin caring for family members. Let's make sure young workers get the training, support, and compensation they deserve to start filling our healthcare and home care worker shortage. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Randall C. Hall	House District 74_	No response Randall C. Hall Maine House of Representatives - District 74

Maine House of Representatives - District 75
Candidates
D	H. Scott Landry	House District 75_	No response H. Scott Landry Maine House of Representatives - District 75
R	Tiffany Estabrook	House District 75_	No response Tiffany Estabrook Maine House of Representatives - District 75

Maine House of Representatives - District 76
Candidates
R	Sheila A. Lyman	House District 76_	No response Sheila A. Lyman Maine House of Representatives - District 76
D	Tamara Hoke	House District 76_	Answers Tamara Hoke Maine House of Representatives - District 76 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a complicated issue that has no easy solution, yet there are programs that can help individuals get through these tough times. We need to make it easier for folks to apply for heating assistance and to access weatherization funds to tighten up their homes for the cold months ahead. Keeping gas and oil companies from price gouging and stopping utility companies from raising rates would also be helpful in keeping costs down. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine already has a statute on the books that does not restrict a woman's exercise of her private decision to terminate a pregnancy before viability. It should stay as it is. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. LD 2003 "An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions." This would increase the availability of affordable housing in Maine. It will look at ways to responsibly develop more single-family and multifamily affordable housing units in Maine. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? It never hurts to strengthen the system. Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The right to vote safely should transcend politics and partisanship. Mainers should be able to register to vote and exercise their right to vote without impediment. The state has already enacted the Automatic Voter Registration which can be completed at places like the BMV. AVR makes voter rolls more accurate, streamlines the voter registration system, and protects those who decline or are ineligible from being inadvertently registered to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Fighting the opioid crisis will take a multi-faceted approach. We need to invest more money in education, prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? First, we need to continue to close the digital divide. All students need access to broadband. We must understand that some individuals will need an individualized plan to bring them up-to-date and additional learning hours to bring students up to grade level. This could include after school programs and access to tutors. The best solution might be for some students to complete an extra year of education if they are not up to grade level. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I believe this is something that should go to the Maine voters to decide via referendum. It should not be decided by the legislature. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My focus is move Maine forward by acknowledging that partisanship is tearing this state apart. Democrats, Republicans Independents, etc. must work together on issues, such as: affordable housing, heating, utilities, food, and healthcare. All working Mainers need good paying jobs with benefits. We must adequately fund schools, libraries, and other community resources. All Mainers should have access to broadband. We need to seek renewable energy sources and be stewards for our environment. We need to provide adequate resources to tackle issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and suicide. We need to help all Mainers thrive from the very young to the very old. No one should be left behind. Together we can move forward with opportunity for all. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 77
Candidates
D	Bonita L. Bishop	House District 77_	Answers Bonita L. Bishop Maine House of Representatives - District 77 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? First, I want my constituents to know there are programs to help. They include: HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), which helps eligible people pay heating costs. There is the DEL ( Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program) to help with prescription drug costs. There is also a new program called the Senior Property Tax Relief for people over 65 who have owned their home over 10 years which will freeze their property taxes. Inflation is world-wide so we need to focus on practical and realistic ways to help people with their day-to-day costs. I would like it to be easier for people to apply for these programs. We need to continue with weatherizing efforts in this State. We also need to address price gouging and continual price increases by utility companies. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. In Maine we have an effective and compassionate program concerning reproductive health care. I support continuing to provide affordable and open access to this program without repercussions to providers. We must strive to keep hospitals and healthcare centers open and provide the resources they need to continue to give the very best care. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. A policy needs to be developed to provide more housing to people who need it. I've heard over and over in my district that there is not enough affordable housing. People want to move into our State but are thwarted by the lack of housing. At the same time, we must take into consideration our agricultural needs as Maine has a hard-working farming community. Our lands are valuable and we should continue new home construction in conjunction with private investors. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Establish a process to identify those who use absentee voting on an ongoing basis. This could be used to automatically provide people with absentee ballots. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to ensure that there are adequate community resources available to support people in their efforts to recover from addiction. We must focus on ways to stop dealers from profiting on people's pain. As a community, it is important that we be more compassionate to those caught up in this deadly substance use disorder. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Post-Covid we need to identify schools and students that have been the most negatively affected and provide additional support to bolster them up. This could include programs such as summer school, tutoring, and mentorship. It is critical that we develop a solid fact-based plan to address any such disruptive events in the future. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I would not support it. I believe there should be a day of the week when families or individuals can feel safe going into the woods. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? It is important that we find a way to encourage young people to stay and work in our State. Furthermore, we need to attract young people from away to come here to work. We have an aging/retiring population. Young people need to know that there are tremendous opportunities for meaningful work here. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Tammy L. Schmersal-Burgess	House District 77_	No response Tammy L. Schmersal-Burgess Maine House of Representatives - District 77

Maine House of Representatives - District 78
Candidates
D	David Thurston	House District 78_	Answers David Thurston Maine House of Representatives - District 78 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Capping real estate tax through Homestead provision for seniors. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe that Maine’s abortion laws are well- conceived, stand well against or often even better than national and other states’ laws, and that lawmakers’ time does not need to be used to change them. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Index rent increases to COL and/or inflation. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Nothing specific, but R’s gerrymandering efforts must be checked on state and federal levels. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Harsher sentences for dealers. NO FREE DRUG ADMINISTRATION sites. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? First, identify which students WANT to catch up and make all possible resources available to them. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. Only on owner’s property BY OWNER AND ONE GUEST ONLY. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Promoting “green” tourism dollars and bringing out of state $ into Maine. Explore appropriateness of slightly higher RE tax on out of state second homes. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Rachel Henderson	House District 78_	No response Rachel Henderson Maine House of Representatives - District 78

Maine House of Representatives - District 79
Candidates
R	John Andrews	House District 79_	No response John Andrews Maine House of Representatives - District 79

Maine House of Representatives - District 80
Candidates
R	Caldwell Jackson	House District 80_	No response Caldwell Jackson Maine House of Representatives - District 80

Maine House of Representatives - District 81
Candidates
D	Daniel Sipe	House District 81_	Answers Daniel Sipe Maine House of Representatives - District 81 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We need to make applying for heating assistance a streamlined process and seek to find folks falling in the cracks. We need to invest in money-saving weatherization programs across the state, including education and vouchers for weatherization products. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support allowing folks to get abortions in Maine, including people from other states with more restrictive laws. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maine needs to invest in Low income housing, cooperative housing and first time homebuyers. We need to make sure people living in Maine can compete for our limited housing stock with folks from out of state. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We need to make sure that all people that are eligible to vote are registered to vote. I also support mail-in voting. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. This crisis is especially hard to deal with in rural Maine. We need to fund recovery homes in every county, there are places to go if you live in one of the more metropolitan areas but out here in western Maine, once folks get treatment, it becomes very difficult not to misuse substances once they return home. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to fund education at a state level so that folks in rural Maine have access to good teachers and opportunities outside of the district. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I don't think that we should not allow Sunday hunting. it is nice to allow folks to enjoy nature without the worry of hunters. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a young small business owner in Western Maine, working to provide opportunities for my community through collaboration and the arts. If elected will be one of the only folks in office to be working in the arts in rural Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	H. Sawin Millett Jr.	House District 81_	No response H. Sawin Millett Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 81

Maine House of Representatives - District 82
Candidates
R	Caleb Joshua Ness	House District 82_	No response Caleb Joshua Ness Maine House of Representatives - District 82
D	Nathan Burnett	House District 82_	Answers Nathan Burnett Maine House of Representatives - District 82 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Much of rural Maine is old housing stock. In addition to communicating how our neighbors can apply for heating assistance, we should also ensure folks are aware of the advances in weatherization techniques (like custom fit window inserts) that keep heat from escaping. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Bodily Autonomy is one of the first principles that should be considered with respect to abortion policy. We should respect the rights [of women, who are 50.5% of the population] that already exist. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I have a friend who is in the process of trying to build a home. His contractor says he, and everyone else he knows, are around 7 homes behind, and that’s just for new homes. We are the oldest home in the nation, by a standard deviation, and many of our residents are at the point of having to rightsize their living situation. High speed internet is a requirement for our modern life, and I’ve spoken to home owners who cannot sell their homes because they don’t have proper internet connectivity for new homebuyers. We also need to incentivize and invest in affordable housing so that people to get started with the American Dream of home ownership. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine is already a model for nation on how to do elections right. We have the Maine Clean Elections Act that allows anyone afford to run a campaign, and we have ranked choice to empower the 60% of our state that don’t affiliate with either party. These are things that need to be taken statewide fully (ranked choice for the Governor’s race) and championed to all the states of our nation. Every political race should be publicly financed. Let’s get private money out of politics and level the playing field for good ideas to compete with the volume, both number and loudness, of privately financed ideas. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I’ve knocked on 2400 doors in June, July, August and September, and had conversations with over 1000 Mainers on their front porches. I can no longer count on my hands the number of families directly impacted by the opioid scourge. I’ve heard story after story about loved ones having been in an accident, been prescribed something by a trusted doctor, and then addiction takes over from there. This is not about weak people making bad choices. We need to be compassionate towards those that are ready to seek recovery and reintegration. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The “free community college for graduates during the pandemic” program (that ends with this graduating class) has been a HUGE motivator for my students. I’ve heard and seen the light in the eyes so many students and their families about a future that they didn’t think they could afford. Then, on a Maine Calling episode this summer, they talked about how most of these students and families would have been able to afford it because they are already eligible for enough financial aide, they just don’t know it because they hadn’t applied yet. This program needs to be continued. So much of our modern world requires more than the 14 years of pre-k-through-12. We all need to be life-long learners these days, and we need to support everyone when they do go back to school. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. As I said earlier, I’ve knocked on 2400 doors this summer and have had conversations with over 1000 voters. Two voters have brought up a desire to have Sunday hunting, and that just 20 minutes across the border it’s an option (and that it is a taxable revenue stream we’re passing up) but over a dozen people have brought up a strong, and unprompted, desire to “keep their Sundays.” As a representative, one major charge is to respect the will of the voters. If elected, I plan to have “office hours” at least every fortnight that rotate through the different parts of our five town district (Hiram, Porter, Brownfield, Fryeburg and Lovell). I really do want to hear from everyone. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a teacher, I’ve now worked with close to 1000 students, and something that is undeniable coming out of the pandemic is that many kids are not where they are “supposed to be.” These are our next generation of Mainers, but they don’t get vote, yet. If elected, I’ll be bringing a perspective to our citizen legislature that has their future in mind. I have a direct, positive impact on around one hundred students a year at Sacopee. If elected to work in Augusta, I believe I can help them all. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 83
Candidates
R	Donna Marie Dodge	House District 83_	No response Donna Marie Dodge Maine House of Representatives - District 83
U	Walter N Riseman	House District 83_	Answers Walter N Riseman Maine House of Representatives - District 83 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Individual states have very little power to control inflation and/or the issue of increasing consumer prices. The ultimate solutions will have to come from the federal government. However, on the state level, I would advocate to set create a special fund of $20,000,000 with funds taken from the rainy-day fund to assist less affluent rural municipalities to specifically assist residents in need of heating assistance who otherwise would not be eligible for LIHEAP or other similar programs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would not be in favor of reducing access or placing further restrictions for Maine women seeking reproductive health services. However, I would consider setting reasonable limits on the number of abortion services available for out-of-state residents. First of all, I am concerned about the maintaining the quality and availability of services for Maine women, and second, I would not want the State to became known as an “easy destination” state and seemingly encouraging an influx out-of-stater seeking services. For example, out-of-state abortion seekers could be limited to situations where the health of the women is at risk or in cases of incest or rape. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The solution to filling the housing gap will be different depending on whether you look at it from the urban or rural point of view. Rural communities are at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving a proportionate level of financial and planning resources. One important resource is the tax credit program which provides incentive to developers to take on projects. However, the program design encourages large scale urban development of 50 or more units and does not easily provide for smaller rural based development. I would support changing the current tax credit program to incentivize small community center projects of 10 units or less. This will preserve the rural characteristics of a region and not potentially present an issue to regional services like schools and municipal services. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Independent voters have been discriminated against in many government activities. For example, although we account for most of the registered voters, we were locked out from equal access to primary election ballots, which were limited to only recognized political parties. LD 231 established a limited open primary system. Now unenrolled voters may choose between party ballots to cast votes and participate in primary elections. I believe more reforms are needed: Amend the Maine Constitution to allow ranked choice voting in a general election and then adopt a true hybrid primary system. Alaska’s rank choice system puts all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on one ballot for the primary and only the top two vote getters move on the general election regardless of party affiliation. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The drug, Fentanyl, has been appearing in street drugs more and more frequently. It is a cheap but deadly additive to street drugs. The “poison pushers” chase easy profits by mixing deadly amounts of it into other drugs and are creating a high risk of a deadly overdose. Deaths from Fentanyl compared to other drugs has gone from 41% in 2016 to a staggering 77% in 2021 and continues to climb in 2022. We need to establish an aggressive strategy to educate the public on this danger and continue to increase the availability of drug testing strips to identify tainted drugs. We need to realize that the users are victims of a disease, provide proper assistance and not penalize them as criminals. At the same time, we must aggressively pursue and eradicate the poison pusher through law enforcement. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The educational system in Maine is in crises. The pandemic resulted in a significant drop in student proficiency and staffing shortage are contributing to providing quality educational settings. The stress on children and families in our communities has caused mental and physical health conditions in schools to deteriorate. It seems that every aspect of our public school system is under some type of distress. Local and state leadership will need to collaborate on new innovative approaches to education. The legislature must create a commission to study ideas from across the nation and world and report back to the legislature with recommendations as to successful approaches and our Department of Education should be prepared to provide solutions with the next year. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We will need understand the demographics of our state. As the oldest population in the United States, it is natural to see our work force is aging out and not being replaced or they are being replaced by workers who were working in less desirable and lower paying jobs. Additionally, we still face an exodus of the younger generation to other states where wage scales are higher and future opportunities are brighter. Being that job creation appears to be up but we still have staffing shortages we need to create a working environment that attracts the less skilled workers to the so-called entry-level type positions. To do that we need to increase affordable housing and provide incentives to employers to provide livable wages and encourage workers to live and stay in our communities. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? After 4 years in the legislature and a lifetime of experience in the community I believe my history and knowledge will be important assets in addressing the needs of the people I serve. I will continue to work hard for the people of my district and believe my independent status will be important in guiding the direction of important policy decisions. For more information about me visit my website walterriseman.com Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 84
Candidates
D	Barry F. Powers	House District 84_	Answers Barry F. Powers Maine House of Representatives - District 84 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a global problem and is hitting us all in Maine. If a politician tries to tell you that he or she alone can fix it, be on guard. I applaud the bi-partisan action of our State Legislature in providing much needed inflation relief to ALL Mainers with the $850 relief checks this Summer. We can do big things when we act as Mainers first instead of Democrats or Republicans and need more of that in Augusta. With 2.8% unemployment we need to keep creating good jobs as well. Those in the top 1% didn't need $850 as much as those who are on Social Security or working two jobs just to feed their families. Targeted, income-based relief, to those who need it most, is necessary until inflation is reigned in. Heading into the winter months, heating assistance needs to be streamlined. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in June of this year, it's clear that a woman's right to bodily autonomy is on the ballot in every state in the nation - including Maine. Former Governor LePage has loudly proclaimed that he is anti-abortion. The official Maine Republican Party platform proposes more restrictions on abortion. Republican legislatures across the Nation are banning abortion. The Maine GOP wants to take away a woman's freedom and right to decide what to do with her own body. No laws in the US force men to do something with their bodies that would restrict freedom or possibly jeopardize their lives. For equality, a Maine Constitutional Amendment to protect reproductive rights is needed and healthcare must be more accessible to everyone. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. 40 to 50 years ago, Maine was adding 1,100 new affordable apartments each year. Over the last 10 years we've averaged 300 units per year. Most of the downward trend is attributable to changes in Federal policy and laws that once encouraged private corporations to balance high priced housing with affordable housing for low-income families, people who are elderly, and people with disabilities. Mainers need affordable housing and real estate tax relief now. We can't afford to wait for Washington to fix our problems. Maine must remain a state where it's possible to achieve the American dream. I would focus on policies that favored Maine residents in their pursuit of first time home ownership and incentivize builders to allocate a certain percentage of units to lower income buyers and renters. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. A Maine Constitutional amendment for ranked choice voting in ALL state elections - no person running for office should win with less than 38% of the vote. How can our state rally behind an elected official if 62% of the voters did NOT choose him or her? Some of our elections are open to spoiler candidates whose goals are to take votes from an otherwise popular candidate. In 2018, Florida Power and Light (FP&L) secretly funded a candidate through a political consulting firm . This candidate's sole purpose was to take votes away from another elected official who had made it hard for FP&L to charge sky-high rates to their customers. It's not too difficult to imagine a similar scenario in Maine with the challenges that CMP has run into with our regulators over erroneously high billing. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Who doesn't know an family without at least one member with a substance abuse problem whether it be alcohol, prescription drugs or opioids? These folks can be our brothers, sisters, parents, spouses or children. My own father died from his addiction to alcohol. Addiction is a disease. The key is to have access to healthcare and social services so we can treat the disease with compassion, intervention and medical attention. Those who are profiting from our loved ones' pain and suffering should pay. We should find, arrest and ultimately imprison dealers to eliminate the source of illegal opiates. We must punish those in private industry who, driven by profit motives, purposefully develop and sell addictive prescription opiates. We should use their fines to fund the recovery programs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? In our district, internet connectivity and bandwidth were key obstacles to helping children get the education they needed during the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic. I have heard from too many parents that they would have to drive their cars to the library and use their WiFi so their children could complete their lessons. While rural internet is a challenge to all, high speed internet is expensive regardless of location. 2019's Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan provides funding to benefit our children with broadband, but we need ways to accelerate the implementation of the infrastructure. If elected, I would sponsor a bill that funds computer science education in all Maine High Schools. In addition to fully funding our high schools, I would improve access to vocational education. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine needs to attract young workers to offset the needs of our aging population with the energy and economic growth that comes from a younger workforce. At the same time, affluent folks from out of state are buying up Maine housing and often using it for short-term rental opportunity. Policies and laws that promote affordable housing are part of a long-term strategy to build out our labor force to match our rebounding demand. A side effect of 50 year low unemployment is that the pool of available entry level workers has become smaller. The pandemic also caused a shortage of short-term worker visas. I would join the Maine Chamber of Commerce in petitioning our Maine Federal delegation to streamline short-term H2A and H2B visas to offset seasonal demand. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am running to provide better representation for the needs of the Lakes Region. In the 21 years we've had a home in Sebago, I never met my Representative. When I saw that the last Representative for our District only showed up 41% of the time in his last term, I came to 3 conclusions: we aren't represented if our elected officials don't care enough to meet us, don't show up to vote and that we deserve better for our community. When asked to run shortly before the ballot deadline, I chose to step up, stop complaining and make a difference in our community While I will not match 100% of people's opinions on 100% of all the issues, I will always be present, I will proactively engage with ALL voters regardless of Party and I will always act in our community's best interest. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Mark Walker	House District 84_	No response Mark Walker Maine House of Representatives - District 84

Maine House of Representatives - District 85
Candidates
D	Christopher Struebing	House District 85_	Answers Christopher Struebing Maine House of Representatives - District 85 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is an issue everywhere, not just here in Maine. We need to prevent companies from price gouging, utility providers from raising their rates, streamline processes that provide assistance. o Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Provides money to eligible Mainers to help pay heating costs. o Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program (DEL). Provides financial assistance to eligible participants who need help to pay for prescription drugs. o Senior Property Tax Relief. Maine residents over 65 who have owned a home in Maine for at least 10 years are eligible to freeze their property taxes at the current rate. o Homestead Exemption Program. Provides a reduction of up to $25K in the value of your home for property tax purposes for permanent residents. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has strong protections that prevent government control over our bodies. We must protect the current laws A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Make sure programs aimed at first-time homeownership are created and supported in this competitive real estate market. That would help more Maine people in buying homes, so Maine’s properties aren’t owned by out of state investment companies Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expand automatic voter registration so that more official state agencies can help register citizens to vote In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to make sure community resources are available and that recovery support networks have the resources they need to help Mainer’s. This problem is also widespread for our Veterans, we need to create more programs to support our Veterans with opioid addiction as well as PTSD and suicide prevention National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to do a better job in support of our public schools, the teachers, and support staff. There should be an incentive program in Maine that will assist in keeping professionals who go into teaching stay in Maine and not go to other states for their careers. If our public schools are funded properly, students will do better Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Again, by providing incentives to college graduates to stay in Maine and work here would help with this workforce shortage. Possibly assisting with school debt repayment as long as the graduate stays in Maine for their career What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am not a politician; I will use common sense and work with either party to come up with a plan that is best for everyone, not just a select group. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Kimberly J. Pomerleau	House District 85_	No response Kimberly J. Pomerleau Maine House of Representatives - District 85

Maine House of Representatives - District 86
Candidates
R	Gregory E. Foster	House District 86_	No response Gregory E. Foster Maine House of Representatives - District 86
D	Jessica L. Fay	House District 86_	Answers Jessica L. Fay Maine House of Representatives - District 86 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Suggesting that there is one policy solution that would help reduce costs across the board ignores the complexity of the economy. Maine government has little control over world markets and the way they interact with our local economies. State government does have an obligation to protect Maine people from large corporate price gouging, making sure that consumer protections are in place and strong. When it comes to the cost of staying warm during the winter, weatherization of older housing stock and assisting with the affordability of upgrading to more efficient residential heating systems is a place where the state government could make an impact. Educating people about and increasing access to existing heating assistance programs would be helpful as well. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine law currently protects access to abortion. The decision to have an abortion is a personal one, as are many of the difficult decisions that we all make in our lives. Harassing and judging others for those personal decisions is not something that I can support. I will support policies that allow pregnant people the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions without government interference. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Recently, I had a conversation with a local builder who focuses on the higher end housing market. We discussed his challenges finding workers. That discussion evolved into a conversation about public private partnerships around workforce housing and housing affordability. From a policy perspective, finding ways to encourage employers, state and local government to partner to build housing that working people can afford is a promising path. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Municipal Clerks and election volunteers are the backbone of our democracy. These positions are critical for making sure elections run smoothly. Ensuring that protections in place to prevent harassment of and violence against our neighbors serving as election workers are enforced is important to the health of our democracy. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Access to treatment for those suffering from substance use disorder will be the best way to prevent people from succumbing to drug overdoses. Treatment access is hindered by the insufficient number of professionals providing care - which is due to challenging working conditions including pay and reimbursement for services. We need more treatment beds across the state. Jails and law enforcement should not be saddled with the burden of solving this crisis. Law enforcement should be able to focus on stopping traffickers and dealers. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Continuing to ensure students have access to good nutrition and child poverty reduction programs is important. In the last Legislature we passed universal access to school lunch and I will support continuing that program. Supporting families so that they can provide the stability that allows kids the space to learn will help. Supporting teachers so that they have the resources and tools to help each student learn in the way that works best for that student is also an important piece of the education three-legged stool. Families, teachers and students all have a role to play in learning success. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The local economy in our area is heavily dependent on out of state visitors who come to recreate on our beautiful lakes. Supporting the small businesses who serve these visitors is crucial. Workforce shortages across all sectors, not just tourism, has had a profound effect on our everyday lives. We can expect that even more people will leave the workforce in the coming years as older Mainers retire. By engaging with retirement age folks, employers and local Chambers of Commerce, we can work together using Maine ingenuity to break down the barriers that prevent older workers from coming back to - or remaining in - the workforce. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Maine is the oldest state in the country and we must think seriously about older Mainers as a resource. Ageism plays a role in the way we shape policy, whether it is looking for workforce solutions, apportioning resources for healthcare, designing public spaces, seeking housing solutions and many others. This is why I proposed a Commission on Aging (LD1733) in my second term to bring policy experts together in one place to ensure that the state was taking the needs of older residents into account - and why I fought for increased reimbursement rates for those providing home care, nursing home care and residential care. As House Co-Chair of the nonpartisan Legislative Caucus on Aging, I will continue to lift up older Mainers as integral to our Maine traditions and economy. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 87
Candidates
R	David Boyer	House District 87_	Answers David Boyer Maine House of Representatives - District 87 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Overall, the legislature needs to cut wasteful spending and let Mainers keep more of what they earn. Businesses are shuttering almost daily due to workforce shortages. Welfare reforms are needed to encourage folks to get back to work. There is a "welfare cliff" that desperately needs to change. Those on assistance are discouraged from working more than 20 hours a week, being on the books, and are refusing raises! The moment they hit a certain income threshold, they lose all their benefits. This makes no sense. Instead, Maine needs a tiered welfare system. Say an employee gets a promotion and a raise, they then would receive 80% of their benefits. This would continue until the worker is no longer receiving welfare. It should be a hand up, not a hand out. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine's law sets out viability as the standard, I think this makes sense. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need to incentivize towns to loosen zoning laws and lower property taxes through the revenue sharing formula. Unfortunately, the housing crisis is mostly driven by federal policies and subsequent inflation. Our federal delegation needs to stand up to the Washington machine and cut wasteful spending. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? It's better than most states, but there could be improvements. Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The state should allow municipalities to clean up the voter rolls without permission from the politically appointed Secretary of State. Here in Poland, there are dozens of voters still registered at the Élan School, which has been closed for over a decade now! A few years back, you may have heard about the candidate Max Linn who was thrown off the ballot for forged nomination petitions. These petitions were forged with the names of voters who didn't actually sign and some were even deceased! Yet, at the time town clerks and the Secretary of State approved these petitions and certified Linn for the ballot. This clearly shows our system could be improved. Additionally, photo identification should be required to vote and should be given to those that cannot afford the cost of an ID. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The pandemic & lockdown set back any progress that has been made in previous years. Isolation exaggerated mental health issues and it should be no surprise that drug use increased. In-person meetings of AA & NA meetings were suspended. Many rely on meetings to stay sober & share a sense of community with fellow attendees. People are hurting & self-medication is what many turn to. We will not be able to arrest our way out of the opioid epidemic. We can't even keep our Maine jails drug-free! At least two Mainers have died from drug overdoses while incarcerated this summer alone. Treatment is paramount, including access to detox and rehab. Those addicted to opioids are often turned away from detox since opioid withdrawals aren't technically deadly. Those that want help should receive it. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? I have talked to many parents, of all income levels, that feel their child's development has been set back from the shutdowns. Remote learning was a poor substitute for in-person education. We need to open up educational options for all students by removing the barriers to starting new and expanding existing charter schools. Support for Career and Technical Education needs to increase. Schools and local businesses should work hand-in-hand to develop apprenticeship programs. Currently, students from RSU 16 must drive themselves to Lewiston Regional Technical Center and only a few students from each school in the region can attend. Vocational school should be viewed on the same level as college and promoted as such. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. Yes! Landowners should have that right and it would also be a boost to tourism. Of course, if a property owner wants to disallow this, that is their right too. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a 33-year-old, I will bring a fresh approach to the Legislature. It is my generation and my kid's generation that will inherit the debt that our federal government is creating. Leaders of both parties get together and spend, spend, spend and now our country is over $30 trillion in debt. I am willing to work with any party to pass legislation that will benefit Mainers and happy to work against any party that threatens to pass legislation that will harm Mainers. I will keep it respectful. I believe that we need more collaboration across party lines, not less. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
U	Mary-Beth Taylor	House District 87_	Answers Mary-Beth Taylor Maine House of Representatives - District 87 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a country and world problem. We are fortunate to have some programs in place to help such as Home Energy Assistance. We need to streamline the process and because of inflation we need to raise the income amount needed to apply. Many people can fall through the cracks. We need to stop companies from price gouging as well as making it easier to apply. We need to make sure people are aware of tax relief for those over 65 as well as the homestead exemption. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. More support to Planned Parent so there are less need for abortions. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Taxes, fuel costs, and repairs costs have gone up which then get passed to renters. The demand for housing increased as more people moved to Maine as they could work from home. People should be able to apply for rent assistance as well as being sure landlords can verify there need for higher rents. Right now the mortgage rates are making it hard for people to buy house. Definitely more help for first time buyers is needed. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine elections are run very well. The increase in absentee ballots shows the need to continue to making voting accessible to everyone. Allowing for voters to automatically receive an absentee ballot, if they wish, without having to request it each year would help make it easier to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. There is a lack of drug treatment centers and help for families dealing with addiction in their families. Drug companies need to be accountable for pushing drugs they new to be addictive. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Some of these students need tutors to catch up and help with their studies. This may be an ongoing issue. Having high school students help tutor younger students for their community service might be an option. We need to make sure students have the tools they need including internet connection. We are going to have to be creative because of the teacher shortage which leads us to teacher and Ed tech salaries. Having taught at community colleges, students come in at varying degrees of preparedness. Instead of having students feel less then, we need to be sure students are caught up in basic skills before they attempt training or college where they fall behind and drop out. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. I support no hunting on Sunday as hikers and others can enjoy the great outdoors without being fearful What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Not for profit hospitals have really been hurt. They often serve those without insurance. Getting all Mainers insured would help with preventative care which keep people healthy and hospitals able to meet the needs of the communities they serve. More drug treatment programs. Creativity in Education. Some students did well having to work more independently and online. Some students need the classroom and one on one help. We need to look at the technology and being creative in how we do things. More education using the outdoors can also benefit students. One size doesn’t fit all. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central

Maine House of Representatives - District 88
Candidates
R	James William Sorcek	House District 88_	No response James William Sorcek Maine House of Representatives - District 88
D	Kathy Shaw	House District 88_	Answers Kathy Shaw Maine House of Representatives - District 88 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I feel that we need to be realistic in our drive to control costs, there is no magic wand. No one person or party has all the answers The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe that we all should be in control of our own bodies and our health . A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would discourage outside investment companies from holding ownership to so many of Maine’s properties . I would like to see incentives for first time homebuyers . We also need to be aware of our shrinking farmlands and preservation of our opportunities to feed ourselves should be of great importance . Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. i would suggest that maine make voter registration easier and provide some type of process for voters to vote absentee easier. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Community resources and easier access to health care opportunities would help to ease this crisis. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Planning, outreach and educational access is important components in our educational system.. creative long range planning and full access to educational tools will be important As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? I do not believe that any development around or near lake Auburn has been fully studied enough and that we should not be considering any short term changes to the watershed. Until there are enough satisfactory answers to the full impacts of this change to our greater communities, i do not feel that this move is of any good advantage for either community. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I believe that we can all work together for the betterment of our maine communities and neighborhoods through listening and communication . Partisan battles and negative verbal debates or attacks hold no interest for me. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Lewiston/Auburn

Maine House of Representatives - District 89
Candidates
D	Adam R. Lee	House District 89_	Answers Adam R. Lee Maine House of Representatives - District 89 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? People in my district are concerned with how they will heat their homes this winter. Nobody should be forced to choose between heating their home and feeding their family or paying for necessary medication. The legislature must put aside partisan bickering and focus on alleviating the burden of increased costs. Accordingly, I support funding and expansion of the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly or Disabled Program. These programs do not solve all of the effects of increasing costs, but are simple and effective ways to lighten the load. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization eliminated federal constitutional privacy rights and has made their continued protection an issue for state legislatures. In Maine, these rights are protected. Their protection, however, is only as durable as the legislative majority protecting them. Because these rights exist only as legislation, and not in our Constitution, a simple majority of the legislature and a willing Governor could wipe them away in an instant. That’s why I support a constitutional amendment which ensures that the State is prohibited from restricting a woman’s exercise of her private decision to terminate a pregnancy before viability. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We must increase the supply of affordable housing. However, focusing on supply alone will not fix the issue of affordability. Not all new housing supply improves our community. For example, development of expensive single-family housing close to vital natural resources like Lake Auburn does nothing to address the issue of affordability, and instead increases infrastructural and other cost burdens. Such housing is neither affordable nor beneficial to Auburn. We should rethink our unfair property tax system and allow municipalities to adopt a land value tax systems instead. Local taxpayers who redevelop downtown buildings shouldn't be punished with increased taxes, while profit-seeking absentee landlords with vacant or deteriorating properties are rewarded with subsidies and abatements. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has one of the most fairly run and highly functioning voting systems in the Country. I am glad that as of 2024 we will have a system that allows the 36% of registered Maine voters who are unenrolled to vote in the primary elections. Enfranchising unenrolled voters in primaries will hopefully require candidates in those primaries to talk to everyone, rather than just the most partisan voters. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. For six years, as the attorney for 23 Maine Cities and Counties, I have fought against the pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors responsible for the opioid crisis. Because of this work, those responsible for bringing such pain and suffering to our communities are now beginning to pay. The next important step is ensuring that resources go to those who need them. From my experience, the strategies that are most successful for recovery are those that are distributed locally rather than coming exclusively from Augusta. This means that public health institutions, law enforcement, and all aspects of municipal and county governments, should be empowered and properly resourced to provide treatment and solutions that match the community. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The best path out of poverty is the promise provided by education. Unfortunately because students were kept out of the classroom during the pandemic we run the risk far too many will never catch up. Our schools and teachers should be empowered to determine which students have fallen behind and need additional attention. We need to get creative in incentivizing new educators and staff members to enter these professions. Washington and Augusta make too much education policy without listening to educators and students. We should eliminate unfunded mandates that bury educators in meaningless paperwork and stops them from doing the job they love, teaching. Educators must be fully resourced, amply supported, and unconstrained by politics in doing their work. As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? Protect Lake Auburn. It is a vital natural resource that provides our drinking water. We are one of the few communities in the country that receives a filtration waiver. That waiver is already under threat from excessive phosphorous. Beyond destroying a natural resource, losing our waiver would require Auburn and Lewiston to build a filtration plant which costs far more than we can afford. It would be environmentally and economically disastrous. This conversation is larger than one rezoning decision. Many solutions require discussions with other watershed towns, but there also needs to be an honest and full discussion between Auburn and Lewiston on what current development allows, whether that is advisable, and whether we should change it. That is not presently happening. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Maine's Freedom of Access Act is an invaluable tool for holding governmental entities accountable and ensuring transparency. It, however, has some deficits when it comes to clarity and the strength of its enforcement mechanisms. Many of these deficits became quite clear during the pandemic as citizens' involvement in their government was hampered. As someone who has litigated Freedom of Access Act and First Amendment cases against government agencies, I know where the shortcomings are. As a legislator I will work on a bi-partisan basis to strengthen this tool for citizen involvement. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Lewiston/Auburn
U	Benjamin J Weisner	House District 89_	No response Benjamin J Weisner Maine House of Representatives - District 89

Maine House of Representatives - District 90
Candidates
R	Laurel Libby	House District 90_	No response Laurel Libby Maine House of Representatives - District 90
D	Thomas Fogarty	House District 90_	No response Thomas Fogarty Maine House of Representatives - District 90

Maine House of Representatives - District 91
Candidates
D	Hildie Lipson	House District 91_	Answers Hildie Lipson Maine House of Representatives - District 91 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation has hit Maine people hard and there is no one policy that Maine alone can enact to solve the problem. We must make sure we have a strong social safety net so people don’t have to choose this winter between heating and eating. We need to request additional federal LIHEAP funds and expand home weatherization programs to cover more homes to conserve energy. Communities can set up low-barrier assistance funds for residents to access and make sure people know about other assistance programs like the Low-Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program, the new property tax assistance program, the Property Tax Fairness Credit, and distribute information on food banks and other food assistance programs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion is one of a wide range of reproductive health services that must be available and accessible to all who need them. Not only do we have to preserve Maine’s current abortion laws, but we also have to ensure that patients from states that outlaw abortion and Maine’s providers who assist those patients are safe from prosecution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maine has one of the highest rates of unoccupied houses in the country with more than 20% of the total state housing stock unoccupied for much of the year. We need to build housing for people who live and work in Maine, not just those who can afford second homes. More can be done at the local level with zoning laws, rent control, and short-term rental policies. At the state level, we can support those efforts, as well as work to reach a balance between the needs of tenants and landlords by initiating respectful, inclusive discussions to clarify the challenges faced by both groups, creating incentives for landlords to stabilize rents, and funding affordable housing near residents’ workplaces. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voting is both an obligation and a privilege. I believe in strengthening voting rights and making it easier to register to vote. I would like to see automatic voter registration expanded to include other state agencies where one can register. We are fortunate in Maine to have passed positive voting reforms in the last legislative session. Maine will have open primaries starting in 2024, towns may now adopt ranked choice voting for municipal elections, and beginning in 2023 Maine will implement online voter registration. Also passed were bills to increase election process transparency and security for chain of custody of ballots, and the protection of election officials doing their jobs. Going forward, we can make voting easier by providing paid time off to perform this civic duty. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis is a tragedy affecting far too many Maine families. We can help people overcome addiction, thereby reducing overdose deaths, by implementing several initiatives. First, we need to de-stigmatize addiction, so it can be treated as the disease it is. Effective treatment options, such as widespread access to safe treatment drugs such as naloxone and buprenorphine, exist but access to them is sometimes problematic. By incorporating addiction treatment into primary care and emergency rooms, we can utilize existing systems and medical providers who see and can treat people with addiction. Also, we need to examine our criminal justice system’s approach to addiction. 80% of the correctional population has a substance abuse problem or issue. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to identify schools where the gaps are the largest between high- and low-income students and target resources to low-income students in those schools with additional funds for after-school tutoring, individual help, and summer programming. Maine will continue to provide universal free meals for all students in our state and this will help all families with food and financial security issues, allowing students to focus on learning. Maine is one of just two states that does not allow Sunday hunting. Would you support it? Outline any conditions for your answer. No. We have a long tradition in Maine of no Sunday hunting and this is one tradition we need to keep. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I pledge to always put people first. I am responsive to email and phone calls and will truly be an advocate and representative for the people in Leeds, Turner, and Wayne. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Western/Central
R	Joshua Morris	House District 91_	No response Joshua Morris Maine House of Representatives - District 91

Maine House of Representatives - District 92
Candidates
R	Stephen J. Wood	House District 92_	No response Stephen J. Wood Maine House of Representatives - District 92

Maine House of Representatives - District 93
Candidates
D	Margaret M Craven	House District 93_	Answers Margaret M Craven Maine House of Representatives - District 93 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I would encourage our Federal Deligation to increase funding for heating. However this is an international problem, and there is little we can do about it until the war in Ucrane ends. We can also ramp up wind, solar and hydro power, and lessen our dependence on oil. Fitting homes with energy saving methods. Insulation, heat pumps, and wearing sweaters, to use less energy. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Have womens rights be clearly inserted in the Maine Constitution, that encludes the right to abortion, and domain over their own bodies. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Having sensible and safe zoning laws, and promoting co-operative ownership. Investing / bonding to build more affordable dwellings for working class people. Using existing structures and repurpose them for housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I think Maine has a secure, safe and accessable method for voting. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I struggle with this question daily. Educating our students about the dangers, the cost of human life the terrible crisis addiction causes in families and individual lives. For people who need rehab services, we have to increase rehab oppertunities, and followup care. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Allowing students to retake their last class, and having the stigma dissapear. We should have done that at the begenning of COVID. As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? Our drinking water is sacred, and we have to protect it at all costs. Our enviornment does not belong to us, but all generations to come. If Auburn City Council retracts the 150 acre watershed out of the development zone, then Lewiston will rightfully withdraw their lawsuit, I would guess. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I have serious experience. I worked in pink collar jobs my whole life. Our healthcare workforce is in a danderous lull. Nursing homes, group homes, and hospitals are scrambling for staff every day. Their wages are not comparable with retail or manufacturing. I will continue to advocate for better wages and benifits in the next session. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Lewiston/Auburn
R	Robert McCarthy	House District 93_	No response Robert McCarthy Maine House of Representatives - District 93

Maine House of Representatives - District 94
Candidates
R	Janet Beaudoin	House District 94_	No response Janet Beaudoin Maine House of Representatives - District 94
D	Kristen Sarah Cloutier	House District 94_	Answers Kristen Sarah Cloutier Maine House of Representatives - District 94 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? While inflation is rising everywhere, it is particularly devastating to lower-income households who are already grappling with tight budgets, forcing them to make difficult decisions about whether they pay their mortgage, fill their prescription, or put food on their table. Last March, the state announced two programs to help low-income families pay for unusually high energy costs. Nearly 13,000 households received a one-time heating assistance payment of $800 to help pay for high energy costs. In addition, 90,000 Maine households received a one-time $90 credit for electric bills. These two programs have eased the burden on many households in Maine. We should continue to fund them and consider expanding them. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I’d like Maine to enact legislation protecting those coming from other states for an abortion from prosecution in their state, and I want to make sure our providers are protected too. Connecticut passed a law to block state agencies from assisting in interstate investigations or prosecutions that would hold someone civilly or criminally liable for providing, seeking or receiving abortion care, and limits the Governor’s authority to extradite people accused of crimes in another state for actions that are legal in Connecticut. It also protects residents from liability from people who live in states that have enacted laws which allow individuals to sue anyone who aids or abets individuals who get an abortion outside of the state’s restrictions. I'd like to see Maine enact something similar. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The most direct way to address access and affordability in the private market is to fully fund housing assistance vouchers through both state and federal sources, so that every income-eligible household can obtain one, and to prohibit discrimination against voucher holders, who often lose their voucher because landlords won't accept them. By prohibiting voucher discrimination and enacting a voucher guarantee program, we can help to incentivize more landlords to house low-income renters, and landlords can receive the income they need to maintain their buildings. This also helps relieve pressure on General Assistance offices, who are currently supporting households that would otherwise be eligible for rental vouchers if vouchers were adequately funded. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. It's important to protect and expand all means of voting, both in person and absentee. I’d like to see the option of permanent absentee status available to all voters, and ensure that our local and state elections officials have the resources needed to provide secure and accessible elections. This includes up-to-date technology, public information, and staffing to make sure voters get timely support and answers to their questions, including a Public Information Officer in the Secretary of State's Office to respond to the large number of FOIA requests about election procedures they have been receiving lately (often from national groups and often not based on factual information). In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The OPTIONS mobile response teams have been highly successful in preventing overdose deaths in the state since their inception in 2020, due in large part to trainings provided on Narcan administration, the implementation of prevention and harm reduction strategies, and the connections made to recovery services and treatment through local programs such as Project Support You in Lewiston. Such programming builds trust among those who use drugs, service providers, law enforcement, and the public health and safety teams within agencies, providing a safety net of wraparound services to those who need them most. We should expand the OPTIONS program and increase support for programs like Project Support You across the state. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Funding public education at the mandated 55% for the first time in the state’s history is a huge step in the right direction. We also need to examine the standards we have set for students in each grade level. Expecting students to perform at pre-pandemic levels has put strain on teachers and students alike. In addition, we need to invest in our current and pre-service teachers so they have the ability to bring kids back up to speed and identify gaps where students need improvement, and we need to extend afterschool and summer enrichment opportunities such as those offered through the 21st Century program and organizations like Tree Street Youth in Lewiston to offer students the ability to gain traction in areas where they have experienced pandemic learning loss. As part of plans to spur housing development, Auburn has proposed rezoning 150 acres near Lake Auburn. Lewiston has sued, arguing it endangers the public water source for both cities. How should the cities resolve this dispute? Lake Auburn provides clean and affordable drinking water to around 39,000 people in Lewiston, Auburn and Poland. We're fortunate to have one of only 34 EPA filtration waivers thanks to careful planning, collaboration, and conservation efforts that have kept the lake clean. Any decision that affects our drinking water supply should be undertaken in consultation with various stakeholders, including the many local community members, environmental experts, farming experts, and representatives of City government who have expressed their concerns about development on several occasions. It sets a very dangerous precedent for one municipality to be able to take this step unilaterally. We need to work together to ensure the cleanliness of our water supply and to avoid these disputes in the future. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I was extremely fortunate last session to serve as the House Chair of the Commission to Develop a Paid Family Medical Leave Benefits Program for the State of Maine, which was made up of experts and everyday Mainers, including veterans, parents, and small business owners. The current family medical leave law forces many working families to choose between earning a paycheck and taking time away from work to care for themselves or a loved one during an emergency or important life event. As a former family caregiver myself, I know how difficult that choice can be. In addition to the benefits to workers, PFML offers clear advantages to employers as well, including increased productivity and a reduction in turnover rates. It’s a win-win proposal that I look forward to advancing if reelected. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Lewiston/Auburn

Maine House of Representatives - District 95
Candidates
D	Mana Hared Abdi	House District 95_	No response Mana Hared Abdi Maine House of Representatives - District 95

Maine House of Representatives - District 96
Candidates
R	Jon Connor	House District 96_	No response Jon Connor Maine House of Representatives - District 96
D	Michel A Lajoie	House District 96_	No response Michel A Lajoie Maine House of Representatives - District 96

Maine House of Representatives - District 97
Candidates
R	Richard G Mason	House District 97_	No response Richard G Mason Maine House of Representatives - District 97
D	Scott Newman Gaiason	House District 97_	No response Scott Newman Gaiason Maine House of Representatives - District 97

Maine House of Representatives - District 98
Candidates
R	Joseph C. Galletta	House District 98_	No response Joseph C. Galletta Maine House of Representatives - District 98
D	Orion Evenstar Breen	House District 98_	No response Orion Evenstar Breen Maine House of Representatives - District 98

Maine House of Representatives - District 99
Candidates
D	Cheryl Golek	House District 99_	Answers Cheryl Golek Maine House of Representatives - District 99 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Rising inflation is a global phenomenon, not unique to the United States. Let’s stop companies from price gouging and stop utility companies from raising rates. We need to continue strengthening our current programs and build upon them. Things like but not limited to. Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Senior Property Tax Relief. Property Tax Fairness Credit. Low-Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program (DEL) The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We are fortunate in Maine as we have an affirmative right to abortion enshrined in state law. Under Governor Mills’ leadership, Maine has not only protected but expanded access to critical reproductive health services. State legislatures and governors currently control a person’s right to an abortion, A person’s right to reproductive health care access should not be threatened at each election. . We not only need to protect the reproductive laws that we currently have we need to continue to strengthen them. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I was appointed to the Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine. The recommendations of this commission created LD2003. This bill will start the growth of our needed housing supply, but much more needs to be done. The cost of rental housing has risen rapidly in our State. More than one in five renters in our State currently pays more than half their income towards rental costs. I want to work on incentivizing landlords to create a percentage of their units for income-based housing. There is a direct link between our current worker shortage and our state's housing affordability crises. The lack of affordable housing hurts businesses and our community's economy. Maine people need and deserve safe, affordable housing, and our economy needs safe, affordable housing to grow. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Apply the state’s ranked-choice voting system to all statewide elections, including the gubernatorial election. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Create or Strengthen laws and other policies to remove barriers to implementing and/or establishing harm reduction programs. Ensure patients access evidence-based, comprehensive care that includes multidisciplinary, multimodal pain care options. We need to make sure community resources are available and that recovery support networks have the resources they need to help people thrive National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? First, we must work hard to build the workforce staff we need in our state and our educational systems so that our schools have the teachers and support staff they need to meet student's academic and emotional needs. Some of these students did not just fall behind academically but also lost a loved one. The students will require additional academic and emotional support that might not exist today, as will teachers and support staff. Studies have shown that Students at high-poverty schools experienced the biggest setbacks. We need a more equitable educational system that is not connected to a student's zip code Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? There is not just one answer to replenishing our workforce; there are many The Maine Department of Labor warned of a shortage of workers as far back as 2010. We have some guidance on this from a report done in 2016 by Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). According to the report, Maine will need to create incentives to attract more working-age people to our state to rebuild our workforce. To live and work in Maine, people will need access to affordable housing, childcare and healthcare, worker training opportunities, and more. I will work hard on this issue with small businesses and others in our community. I will support or create legislation that addresses our state's worker shortage and creates solutions to rebuild the vibrant workforce needed by all in our state. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I think we can do a better job at being a representative government. One way to do that is always listening to those with first-hand experience. People in need of housing assistance should have a say in affordable housing issues. Parents should have a say in public daycare programs. Our fishing community should always be fully included in the issuing of regulations and fashioning laws that affect their livelihoods. Those who work in health care and those who need health care should be heard when addressing the myriad of problems with our health care system. Those with lived experiences are the true experts, and their voices should always be represented at the table. Lived experience voices improve policymaking Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Stephen Davis	House District 99_	No response Stephen Davis Maine House of Representatives - District 99

Maine House of Representatives - District 100
Candidates
D	Daniel Ankeles	House District 100_	Answers Daniel Ankeles Maine House of Representatives - District 100 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? As a town councilor, one major challenge I hear about is the cost and supply of housing. This includes rents hikes, evictions for the purpose of flipping a building or turning it into an Air Bn’B, the dominance of market-rate development and the fact that municipal budgets depend so much on the regressive property tax. We know outcomes for individuals and families are better with stable housing, from finding and keeping a job to success in getting health care and staying healthy, and maintaining financial stability. Additionally, we must continue to support robust heating assistance, access to heat pumps and weatherization. We must also make sure some of the anticipated revenue exceeding the limits of the Rainy Day Fund is put toward long-term investment in bringing down cost drivers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. While prior legislatures have increased/protected access to abortion, the Dobbs decision means the next Legislature has more work to do. Maine must guarantee the safety of all who come here seeking abortion care or any reproductive healthcare. That includes protecting the physical access to care. It also means a policy of non-cooperation with other state governments at all levels of Maine law enforcement that includes both extradition and information sharing. We will need to protect Mainers traveling, studying or working in other states to the extent we legally can, and we will need to make sure we are not indirectly supporting bans in other states. Additionally, we should always be expanding access to healthcare and strengthening Maine’s healthcare system writ large. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The state must directly fund new affordably priced units, and not just with one-time money, but through a sustainable and reliable funding source. The state needs to follow up on LD 2003 and pass a follow-up bill that addresses some pieces that were stripped away in the committee amendment process. Maine should be discouraging artificial growth caps, it should be helping launch local land banks and housing trusts (land trusts but for housing), fund rental assistance, regulate Air B&Bs, and make sure housing vouchers are actually large enough to be usable. Additionally, you can’t mention stable housing without talking about the need for broad progressive economic policies that improve family budgets, from the cost of heat and medicine to the cost of seeing a doctor. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The Legislature should agree to ask voters whether they would like to amend Maine’s constitution to ensure that RCV is compatible with state-level elections for the office of governor or state lawmaker. The Legislature should also allow municipalities to prevent the presence of firearms at polling places and ensure local officials have the resources to address any election-related violence or other disruptions. Additionally, we should look at Florida's system, where you can be on a permanent list of absentee voters. All of these ideas fall under the banner of maximizing Mainer’s access to voting and eliminating potential voter or election official intimidation. Mainers of all political affiliations should be able to enjoy such protections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. A key component of harm reduction in Maine’s substance use disorder crisis is the expansion of treatment capacity, both for facilities and personnel. We don’t have enough beds. We also don’t have enough behavioral health professionals. One reason why is that the state does not reimburse them at a sufficient rate. There is no easy way around the opioid epidemic, and we need to acknowledge this, stop resenting those who struggle with drugs and break down the stigmas associated with drug use. If we don’t do that, we’re just going to have more people dying as they hide in the shadows - exactly what we’re already seeing. As opiates become stronger and more deadly, the urgency to act grows. Interdicting supply/trafficking without the harm reduction component will guarantee that we fail. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? On the Brunswick Town Council, we send voters a school budget each year. A major budget ask over the past two years has been the addition of specialists and social workers whose job is to work with students individually and help catch them up. When the federal COVID aid that has helped with this work goes away, I hope state lawmakers will recognize that this is long-term repair, not a quick fix and budget accordingly. It is important to recognize that while we may all want to act like we’ve triumphed over the pandemic and just move on, ignoring the deeper systemic damage is more costly in the long run. This has to be an effort over and above Maine’s commitment to fund 55% of public education. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? A major obstacle to dealing with employment shortages in all sectors is a lack of access to affordably priced housing. If we continue to follow up on prior housing reforms and take an even more direct role in increasing Maine’s housing stock and rental availability, that could bring in more workers. Another barrier to workforce entry is the availability of child care, so anything the state can do to help increase the number of child care facilities and the ability of parents to afford them would help. We should also continue to build out broadband to make sure that’s not a barrier to people choosing to work or stay in Maine. Further, if we haven’t already, we should review what Maine’s education system offers in terms of a pipeline into the various fields within our tourism sector. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? The stormwater system on the former Brunswick Naval Airbase is contaminated with PFAS. It needs both remediation and replacement. The PFAS came from Naval activity, but right now they have not yet assumed full responsibility and have confined remediation to two nearby drainage ponds. Without help at the state level, PFAS will continue to flow into Harpswell Cove and be present in an area of Brunswick where we have the most residential and commercial growth. All of this is bad for the health of our coastline, Maine’s working waterfront and the many residents and businesses now taking root in east Brunswick. Our community can’t solve this on its own, and I want to use my experience in both state and local government to make the case that we all benefit from solving this together as a state. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 101
Candidates
D	Poppy Arford	House District 101_	Answers Poppy Arford Maine House of Representatives - District 101 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I think we can all agree that inflation is dramatically impacting people nationwide, as well as here in Maine. Those of us serving in the legislature can help by offering a non-partisan response that acts as a buffer for Maine people. Regarding the need to heat our homes as the weather gets colder, I will continue to work with the Brunswick community to make sure those in need of help know what resources are available to them to help with heating and weatherization. In Brunswick, we are fortunate to have the Tedford Housing “ Warm thy Neighbor” fuel assistance program. FMI: https://tedfordhousing.org/programs/. Statewide, CAP agencies offer a Home Energy Assistance Program which helps to pay for fuel and energy-related repairs for eligible Mainers. FMI: https://mainehousing.org/ The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine has strong protections in statute protecting abortion rights, and preventing governmental control or interference in the decisions a woman makes for her life and body.. For this reason, I have chosen “No change” at this time. In July, Governor Mills signed an Executive Order to further safeguard access to abortion in Maine and to protect patients and the providers who offer abortion services. These laws and orders could change if those elected to serve in our next legislature and executive office support diminishing or eliminating abortion rights. At that point, my position would change to one of strengthening any abortion law that is weakened. FMI: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/blog/access-abortion-care-maine-2022-07-06#. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I am working to develop and fund programs needed to secure affordable homes for all Maine people. In the 1970’s and early 80’s, Maine added an average of 1,100 affordable new apartments each year. For the last 10 years, our average has dropped to about 300 a year. Our current housing shortage has been made more challenging due to the influx of people during the pandemic, high unemployment and inadequate incomes. These are critical needs which I am working hard to address, including collaborating with Brunswick's Tedford Housing and passing a bill to fund construction of emergency housing. I will continue to collaborate with state and local housing experts to better understand the spectrum of needs and solutions. FMI: https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280079119 Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. All voters must have unobstructed access to exercise their constitutional right to vote, and never be threatened, in any way, during their voting experience. For some voters, the presence of a firearm at the polls, carried by anyone other than a public safety officer, may be intimidating. To ensure safe and secure elections going forward, I support a policy of allowing each municipality to decide whether to allow firearms at their polling places.Towns may not do this now due to State pre-emption. As a result open or concealed carry of firearms on town property, except for schools, is allowed. A bill I supported that would have granted Maine Towns the right to decide for themselves did not pass last session. FMI: https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/dockets.asp?ID=280078448 In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Our Attorney General has gone after Big Pharma, including the Sackler family, who profited from the opioid crisis that hit families hard in Maine. They created the addictive drugs that hooked many Mainers following routine surgeries. We need to ensure that settlement funds go toward community recovery support networks. The crux of the problem is that Maine needs more detox and treatment beds with fairly compensated staff to provide compassionate, life saving care. We also need to prioritize public health and safety by dealing aggressively with those who traffic these drugs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Making Community College (CC) free in Maine for the 2020-2023 graduating classes is providing the opportunity for students who might not have been able to afford CC to attend. Yet more than tuition payments are needed for these students, especially the ones who struggled in high school during the pandemic, to succeed. To support and retain these new students additional advising staff and support programs/ services are needed. Guided Pathways is one support program which deserves further exploration and possible adoption. The program seeks to streamline a student's journey through college by providing structured choice, revamped support, and clear learning outcomes—helping more students achieve their college completion goals. FMI: https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/research/guided-pathways.html Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine is experiencing a worker shortage with estimates of 75,000 new workers, over the next 10 years,.being needed to meet the demand. Towards this end, Maine’s business and higher education institutions are advocating to change the Federal rules which govern when immigrants may be issued a work permit. One outcome is the 2021 Maine Compact on Immigration.The compact “is a bipartisan initiative ... to promote immigration policies that will strengthen our economy and communities, attract and retain global talent, and bring new entrepreneurs, businesses, and workers to our nation and state". The next Legislature must address this crucial worker shortage and commit itself to partnering with the federal government, Maines' business and education communities. FMI: www.mecompact.org What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am committed to affordable, comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Maine people. This will require the Legislature addressing the unsustainable increases in healthcare insurance, out- of- pocket costs, prescriptions, and provider fees for both commercial and public plans. The federal and state dollars that have been allocated during the pandemic to subsidize the individual and small group insurance market have allowed for a temporary reprieve yet the subsidy is scheduled to end in 2025. I am also advocating for the offering of a public option, such as a Maine Care plan buy-in, for people who are commercially insured. The new Office of Affordable Healthcare has been charged by the Legislature, with the study and report back of such an option by January of 2024 (Public Law 518). Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Ravi Jackson	House District 101_	No response Ravi Jackson Maine House of Representatives - District 101

Maine House of Representatives - District 102
Candidates
R	James J. Finegan Jr.	House District 102_	No response James J. Finegan Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 102
D	Melanie F. Sachs	House District 102_	Answers Melanie F. Sachs Maine House of Representatives - District 102 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? My constituents consistently express concerns over the high cost of energy, volatility of prices, and unreliability of utility companies. I have worked hard in the Energy, Utilities, & Technology and Tax Committees to address these concerns in the past session and will continue to focus on ways to reduce energy costs for Maine residents and businesses. Initiatives included: • Targeted tax relief to small businesses based on energy usage, & approved energy bill credits to low-income Maine families; • Creation of a consumer working group to examine long-term solutions to lower electricity costs for Maine ratepayers; • Accountability measures & stronger penalties for noncompliance by utilities; • Increased funding for weatherization programs/rebates on efficient biomass systems & heat pumps. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. People have a right to healthcare. Safe, legal abortion, as well as the full spectrum of reproductive care, are essential healthcare services. I co-sponsored legislation to establish universal healthcare, and to expand school-based health care centers which include access to, and education about, contraceptives. I supported bills to expand IVF access, lower prescription drug prices, and to protect patients as they approach the medical offices where they receive abortion care. I voted against six anti-abortion bills. In response to the draconian legislation which has been passed in other states, I would prioritize ensuring that all patients who seek abortion care in Maine, and the medical professionals who provide the care, are able to do so without fear of criminal penalties. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I passed a landmark, bipartisan bill called “An Act to Establish the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority”. It establishes a state land bank, which leverages federal funds to help municipalities repurpose abandoned, environmentally compromised, or functionally obsolete properties back into productive use- often affordable housing. I worked with a diverse coalition of over 50 organizations to pass the bill, and it won “Project of the Year” by the ME Assoc. of Planners for the “legislative initiative that is of unusually high merit and makes a difference in the lives of the people affected.” There is huge potential for the development of affordable housing through this model. I continue to work closely with this coalition, as aspects of implementation will require additional legislation. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Voting in Maine is safe and secure, but our system continues to be impacted by special interests spending huge amounts of money to influence outcomes. In 2013, Maine Republicans, Democrats, and Independents came together in the Legislature and called for an amendment to the US Constitution “to enable Americans to enact reasonable limits and rules for contributions and spending in elections.” Twenty-two states now have similar resolutions. A poll in August 2020 showed that 73% of Mainers support a constitutional amendment to limit political spending. Nonpartisan groups like American Promise have active groups, including here in Maine, to move this forward. Despite past actions and current overwhelming support, the Legislature has not yet introduced such an amendment. It is time to do so. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. A top priority is to support the implementation of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) here in Maine. This national model provides “integrated, evidence-based, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and person-and-family centered care”. The services at CCBHCs are available to anyone regardless of ability to pay, and require key elements such as coordination of care, crisis intervention services, and post-withdrawal management step-down services, which are critical to those fighting substance use disorders in our rural state. DHHS will be offering a policy roadmap to establish the infrastructure for this model and will require legislative action for state regulations and resource allocation. I am committed to implementing this comprehensive service model of care our state. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The pandemic highlighted the critical role that schools play not only in our students’ education, but also in their health and well-being. There are several areas that will need continued support: • For the first time, the Legislature funded K-12 schools at 55%. This allows local communities to put those dollars where they are needed most to support their students (i.e., tutoring, mental health services, additional staff/materials.) • Hungry kids can’t focus on learning. Every child now has access to free breakfast and lunch in school, with no stigma attached. • Students without internet access struggled to stay connected to their schoolwork during the pandemic. The Governor pledged that every household would have access to broadband by 2024, and we need to make that happen. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? I supported Governor Mills’ proposal to fully fund community college tuition for any Maine high school graduate from 2020-2023. Several of these schools include degrees in hospitality and tourism management. With record enrollments, these programs will provide critical training at little to no cost to the industry or the student, and will provide this sector with a vital workforce support. Workers in the hospitality sector have also indicated the lack of paid family and medical leave as a key reason they left the industry during the pandemic and have not returned. I look forward to the recommendations of the Commission currently studying the issue, as legislation and policies will need to be developed from that work. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Energy issues are among the top concerns raised by my constituents. I serve on the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee, where the range of issues are complex. I have focused on advanced training in this off-session period, on topics including ISO-New England, off-shore wind, and climate impacts. I also am the first person from Maine, and one of only 40 bipartisan legislators across the US/Canada, to be accepted into the intensive Legislative Energy Horizon Institute. It covers subjects such as energy infrastructure, regulation, financing, & grid planning/resiliency, and I will earn a certificate on energy policy planning from the University of Idaho. Sound energy policy is critical to Maine’s future. I want to bring this expertise to work for the people of Maine on these issues. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 103
Candidates
D	Art Bell	House District 103_	Answers Art Bell Maine House of Representatives - District 103 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Heating assistance for those struggling to heat their homes. And incentives to help people weatherize their homes. Seniors need to take advantage of the freezing of their property taxes and take advantage of the Homestead Exemption is they qualify. And for those who qualify, low cost drug program for the elderly & disabled. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. People living is states restricting access to reproductive health care should be able to access services in Maine w/o consequences. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We need to restrict the avalanche of housing units in Maine that have become short term rental investment properties for investors. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine should expand automatic voter registration to assist state agencies to help register citizens to vote In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to devote additional community resources to make recovery support services readily available in every community across the State National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We should be certain that every Maine secondary school student is aware of and encouraged to take advantage of the free community college program for Maine students. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We need to attract young people to the workforce through mentorship programs like Junior Achievement. These programs expose youth to the work force and build pride and dignity that comes with having a good job and career prospects. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My number one focus is addressing Climate Change. We need to listen to our youth and heed their call to make the changes necessary to build a society that can live sustainably on this planet. The goals outlined in Maine's Climate Council "Maine Won't Wait" need to receive top priority in all decisions going forward. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 104
Candidates
R	Amy B. Arata	House District 104_	No response Amy B. Arata Maine House of Representatives - District 104
U	Anne Gass	House District 104_	Answers Anne Gass Maine House of Representatives - District 104 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The Maine legislature cannot control US monetary policy, global supply chains or the prices oil and gas companies charge. While prices are coming down, people with low and fixed incomes are still likely to struggle with high heating costs this winter. In the short term, I'd push for emergency funding for additional subsidies to be made available for those who are struggling to keep their homes warm. Maine also has a lot of older homes that need to be weatherized and made more efficient - I'd push to expand these programs as well. Low-income homeowners are the most under-served by existing housing assistance programs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I strongly support women's right to control their bodies and their lives. Mainers strongly support access to abortion, and there are many policies and programs in place to ensure access. I think we need to broaden the discussion of reproductive justice to include protections for pregnant women, whether or not they choose to abort. There is a troubling trend nationally of using laws originally passed to protect women and their unborn children to prosecute pregnant women. One example is prosecutions of women whose pregnancies end in a miscarriage. I don't know if these are a threat in Maine, but I would be work to protect women from proposed new policies or laws such as fetal personhood. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The housing affordability crisis was made worse by the pandemic, but it's actually been present and getting worse for decades. Simply put, the cost of housing in Maine has soared compared to wages, which have remained relatively flat. Towns must loosen zoning restrictions in their designated growth areas in order to increase the supply of housing. We also need to look at alternative ownership models such as community land trusts in order to create a stock of permanently affordable housing for our more modest-income employees, such as educators, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, and retail workers. For generations, home ownership has helped families build wealth. However, the windfall profits enjoyed by older home owners are the next generation's barrier to home ownership. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. There were a number of voting laws passed in the most recent legislative session, including L.D. 1779, which strengthens chain of custody requirements for ballots and tabulators to prevent election interference by outside entities; L.D. 1821, which makes threatening an election worker a crime that can be investigated and prosecuted by the Attorney General; and L.D. 1830, which, among other provisions, expands access to absentee voting for residents of certain licensed facilities. At this time I have no further election protection proposals. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. People can and do recover from addiction, including to opioids. Putting people in prison for addiction issues is a costly and ineffective response; creating more treatment programs is a much better investment of public funds. There isn't a single solution that will work for everyone, so we need both in-patient and out-patient options. The 130th legislature passed a number of bills that support this positive direction. I'd also push for more recovery housing to be built. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Student debt is crushing young people, and discouraging their pursuit of studies beyond high school. Low-income students in my district have told me they are excited about the Free College Scholarship program, which pays 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time students at Maine's community colleges enrolled in a degree or certificate program. I think this is a brilliant program- it helps low-income students, in particular, get post-secondary education, improving their earning ability and encouraging them to stay in Maine. Right now this is only available to students who graduated from high school in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 - I'll work to extend this program going forward. I believe this sort of program can encourage students to stay in school and focus on a brighter future. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? While the pandemic worsened worker shortages, the Maine Dept. of Labor has been predicting this since at least 2010. Maine is one of the oldest states in the country; as older workers retire, there simply aren't enough young workers to take their place. And we know that older people retired in droves during the pandemic. The question we should be asking is how can we make Maine more attractive to young workers? The Free College Scholarship program is one example. Expanding access to health care for part-time and seasonal workers, and investing in child care availability and affordability are two ways the legislature can help. Expanding the supply of affordable housing is another. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? As a consultant, I've worked for decades with nonprofits and local and state governments to help them develop programs that help people in need lead stable, successful lives- such as for first-time home buyers, homeless people, and after school programs for low-income children. I've employed a business planning approach in order to maximize the cost-effective use of public finding. In over 30 years I've written almost $170 million in successful federal grants; most of that money came to Maine. I've also volunteered at the local level for decades, including a recent term on the Gray Town Council, so I'm thoroughly grounded in what municipalities want and need. This unique combination of experience will strengthen my work as a legislator. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 105
Candidates
D	Anne Graham	House District 105_	Answers Anne Graham Maine House of Representatives - District 105 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? My top priority will be to try to keep Mainers warm and fed. I will encourage all Mainers to access the Home Energy Assistance Program and streamline eligibility. I will support free school lunch and encourage more programs to feed the hungry through programs like the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Insurance coverage for women's healthcare and safe, legal abortions A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I will try to assist first time homebuyers by working with lending institutions to encourage low down payments and low interest rates. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Apply rank choice voting to all elections statewide and nationally including gubernatorial races. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I will support the work of the Governor's Opioid Prevention and Treatment Taskforce. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Provide support for students who have fallen behind. Build teacher ranks through grants and the first 2 years of a 4 year degree in the University of Maine system free for those students who will become teachers. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Work with our federal partners to expand work visas to work in the hospitality industry. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I will focus on the health and well being of all Mainers, with a major focus on mental health. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	David Lawrence Reed	House District 105_	Answers David Lawrence Reed Maine House of Representatives - District 105 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation can be reduced by cutting government stimulus spending, and spending more generally, while using targeted aid, such as heating oil assistance, to get our most vulnerable through the upcoming winter. We also need to restore Maines job numbers to pre-Covid levels in terms of labor participation and total jobs. Growing a greater Maine farming industry could help us deflate our high food prices. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Opposing legislation to ban or expand abortion. Past viability (when the baby can live outside the mother with existing medical technology) Abortion is certainly infantacide, and should only be a last resort if the life of a mother is in danger. Most abortions happen before the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. Maintaining the viability standard would, in essence, preserve the Roe ruling in Maine. I believe there are ways to reduce abortion numbers through better education and the ready availability of contraceptives. Pregnancy centers that help women who do not want to have abortions should be protected. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Housing cost has been greatly influenced by increasing material pricing (brought about by inflation). Migration to this state from Massachusetts, New York and other regions has also contributed. Property tax relief for seniors was passed by the current legislature, making great strides in solving that aspect of housing cost. If elected, property tax relief for seniors will be protected, and I will push for a viable path to home ownership for young Mainers. Getting inflation under control, and getting more workers in construction will help get prices back down. The legislature should also examine regulations on home construction to see what, if anything, has contributed to an increase in home construction costs. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Requiring a photo ID (like a standard driver’s license) for voting. It just makes sense, one needs a valid id for almost everything in life, but not for voting? My one condition is that there has to be a no cost option for people who don’t have a state drivers license. It would add another layer of security to our elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to combat the opioid crisis. It is one of the few areas where I’m willing to throw additional funding into the mix. We should fund programs to get people off of dangerous drugs and into rehabilitation. We should also try to find folks stable decent jobs and have someone (preferably through a local community organization) check in on them to make sure they are not relapsing. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The Covid response is responsible for the difference in performance between high and low income students. Schools should have gone back to in person learning far earlier. We must also give parents more options. School choice is important. The money should follow the student. Public schools are not a great fit for everyone. We have a plan to improve public schools as well, making financial literacy, life skills, civics, and computer science required courses. Above all, we will focus on building up high quality trade and vocational education programs. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The responsibility for our depressed labor participation rate lies squarely on the reckless stimulus spending, and massive unemployment benefits. We also need to make Maine a more desirable place to live as a younger person. We need to bring down the cost of living and present a viable pathway to homeownership for young Mainers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Question 11: If elected, I will be a champion for civil liberties. Constitutional rights must be upheld and respected by the legislature and the governor. It is also not my goal to add mountains of new legislation, or massive new programs that would further stress our tax base. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 106
Candidates
R	Barbara Bagshaw	House District 106_	No response Barbara Bagshaw Maine House of Representatives - District 106
D	Dana Clifford Reed	House District 106_	No response Dana Clifford Reed Maine House of Representatives - District 106

Maine House of Representatives - District 107
Candidates
D	Jane Pearson Pringle	House District 107_	No response Jane Pearson Pringle Maine House of Representatives - District 107
R	Michael Hall	House District 107_	No response Michael Hall Maine House of Representatives - District 107

Maine House of Representatives - District 108
Candidates
D	Maureen Fitzgerald Terry	House District 108_	No response Maureen Fitzgerald Terry Maine House of Representatives - District 108

Maine House of Representatives - District 109
Candidates
D	Jim Boyle	House District 109_	Answers Jim Boyle Maine House of Representatives - District 109 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The primary causes of recent inflation and high costs are really national and global in nature, meaning there are limits to what an individual legislator in the Maine House can do. Having said that, as a as a small business owner and former member of the Board of Directors of the Efficiency Maine Trust, I am driven to help Mainers reduce energy costs. The top policy I will champion to reduce costs will be legislation that moves us toward beneficial electrification in heating and transportation. We need to get off fossil fuels. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would support a policy that protects anyone needing access to safe, affordable reproductive services no matter who they are, what their level of income or where they live. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I would support state-level policy that streamlines the state regulatory process for housing construction while protecting Maine's environment. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I believe ranked-choice voting has worked well in congressional elections here in Maine and I would support applying it to races for governor and state legislature in Maine. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The Maine Attorney General participated in legal action to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for creating the medications that cause so many Mainers and others across our nation to become addicted. I would support legislation that insures that settlement funding arising from that legal action goes to support Mainers with programs and health care that allows them to stop using drugs and return to normal, healthy, productive lives again. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? My daughter works in a school system here in Maine, and I know from talking with her that although Maine finally got school funding from the state to fifty-five percent, additional staffing is sorely needed. I would support additional funding to encourage more Mainers to work in our school systems. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? As a small business owner, I know the challenges of attracting employees from outside of Maine and retaining employees who are already here. Although I believe the recent legislation making community college free in Maine for students graduating between 2020 and 2023 will help, I think we need do more to encourage retirees and others who have left the work force to return to work, even part-time. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I've been a small business owner and environmental scientist in Maine for more than 25 years, and I was a forester here before that. My wife and I raised our children here in Maine, where they are now living, working and raising children of their own. As a former member of the Board of Directors of Efficiency Maine Trust and the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, I've worked on energy efficiency on conservation. I am former Senate Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, and I currently serve as a House member of the ENR Committee. So, I know what it takes to work, raise a family, and start a business in Maine, while protecting our natural resources. I bring that experience to my service in the Maine Legislature and I will continue that focus if re-elected. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Joseph Velozo	House District 109_	No response Joseph Velozo Maine House of Representatives - District 109

Maine House of Representatives - District 110
Candidates
R	Scott Jordan	House District 110_	No response Scott Jordan Maine House of Representatives - District 110
D	Stephen W. Moriarty	House District 110_	Answers Stephen W. Moriarty Maine House of Representatives - District 110 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? At a minimum we need to maintain municipal revenue sharing at its current 5% level, and the same for state aid to education at the current 55% level. The sums paid to cities and towns under these programs will help to reduce property taxes across the board. We need to be certain that property owners are aware of all state and local options for minimizing the property tax obligation, such as the property tax fairness credit and the homestead exemption program. Taking full advantage of such opportunities will reduce the cost of living. Similarly, the newly-created property tax stabilization program for qualifying seniors will ease the burden for those living on fixed incomes. Finally, the PUC must intensively scrutinize all requests for utility rate hikes and reject them when appropriate. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. The privacy of any individual seeking reproductive health care treatment or advice must be vigorously protected. Concurrently, any barriers to such services must be eliminated. The right of women to make personal decisions regarding their own health care without governmental interference must be firmly reinforced. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Tax and related incentive policies must be developed to promote the rehabilitation and conversion of existing structures into housing alternatives. Much of the focus should be upon the service center communities, as housing located remotely from transportation services, shopping facilities, and health care centers can never be truly affordable. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. City and town clerks must be protected against frivolous demands for information or materials made with the intent to intimidate, over-burden, or demoralize our dedicated public servants. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We should not abandon the efforts of law enforcement to stop the flow of illegal substances, but over the decades these policies alone have failed to stop the growth of addiction. Treatment and counseling alternatives must be made available to all, particularly in the areas hardest hit by economic decline and lack of opportunity. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? For those needing assistance after-hour programs should be offered, tailored to meet the needs of the hardest hit. Volunteers or ed techs without full teaching credentials should be recruited to provide the service, as the burdens placed upon full-time faculty are already excessive in some cases. This in turn has led to a shortage of qualified educators. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? All states should join forces in requesting the federal government to loosen the restrictions on summer-time work visas for those of college age from abroad, as these young adults have historically been highly important in meeting the staffing needs of our employers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? The state is failing to meet its legal obligation to provide counsel to the indigent. At the same time the pandemic has caused an enormous backlog in criminal and civil cases awaiting trial. Restoring our system of justice and eliminating the logjam as fast as possible are top priorities for me. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 111
Candidates
D	Amy D. Kuhn	House District 111_	Answers Amy D. Kuhn Maine House of Representatives - District 111 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? As we move into fall, many Maine families are struggling with high cost of living. Although there is no easy fix for this global problem, we should make sure that our neighbors are able to access all the support that is available now, including home heating assistance, prescription drug savings for seniors and people with disabilities, and the recently adopted senior property tax relief program. We should also continue to incentivize energy efficient home heating options that reduce carbon emissions and cost less to operate. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Decisions about reproductive healthcare are private and should be made between patients and their providers. Fortunately, Maine has strong protections that safeguard access to reproductive healthcare. I am committed to defending these longstanding protections. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Safe, accessible, and affordable housing is a critical need for our state and our country. In the last legislative session, Maine took bold action in adopting changes to encourage the building of more homes in all parts of the state. It is important that we monitor implementation of these laws and policies to ensure that they are meeting their objectives in ways that enhance quality of life in our communities and make modifications if needed. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has strong protections for our free and fair elections. I am committed to safeguarding those protections so that all eligible voters have access to the ballot. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The incidence of overdose deaths in Maine is devastating. We need to create a wide array of community based recovery support options for individuals experiencing substance use disorder so they can get the treatment they need. To help do that, we should ensure that the opioid settlement funds coming into Maine are carefully invested in diverse, effective programs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We should work with every school district in the state to provide the tools and resources they need to help their students catch up and thrive. To support these initiatives, it is critical that the state continue to meet its 55% funding commitment. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? One of Maine’s greatest challenges is that we are the oldest state in the union. We need to attract young people to Maine, not only to bolster tourism but all sectors of our economy. We should also provide more opportunities for prosperity to those already here, such as increasing access to higher education, including community colleges, and further engaging our immigrant communities with workforce opportunities. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Consistent with Falmouth’s core priorities, I anticipate advocating for high quality public education, forward-thinking environmental and energy policies, and continued careful management of taxpayer funds. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Jeffrey York	House District 111_	No response Jeffrey York Maine House of Representatives - District 111

Maine House of Representatives - District 112
Candidates
R	Tammy Ryan	House District 112_	No response Tammy Ryan Maine House of Representatives - District 112
D	W. Edward Crockett	House District 112_	No response W. Edward Crockett Maine House of Representatives - District 112

Maine House of Representatives - District 113
Candidates
D	Grayson B. Lookner	House District 113_	No response Grayson B. Lookner Maine House of Representatives - District 113

Maine House of Representatives - District 114
Candidates
D	Benjamin Thomas Collings	House District 114_	No response Benjamin Thomas Collings Maine House of Representatives - District 114
R	Daniel L Merrill	House District 114_	No response Daniel L Merrill Maine House of Representatives - District 114

Maine House of Representatives - District 115
Candidates
D	Michael F. Brennan	House District 115_	No response Michael F. Brennan Maine House of Representatives - District 115

Maine House of Representatives - District 116
Candidates
R	Dale Jay Holman	House District 116_	No response Dale Jay Holman Maine House of Representatives - District 116
D	Samuel Lewis Zager	House District 116_	Answers Samuel Lewis Zager Maine House of Representatives - District 116 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? High costs for debt payments, fuel, medications, groceries and other things are definitely pressing folks in District 116 and beyond. The US inflation rate is average among the 20 richest nations (G20), with a rate far better than 80% inflation also seen in the G20. Mainers have national financial institutions like the Federal Reserve Bank to protects against worldwide inflation. In the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, I was part of bipartisan discussions that protected funding for programs like Drugs for the Elderly (DEL). It’s a practical state-level tool that helps people, because medical costs are one of the biggest drivers of bankruptcy in the United States. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion care is part of overall health care, and healthcare is a human right. At this point in human history, we clearly have the ability to ensure that everyone has access to high quality, affordable, equitable healthcare. Actually doing it is a matter of collective choice, in other words, public policy. People from other states who find themselves in need of healthcare--including reproductive healthcare--here in Maine should be protected, and so should the hard-working, self-sacrificing doctors, nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other professionals who provide that care. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. A chief controllable factor in the cost of purchasing a home is one’s credit rating. I’ve been working with industry experts to craft sensible legislation to ensure that people reliably paying their rent could improve their credit score. Strangely, this generally doesn’t occur in the US, except in a few places. I want to work to make a “Reliable Renter Credit Score Boost” a reality here in Maine. More attainable home ownership for people of all backgrounds! (It’d also reduce the cost of borrowing for other large personal/family investments, like education and transportation.) We also need more housing supply, while protecting farmland, crucial habitats, and wild spaces. I voted for measures to improve supply, and will continue to collaborate to do so. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Secretary of State Bellows and the other hard-working people in the Elections Division are deeply devoted to ensuring free and fair elections--a hallmark of representative government. This summer, I attended the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Conference in Denver, and was pleased when legislators from across the country expressed much interest in Maine’s elections system (e.g. ranked choice voting and the Clean Elections Act). Further voting reform opportunities include expanding ranked choice voting to gubernatorial races; working with high schools to register new voters; and facilitating absentee voting for those who wish to vote that way. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The overdose epidemic still tortures virtually every community in Maine. I have been treating patients and advocating for folks with substance use disorder for years. I worked with Gov. Mills’ Dir. of Opioid Response Gordon Smith, and across the aisle, to further empower first responders to save lives with naloxone (LD 1333). As an NCSL Opioid Policy Fellow, other bills I introduced enhance the provider network (LD 273), and reduce credentialing barriers (LD 1196). An enforcement-emphasis failed to contain the crisis over decades and across the nation. We need continued focus in Augusta on treatment and harm-reduction with equitable, evidence-based measures. We could further reinforce the recovery community center network; promote professional care; and facilitate fentanyl test strips. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Before the COVID pandemic, Portland Public Schools outlined the Portland Schools Promise strategic vision. One of the key features is its focus on equity, and the educational gap by income is certainly part of that; the pandemic has indeed brought it into sharper focus. One way the state can support equity and achievement goals is continuing to fund at least 55% of the cost, which we achieved for the first time in Maine’s history this session. Similarly, we made community college free for students graduating high school in cohorts whose high school years were heavily impacted by the pandemic. The educational and social impacts of this historic global health crisis will keep unfolding, so we will have to be responsive for years to come. Among the many questions to be decided by Portland voters this year is one raising the city's minimum wage from $13 to $18 by 2025, including for tipped workers. Will you vote for it? Explain your answer. There are so many ballot initiatives this year in Portland. I am still learning about them, and listening to people in District 116. I try very hard to do my homework and understand pros and cons; as of press time for this questionnaire, I don't have my position fully worked out. (Some of the items on this questionnaire pertain to the state economy, the educational system, social justice, and technology. There likely will be legislation in the 131st stemming from a biotechnology panel that deals with these and other areas. I have been honored to serve as the House Chair.) What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Climate-change mitigation, specifically regarding green building materials. Advanced wood products, such as cross-laminated timber, could be a big win-win. They are increasingly being seen around the world as a 21st century-and-beyond green building strategy. Collectively these technologies are a safe, durable, and carbon-sequestering alternative to19th-20th century materials (e.g. concrete and steel, whose manufacture spews huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere). Building on work done at UMaine, and learning from the resurrection of the Madison mill as a wood-based insulation manufacturing plant, we could help Maine become a national and even international supplier. In addition to helping our planet remain livable, it also would be a tremendous boon for the state economy. Which chamber are you running for? House Region Portland

Maine House of Representatives - District 117
Candidates
D	Matthew Moonen	House District 117_	No response Matthew Moonen Maine House of Representatives - District 117

Maine House of Representatives - District 118
Candidates
D	Rachel Talbot Ross	House District 118_	No response Rachel Talbot Ross Maine House of Representatives - District 118

Maine House of Representatives - District 119
Candidates
D	Charles A Skold	House District 119_	No response Charles A Skold Maine House of Representatives - District 119
R	Peter Ignatius Doyle	House District 119_	No response Peter Ignatius Doyle Maine House of Representatives - District 119

Maine House of Representatives - District 120
Candidates
D	Deqa Dhalac	House District 120_	Answers Deqa Dhalac Maine House of Representatives - District 120 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The biggest issues I have been hearing about in my district are the increasing prices of electricity and rent, both issues that the legislature can and should take action on. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues to keep CMP and Versant from continuing to raise their rates excessively. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Everyone should have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. This includes reproductive health care. I will support efforts to make sure Maine continues to improve access to healthcare for all people, and not go backwards. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. My district has been feeling the crunch of the housing crisis. As Mayor of South Portland, I led the effort to pass a cap on rent increases and a temporary eviction moratorium. We need to continue supporting efforts to build more affordable housing (that meet energy efficiency standards) we also look at ways to make sure our existing housing infrastructure is being put to the best possible use to serve our communities and support policies that give renters some protection to stay in their housing when possible. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We should make registering to vote easier for all citizens and continue to make absentee voting easier for all voters. Our ranked choice voting system has proved itself as effective and we should expand it to the gubernatorial race. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. We need to lead with love when it comes to addressing our drug overdose epidemic. We need to invest in treatment and recovery-related housing, public and mental health services and improve data collection about drug criminalization and make it publicly available. As a social worker I will work very hard and support for policies to address this crisis that is facing all over the USA. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to continue to increase our investment in our public schools. We need to make sure that the schools that were most negatively impacted by the pandemic have adequate access to the financial resources to retain and hire staff, and invest in additional support to help students get the education they deserve. Additional support to invest in may look like extra ed-techs in the classrooms, after-school and summer programming. We need to be communicating with our teachers about what they need. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We need to attract new workers, including young people and immigrants to stay and work in Maine. I support all efforts to make it possible for immigrants to enter the workforce sooner What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a renter, a single mother, a social worker and I’m a Black Muslim, Somali American woman. I believe we don’t have these backgrounds represented well enough in Augusta and I look forward to bringing these important perspectives to the State House. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Michael James Dougherty	House District 120_	No response Michael James Dougherty Maine House of Representatives - District 120

Maine House of Representatives - District 121
Candidates
D	Christopher Kessler	House District 121_	No response Christopher Kessler Maine House of Representatives - District 121
R	Tammy Bonneau Walter	House District 121_	No response Tammy Bonneau Walter Maine House of Representatives - District 121

Maine House of Representatives - District 122
Candidates
D	Lois Galgay Reckitt	House District 122_	Answers Lois Galgay Reckitt Maine House of Representatives - District 122 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I hope that the state and other Maine employers will begin serious consideration of longer workdays and shorter workweeks to cut down energy costs of commuting. It would be important as well to encourage both carpooling and use of transportation alternatives, especially those powered by electricity. Insulation subsidies as well as continued and expanded supports for electric conversion should be continued and expanded. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Expanded medication facilitated abortion coupled with increased accessibility for telehealth services and support, especially in rural areas. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Detailed examination of zoning and other municipal restrictions should be undertaken statewide by an authority such as the Maine Housing Authority to determine if those regulations might be reasonably altered to encourage development of the housing stock. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Support for municipalities to ease burdens on town clerks and discourage harassment of those officials. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. My top priority would be to increase the presence of and support for recovery support networks throughout the state. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? I think a program to encourage retired seniors, similar to the Foster Grandparents program, should be developed to supply tutoring resources for students working to "catch up" and to help seniors, if needed, access income as well. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We must, to the extent legally possible, enable immigrant, refugee, teenage and retired populations in Maine to secure parttime employment in the tourist and other sectors of the Maine economy. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Since I first sought elective office 6 years ago, one of my major goals was to close the gap between North and South and thus emphasize our joint work for the Maine we all treasure. In that quest, I will continue to emphasize equity issues as my first priority - for Women, LGBT persons, Native Americans and other Persons of Color as well as People with Disabilities. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 123
Candidates
R	Annie Christy	House District 123_	No response Annie Christy Maine House of Representatives - District 123
D	Rebecca Millett	House District 123_	Answers Rebecca Millett Maine House of Representatives - District 123 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a global issue due to limited supplies, broken supply chains, and pent up demand from more than 2 years of pandemic. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncompetitive markets with monopolistic/oligopolistic conditions have further stressed the situation. Strengthening our property tax relief programs can provide economic relief for our residents. Building local renewable energy infrastructure to minimize our state’s dependence on fossil fuels and a focus on weatherization of Maine’s older houses will help buffer the impact of spikes in gas and oil prices. With federal action lagging on anti-trust issues, states can and must focus on enforcing laws against coordination of markets and profiteering during “abnormal market disruption” to help keep prices stable and reasonable. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I believe in a woman’s right to reproductive freedom and access to safe and legal abortion and will continue to vote accordingly. Maine can and should improve access to emergency contraception in our ER’s for victims of sexual assault. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Until recently, Maine has invested less than .00643% of our state budget on housing according to MaineHousing. In the last 4 years we have dedicated $80 million to senior housing and $60 million to affordable housing. We need to be building roughly 1,000 units/yr, so we need to kick into high gear. The Maine Redevelopment Land Bank established by the last legislature creates incentives for municipalities to work with housing nonprofits and collaboratively create housing trusts. We must also continue robust state investments into new affordable housing projects. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I am most concerned about the influence that dark money and foreign entities have on our elections and will work with my colleagues to reduce their impact. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Maine is in crisis with the overwhelming lack of treatment and recovery professionals. Positions are going unfilled in our agencies and hospitals, and private providers are limited. We are facing a tsunami of retirements across all professions, so organizations and businesses are competing from a smaller pool of candidates. We need incentives to encourage young people into the profession including loan forgiveness and tuition assistance, increased state reimbursements to providers that support better wages, and more efficient licensing of new programs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Gaps are longstanding but were exacerbated by the pandemic. A child’s ability to thrive in school is impacted by numerous factors and differs from student to student. As state senator, I introduced the “community schools” model through a pilot program and now the state is working to use this approach across Maine. This model recognizes the need to equally focus on academics, health and social services, and youth – community development by leveraging resources of local and regional partners and reflecting each community’s specific challenges. We must think holistically when it comes to our children and their families; community schools are an effective approach to reducing the gap and should receive more attention and investment in the state. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Affordable housing is a huge factor in being able to retain service industry employees. Please see my answer above to our housing issue. In addition, workers need living wages and meaningful benefits, especially healthcare. Maine needs to examine our healthcare system and consider moving away from employer sponsored access to healthcare to universal healthcare, thus removing this financial cost from employers. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? One of my top priorities in the legislature is addressing the impending climate crisis and its effects on the state of Maine. Our winter freezes are later and shorter, snowfall erratic, thus affecting winter tourism, our iconic moose are in distress, warming ocean waters threaten our lobster industry and countless homes and communities along our coastline are at risk from rising sea level from more frequent “once in lifetime” storms. It is imperative that we decarbonize our economy and our lifestyles, use all available federal funding and state resources to move swiftly and efficiently. There is no time to waste. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 124
Candidates
R	Lisa Lynn Marie Markowski	House District 124_	No response Lisa Lynn Marie Markowski Maine House of Representatives - District 124
D	Sophia B. Warren	House District 124_	Answers Sophia B. Warren Maine House of Representatives - District 124 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? There is a lot we can and must do to provide relief for Mainers. There are much needed reforms to stop price gouging and prevent utility companies from raising rates and prioritizing profits over the needs of Maine people. We can modernize the process of applying for heating assistance at the state and county level. We can invest further in efforts we know work, investing in weatherization and public transportation efforts so that Mainers see benefits today that will be here for future generations too. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Mainers across party lines have long shared a belief in the right to reproductive healthcare. The way I see it, codifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the Maine State Constitution is essential to preventing government control over womens bodies in our state regardless of political interests in the Blaine House or the make up of our legislature. There are also many states that don't believe in the right to access to reproductive health care, and I do believe we have a duty to pass legislation this session which ensures all living in those states are able to access services in states like Maine without consequence, and that providers are protected. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Maine hasn't done nearly enough to keep housing supply to meet demand. Forty years ago, we averaged 1,100 affordable housing units in Maine each year. In the past 10 years, we've averaged roughly 300. We can point to federal incentives and national housing policies, but we know there are predatory out of state investment companies artificially raising prices and a wide range of state and local regulations that make smart growth restrictively expensive for most first-time home buyers. I'm not sure who we can point a finger at or whether there is one ideal solution, but who is in charge? We have departments of environment and health, but have only an agency ("Maine Housing") tasked largely with managing purse strings. We might benefit from establishing a Department of housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine's elections are secure, and we ought to feel a lot of pride for our record of free and fair election processes in our state. Furthermore, we have a relatively strong record of high voter turnout. We have myriad opportunities in coming years to further make accessible the voting process for Mainers, including further expansion of automatic voter registration through a wider range of state agencies to make it easier to be a registered voter, especially for first-time voters and younger Mainers. As a former Independent representative, I was proud to co-sponsor the Open Primary legislation last session and I know many in my community would like to see an expansion of the state's ranked choice voting system to all statewide elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. When I knock on doors across my district, I find the Opioid Crisis is one issue where party politics ceases to be relevant. By and large, it seems the scale and scope of this crisis has forced us to understand addiction as a public health issue, not a criminal justice issue. There is a lot we can do and must do, to force profiteers to redress harm, like the Sackler family who profited from the opioid crisis that continue to devastate families across Maine. We must invest in evidence-based community resources and recovery support networks who are telling us they need help, not further criminalization. Legislation like last sessions' Good Samaritan Law are only the start, but essential steps for our state to become part of the solution. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The educational gaps in a post-Pandemic world are born of the same root causes which existed before it. Remote learning was one factor, as were the consequences of limited access to free meals, rates of domestic violence incidents, and mental health for youth with limited socialization. We know there are so many consequences to the pandemic that we must account for in years to come; we need to pay teachers what they are worth, continue the free lunch programs championed by President Jackson, invest further in programs that work, like the 'Whole Family' approach expanded through the work of the state CAP programs and legislators like Senator Stewart. We cannot forget practical, proven policies we know well for the purposes of a quick fix. Maine kids deserve better. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We have a long standing workforce shortage issue which only grows each year. We can't solve the workforce shortages without attracting new people to our state. We cannot seek to close this gap without expanding the workplace rights and cost of living for Maine workers compared to other states. We must make Maine attractive to working people, not fight to lower standards for all. I believe we just cannot have a strong economy without a strong, protected, well-paid and healthy workforce. Partly, this is a job for my former boss Senator King, who has long advocated at the federal level to see more progressive immigration and visa legislation that meets the massive and growing gaps with new Mainers to join our communities. But there is much we can and should do at the state level. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Protecting our natural resources from the threat of climate change, for future generations of Maine people; I believe climate change is a fundamental threat to us all, and that we have not only an ethical responsibility for protecting our environment, but that these measures have the capacity to drive healthcare and economic issues for our future generations. I believe in making strong investments into renewable energy initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, ensuring our economic security and protecting our natural resources for future generations of Maine people. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 125
Candidates
R	Alan Robert Livingston	House District 125_	No response Alan Robert Livingston Maine House of Representatives - District 125
D	Kelly Noonan Murphy	House District 125_	Answers Kelly Noonan Murphy Maine House of Representatives - District 125 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Mainers spend 6 months of the year heating their homes but 12 months wondering how they'll pay for that heat. The existing Home Energy Assistance Program does provide some financial relief for those who qualify, however, HEAP applications take several weeks to process, and existing benefit levels aren't enough to keep Mainers warm in their homes this year. Investments must be made to the program that will increase benefit levels and make it available to more residents. I've spent more than a decade volunteering with Project GRACE, a local non-profit that helps neighbors in need. The majority of their fundraising and assistance centers on paying home heating costs for people who need more help than HEAP can offer. Expansions to HEAP will help working people across Maine stay warm. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion is healthcare. Access to high quality, affordable healthcare is a right that no one should take for granted. Everyone should do their part to ensure that medical services are available in every city and town across Maine. Incentivizing healthcare professionals to live and work in rural areas through student loan forgiveness and other financial benefits makes it possible for older Mainers to stay in their homes and communities longer, and for younger residents to access healthcare without incurring the additional burden of long distance travel and time away from work and family. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The Maine housing market needs to evolve in ways that make home ownership accessible to more people and provides additional rental units. Smart Growth makes it possible for everyone to live in safe, affordable communities while preserving the open spaces and natural resources that are so precious to all of us in Maine. Recent legislation allowing for property owners to build additional housing units on their land is a fantastic step in the right direction. This housing crisis is effecting young people just starting out as well as older adults who want to downsize. We need a robust housing supply in order to attract new residents to Maine. Our workforce is retiring at an alarming rate. Young people won't accept jobs in our communities if they can't afford to live here. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has a long history of fair and secure elections. While eagerly awaiting results for local elections and referendum questions, I've personally watched election workers tally votes. Under the supervision of municipal clerks, there are multiple layers of redundancy, counts and re-counts to ensure that every vote is accounted for once the polls close. Ranked Choice Voting/Immediate Runoff is yet another mechanism for voters to have meaningful choice among candidates and should be expanded in Maine to include local municipal elections up to and including presidential elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. People with Substance Use Disorder may hesitate to seek treatment for a variety of reasons: a lack of available space in treatment facilities, inability to pay for inpatient care, therapies and/or medications prescribed for SUD; and the fear of criminal charges and shame associated with SUD. Investments in judgement-free treatment options including counseling, medications, and evaluation for coexisting mental health issues, and even supervised safe injection sites, could save so many lives. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? COVID had an unprecedented impact on the education, social health, and mental health of our children. It will take unprecedented investments in after school and summer tutoring programs, and in social/emotional wellbeing programming before students can make up for the losses suffered during their formative years. Additional investments should be focused on schools receiving Title I benefits (schools identified as having a high percentage of financially disadvantaged families). Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine doesn't have enough year-round workers to support the annual influx of vacationers without welcoming employees from out of state. The Legislature should support the Maine tourism industry through increases in the minimum wage that will account for the high cost of living and inflation we've all been experiencing since the beginning of the pandemic. Access to safe, affordable housing and a reduction in wait times before immigrants can work legally would also attract additional seasonal workers to Maine. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I've lived in Scarborough for most of my life. When I was young, Scarborough was primarily rural with a few pockets of commercial development and suburban housing. Almost 50 years later, Scarborough is primarily a developed suburb with a few pockets of rural landscape that have been preserved. Some change is inevitable and necessary to sustain a healthy economy and vibrant communities. The experience of living in a community that had to adapt in order to thrive would inform my work in the legislature. Changes in Maine are inevitable but I would do my part as a legislator to ensure those changes benefit Mainers now and in the future. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 126
Candidates
D	Drew M Gattine	House District 126_	No response Drew M Gattine Maine House of Representatives - District 126

Maine House of Representatives - District 127
Candidates
D	Morgan Rielly	House District 127_	Answers Morgan Rielly Maine House of Representatives - District 127 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? During the 130th legislature, I sponsored the Maine Climate Corps, which was signed into law by the Governor. Our initial Corps members will work on home energy management and conservation projects, which will save money for Mainers in need. I plan to expand this program during the 131st legislature. We also have to stop and hold large corporations and utility companies from price gouging and raising rates for Mainers, especially as we head into the winter months. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We need to ensure that Mainers anywhere in the state have access to affordable and easily accessible healthcare and abortion care. This means we need to ensure our rural hospitals and health care centers have the resources they need. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. As a young Mainer in my 20s, who would like to stay here in the state and eventually own a home, this is a priority for me and many of my constituents. We need to ensure that programs aimed at first-time homeownership for Mainers can compete in both the current and future competitive real estate markets. Ensuring this will help more Mainers buy homes, and not out-of-state hedge funds or wealthy individuals from New York and California looking for their second or third homes. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. As a member of the Veteran and Legal Affairs Committee, I was proud to have worked on and supported many voting reforms that have kept our elections safe and secure. During the 131st, the Legislature should pass legislation that would allow voters to request ongoing absentee voter status. This reform would allow Mainers to receive an absentee ballot for each statewide election automatically, increasing participation in our elections and civic engagement in our communities. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. One of the areas of focus of my Maine Service Fellows program is having fellows work on substance use prevention in our communities. I hope to expand this program during the 131st. We must also go after big pharmaceutical companies that have profited from the opioid crisis and have devastated communities across our state. The AG's office has done this, and we need to use settlement funds to help Mainers who have been affected by opioids and are experiencing substance use disorder. We also need to continue to invest in our healthcare and EMS system. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to continue to invest in our schools to provide support for students who may have fallen behind over the past several years. Hopefully, we do not experience another pandemic during our lifetimes like the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, we need to be prepared for any possible future pandemics by making sure our schools have the resources and plans necessary to deal with any serious disruptions, as seen with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We need to do more to attract and retain young Mainers here in the state. Maine has more workers retiring than entering the workforce. We need to create incentives from expanding access to affordable housing to continuing to make our community colleges free to attract young people to come to Maine. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am focused on promoting civics education and expanding opportunities for Mainers to serve their communities. During the 130th Legislature, I was the sponsor of the Maine Service Fellows, a state-based rural service corps, and the Maine Climate Corps programs. During the 131st, I plan to continue to expand service programming and promote civic engagement. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Ryan Poitras	House District 127_	No response Ryan Poitras Maine House of Representatives - District 127

Maine House of Representatives - District 128
Candidates
R	Charles Ellis	House District 128_	No response Charles Ellis Maine House of Representatives - District 128
D	Suzanne Salisbury	House District 128_	No response Suzanne Salisbury Maine House of Representatives - District 128

Maine House of Representatives - District 129
Candidates
D	Margaret O'Neil	House District 129_	Answers Margaret O'Neil Maine House of Representatives - District 129 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation has hurt us all. There are a number of global issues contributing that I can't control. In Maine, we can lower costs via conserving energy (expanding access to weatherization & heat pumps) and building local renewable energy infrastructure. We've made those investments in Maine, and more support is on its way thanks to federal action. In the meantime, we need to make sure that Mainers can access heating assistance, prescription drug assistance, and property tax relief quickly and efficiently. I'll also push back on price increases (e.g., CMP's parent company just paid out their biggest-ever dividend to shareholders) and urge regulators to hold accountable big companies that have made record profits while squeezing us on prices, from groceries to gas. Enough is enough. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I will work to ensure that every person in Maine is able to make their own choices about the healthcare they need and want to access. I will oppose attempts to deny care or to restrict Mainers accessing abortion and the full range of reproductive healthcare, including access to birth control and healthcare for pregnant people and new parents. I'm a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence; those experiences inform my perspective that Mainers must have equal access to care and be able to make their own choices about what is right for their lives and their families. For any specific suggestions to expand access, I would rely on input from healthcare providers and Maine people seeking to access healthcare. This is a personal choice, not a political issue. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The housing crunch impacts people of all ages including young people, families, and older Mainers. In the past 4 years Maine has prioritized creating senior housing and changing old land use rules so that more ADUs and multi-family homes can be constructed where housing is most needed. We also utilized federal relief dollars to support tenants unable to pay rent. We have much more to do. We can focus on first-time homeownership so that more Mainers can afford to compete in this competitive real estate market. We also need more affordable rentals via reliable rental assistance and more units--the majority of renters pay more than 30% of their income on rent. Without housing security it is difficult to meet our basic needs, let alone to achieve educational and professional goals. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Yes, Maine elections are safe and secure. To answer these questions, we should look to data, not ask politicians. Here are some opportunities to make voting laws stronger in Maine: (1) expand automatic voter registration so that more official state agencies can help register citizens to vote; (2) create a process for voters to request their ongoing absentee voter status, allowing us to automatically receive an absentee ballot for each statewide election; and (3) apply Maine's ranked choice voting system to all statewide elections, including the gubernatorial election. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. To save lives, Maine needs to take a healthcare approach to problematic drug use, rather than taking a punitive approach. The conversation has been shifting in recent years, but we have so much more to do. We need detox and inpatient treatment options and effective harm reduction. People in recovery need community support, stable housing, and other resources to succeed. Our approach must center the voices of people with lived experience. Two years ago, I successfully required drug companies to help pay for treatment, prevention, and harm reduction here in Maine, creating a sustainable funding source to help. More recently, our attorney general held drug companies accountable. Advocates are shaping how to dedicate those funds to help more folks access treatment and other resources. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We have all experienced the high cost of this prolonged period of remote learning, from rising rates of depression and anxiety to the loss of student learning. Students living in poverty were also more likely to experience food insecurity, homelessness, and the loss of a loved one due to COVID. Early childhood supports that integrate healthcare, services, and education programs to support children to be ready for school cognitively and socio-emotionally are more important than ever. We can also explore tutoring supports and targeted summer programming. We need to adequately pay the people who teach our kids and provide services to students. I will look to guidance from parents, educators, and healthcare professionals for input about what will be most helpful going forward. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? At the federal level, the business community has been encouraging federal representatives to work on changing the rules so people immigrating to Maine can work without lengthy waiting periods before being issued a work permit. Something we can control in Maine is focusing on affordable housing housing, childcare, and public transportation. The housing crisis has far-reaching impacts, from local employers seeking workers to our schools. Lack of childcare and transportation are also a huge impediment. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My top priority is being a voice for my community in Augusta. I also prioritize mentoring young people who want to learn and get involved, particularly in mitigating the climate crisis. They are the next generation of leaders, and they bring an important perspective to our work. Currently, I serve on the Government Oversight Committee and the Agriculture, Conservation, & Forestry Committee. Those appointments allow me to fight for accountability in state government and to protect public health; our environment and natural resources; our fishing, forest, farming, and tourism industries; and our quality of life. I have led sustainable investments in our state parks and public lands to ensure access for future generations, protect important ecosystems, and support Maine's tourism economy. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Stephen Robert DuPuis	House District 129_	No response Stephen Robert DuPuis Maine House of Representatives - District 129

Maine House of Representatives - District 130
Candidates
D	Lynn H. Copeland	House District 130_	No response Lynn H. Copeland Maine House of Representatives - District 130
R	Theodore L Sirois	House District 130_	Answers Theodore L Sirois Maine House of Representatives - District 130 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? I would fight any tax increase or restrictions on any form of energy. Maine must also welcome the most inexpensive sources of cleanly generated electrical power. We must stop discriminating against one electrical power-generating business over another because of political ideologies. Energy efficiency programs should also focus on helping Maine homeowners and businesses at the low end of the economic spectrum. The hardest hit Mainers affected by high energy costs are renters. Maine should have policies encouraging landlords to make their rental units more energy efficient. Mainers who can only afford to rent shouldn't shoulder most of the hardships of living in a state with such high energy costs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I'm a firm believer in the separation of church & state. Churches should not interfere with the current legal practice of abortion but focus on preventing the need for abortions and offering adoption services. But the State of Maine should likewise honor the right of any taxpayer, business, or health care provider from funding or participating in this procedure if it runs against their conscience. The Democrat Party should also stop the unethical practice of accepting political funding from Planned Parenthood since the abortion laws they are writing contribute directly to their bottom line. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Housing is not affordable for many in areas where the jobs are located. We should encourage businesses and government agencies to move to areas where housing is affordable for their workers. Cramming affordable housing into already crowded areas with high property values is not the answer. Maine should invest in innovative transportation options (shuttle buses, vehicle sharing, carpooling, etc.) to get workers in affordable housing areas to work. We should also invest in Maine's troubled modular home industry that can provide private homes at significantly reduced costs. The State of Maine and municipalities must also scale back their punitive regulations against mobile homes, which may be a shelter of last resort for many low-income people. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? No Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. I used the voter database from the City of Saco for my campaigning and was amazed at how many people listed as registered voters had either died or moved away. The state of Maine should help modernize the voter database of every community and maintain its integrity. I would encourage the secretary of state to partner with our DMV, various utility companies, and hospitals to help keep the voter database updated as people change addresses or pass away. Maine should also partner with federal agencies such as the post office, social security administration, and the census bureau to further maintain the integrity of this database. Many municipalities don't have the resources to preserve the integrity of their voter list single-handedly. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. A more aggressive law enforcement policy should focus on identifying & arresting those who import the drugs that cause most overdoses. Drug treatment programs also need to be more innovative. Allowing addicts to receive treatment away from areas where drugs are readily available would help. What happens after treatment is the most critical time for former addicts. Maine should help recovering addicts get housing and employment immediately and preferably in an area away from their old social group that may encourage them to return to using. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? A long-term solution to this ongoing issue is needed instead of simply band-aiding this current situation. Proficiency in the most critical subjects (language and math) is a building process. If students do not comprehend a learning topic for just one day, they will be at a disadvantage in keeping up with their peers in the next day's class. Ongoing testing can quickly identify learning gaps, and Maine could provide extra funding for tutoring before the school day's end. No student leaves without knowing what is needed for the next day's classes. Reliance on homework to fill these learning gaps must diminish because many students may not have a home setting conducive to learning after school. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? High school & college students need to be encouraged to be in the workforce for Maine's short tourist season. High schools and colleges should partner with seasonal businesses to help students locate and apply for summer jobs. Schools and businesses could partner up if the work is far to provide the needed transportation or housing. This program should not be limited to Maine students; students from other states or countries should be encouraged to participate. Educational institutions can help by giving academic credits to students for their summer internships. The Legislature must stop looking at our tourism industry as a cash cow to milk with creative new taxes and give this industry a hand. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? •Focus on representing Saco over whatever agenda is pushed by the prevailing political party controlling Augusta. Recent decisions made in Augusta trample over the rights of our school board, city council, and parents. •Courts need to be more compassionate in dealing with low-income people. More lawyers should be available, and they should be offered more options for coping with court-related matters. For many, making court appearances causes childcare issues or may mean losing their job for requesting time off. •Hands-on learning of vocational skills should start in early primary school and beyond. All students should have some basic skills to manage their finances, obtain and maintain transportation, or make basic repairs to their housing units and that of others. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 131
Candidates
D	Lori Kathryn Gramlich	House District 131_	Answers Lori Kathryn Gramlich Maine House of Representatives - District 131 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is impacting just about every country worldwide, due to a myriad of global issues, many of which are out of our control as state legislators. The Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to make investments in domestic energy production to reduce carbon emissions, is congruent with Maine’s climate goals as outlined in Maine’s climate action plan, and is an important step in addressing high costs of energy. I will continue to partner with our local CAP agency to streamline the process for Mainers in need of heating assistance. Providing the necessary assistance to those most in need now is critical as we face our colder winter months. Getting these funds into the hands of Mainers as efficiently and as quickly as possible is but one policy solution I will continue to work on. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Every person in Maine should be able to access sexual and reproductive health care and abortion care when and where they need it. Maine continues to defend these rights. Maine law affirms abortion is health care and that everyone should have access to the health care they need. Examining health insurance policies through the lens of essential health benefits including abortion services is a policy area I will explore. Assuring that rural and community health centers have the proper funding to provide reproductive health care and abortion services to those most in need is important. We need to assure that we are keeping rural hospitals open and that rural health care centers have the resources they need to serve all Mainers, by assuring that all health care is affordable and accessible. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Investing in homes is simply the best investment we can make in the lives of Mainers. Housing insecurity affects our health, education and our ability to get and keep a job. Stable and affordable housing has a direct correlation with improved health and economic stability. Making investments to create increased units of housing to close the current projected shortage gap in affordable housing, adjusting HUD rates to ensure that all lower income families can qualify for vouchers, better coordinating project-based housing vouchers and tax credit projects to help families and investing in reliable and sustainable rental assistance programs are all initial steps necessary to address this critically complicated issue. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Expanding automatic voter registration so that more official state agencies can help register citizens to vote; establishing a permanent absentee ballot law whereby all registered voters are mailed an absentee ballot which they can fill out and mail in at their convenience; implementing ranked choice voting statewide, including the gubernatorial elections. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Prevention is critical to reducing overdoses and deaths. Policies we can enhance in Maine include implementing evidence-based treatments for substance use disorder to reduce substance use and overdose deaths, and assuring that these prevention and treatment strategies are adequately funded. Other policy initiatives may include identifying and sharing data between agencies and affected communities; developing enhanced training for health care providers on addiction, pain management and treatment; and assuring that the prescription drug monitoring program is easier for providers to access and use. Assuring community resources are available and that recovery support networks have the resources they need are additional initiatives necessary to combat this crisis. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We all know the high cost of remote learning, from rising rates of depression and anxiety to the loss of student learning. High-poverty students are more likely to experience food insecurity, homelessness and the loss of a loved one to COVID. Focusing on early childhood— integrating healthcare, social services, and education programs to support children to be ready for school cognitively and socio-emotionally — remains a priority but is ever more important, as we aim to bridge these pronounced learning gaps. Exploring and implementing policies and practices which accelerate learning, such as enhanced tutoring, extended targeted summer programming, extending the academic year and utilizing federal pandemic relief money to bridge these gaps are important first steps. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Tourism is a critically important economic driver in my district. Losing our workforce due to increased retirees and decreased birth rates requires us to be innovative in our continued efforts in attracting younger people to our State. Investments in training and incentivizing retired Mainers to re-enter the workforce to take on part-time and seasonal positions in communities throughout Maine might be a possibility, but this alone cannot solve the workforce shortages that we have seen across our state and certainly nationwide. Working with and encouraging our federal delegation to amend the rules so immigrants can work without lengthy waiting periods before being issued a work permit is another way to grow this crucial economic sector. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My priority remains my commitment to the people of OOB. I will continue working with the MDOT on traffic and infrastructure issues as they relate to my community. Related, is protecting our beaches and shoreline. My priority remains protecting our environment and assuring we have safe, clean, accessible drinking water. Critically important is my work on mental health care; assuring that we have adequate funding and access to adequate mental health care services remain my top priority. These priorities, as well as protecting our children from abuse, assuring older Mainers can remain in their homes and as always, assuring our Veterans, who gave so selflessly, will get the benefits and care they deserve, are all policies I will continue to advance. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Scott Eccleston	House District 131_	No response Scott Eccleston Maine House of Representatives - District 131

Maine House of Representatives - District 132
Candidates
D	Erin Sheehan	House District 132_	Answers Erin Sheehan Maine House of Representatives - District 132 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? We as lawmakers must act to ensure that our constituents have help when global economic forces cause inflation. First, we need to ensure that Mainers are aware of and can access existing programs and assistance. Particularly important as cold weather approaches is the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides eligible Mainers with help paying their heating costs. Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled is a program that assists eligible Mainers with prescription drug costs, reducing an important non-negotiable expense for many.. Next, we can make the process of applying for assistance easier— especially heating assistance. Finally, we should get tough on companies who engage in price gouging— including utilities providers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Every Mainer should have the right to decide for themselves if, when and with whom to start or grow a family— those rights are currently protected in Maine. Thanks to recent laws allowing a broader range of medical professionals to perform abortion care, and to another law requiring MaineCare and private insurance providers to cover these procedures, access has improved for many Mainers. I would support a range of policies to further enhance access, for example, by ensuring that rural hospitals and clinics are well-resourced to serve those who may not be able to travel long distances to receive the care they need. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. To achieve greater affordability, we will need to fund and incentivize more affordable housing. To be effective, housing policy needs to be coordinated at the local, state, and Federal levels. I would support policies to encourage greater and novel public-private partnerships to increase the number of new units to the market while encouraging municipalities to look critically at the issue of short-term rentals in their communities and the effect that market is having on long-term rental availability and affordability. Local governments must tailor their policies on short-term rentals to their local economies and needs. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. My neighbors and I have taken advantage of our City's robust and well-run early and absentee voting programs, but many of us would benefit from ongoing absentee voter status, allowing us to receive absentee ballots every time an election approaches. On a related note, a number of my constituents struggle to keep their voter registration current. I would support a measure to expand automatic voter registration to make it easier for Mainers to register and update their registrations. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Attorney General initiated a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies who created highly addictive drugs that left many Mainers with substance use disorder after surgery or recovery from injury, resulting in a large settlement. Maine must use these funds to provide beds and care for those just beginning in recovery as well as state-of-the-art treatment options for those in recovery. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We need to support funding for the additional support that many of these kids may need to catch up. Our most vulnerable kids will need remedial learning opportunities to catch up, including summer school, tutoring, mentoring, and internships Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? The legislature should continue to step up the funding of Career and Technical Education in Maine, while fostering industry connections that can bridge the gap between school and career. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I don't see my focus or my priorities as particularly unique: I believe strongly in the right of all Mainers to the quiet enjoyment of their lives in our beautiful state, without undue intrusion by any person or institution, and with a reliable social safety net to allow them to get through whatever hard times come their way and back on their feet. I think long and hard about how the laws we consider might impact my neighbors, and I work hard to take decisions that will benefit the greatest number of my constituents. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Timothy S. Keenan	House District 132_	No response Timothy S. Keenan Maine House of Representatives - District 132

Maine House of Representatives - District 133
Candidates
D	Marc G. Malon, II	House District 133_	Answers Marc G. Malon, II Maine House of Representatives - District 133 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? This is a global problem and Mainers are feeling the pinch. There is no one magical solution to fix it, but there are some concrete steps we can take to help relieve this pressure, including but not limited to: making it easier for Mainers to apply for heating assistance, fighting price gouging and unconscionable utility rate hikes, and increasing support for weatherization. I also strongly support successful measures like the Low Cost Drugs for the Elderly and Disabled Program, the Homestead Exemption for property tax relief, and long-term investments in renewable energy to protect Mainers from the volatility of global oil prices.   The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I support efforts to increase access to safe, legal abortion care, and would work with providers and advocates to support policies which expand the availability of comprehensive reproductive health care for all Mainers regardless of their means or where they live.   A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. First and foremost, we need to build significantly more housing in Maine. We simply do not have enough housing of all types to meet demand, and it continues to drive prices up. I strongly supported the housing reform bill championed by my Representative, Speaker Fecteau, which included the legalization of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allowances for duplexes on all residential lots, and the creation of density bonuses in multi-family zones. I intend to continue his work and monitor implementation of this law. I also will support direct investment from the state in housing construction through bonding and partnerships with the private sector.   Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. The freedom to vote and for your vote to be counted is sacred in a democracy. I am disturbed by the extremist lies Republican politicians are spreading about our elections and the increasing prevalence of conspiracy theories and violent threats directed at election workers. I will fight efforts to suppress the freedom to vote to subvert our elections tooth and nail. I also support expanding automatic voter registration so that more official state agencies can help register citizens to vote. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Too many families are losing loved ones and there is clear evidence that since the pandemic more people across the country are dealing with behavioral health crises of all sorts, including substance use. There is no one simple solution, but there are steps we have a moral imperative to take: significantly increase access to recovery services, increase access to successful harm reduction tools such as fentanyl test strips, continue efforts to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable for the harm they’ve caused, and maintain (and increase where necessary) support for law enforcement efforts to intercept drug trafficking. Supporting comprehensive health care services generally can reduce demand for opioids as well.  National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The pandemic was difficult for everyone, and as a parent I felt this acutely. That said, my family was fortunate that our financial situation was stable and we were able to support our school-aged daughter in her schooling. We need to identify schools where the greatest gaps exist, provide additional support for students who have fallen behind, and plan for future disruptions so that we aren’t scrambling when they happen. We need to fund schools and support the teachers and staff who pushed themselves to the limit working to make the best of a terrible situation. Additionally, our plans must include considerations for students’ mental health.  Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? We need more workers in Maine generally, and certainly in the tourism sector. We need to continue efforts to recruit younger workers to the state, and to also support federal legislation to change the rules to immigrants can work without lengthy waiting periods before being issued a work permit.   What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? We need to build strong communities throughout the state, which means that we need to make government work for people. I am going to focus on solutions to benefit Mainers and strengthen our communities in the long term. We need to make housing more affordable, take serious action to protect my children and future generations from the climate crisis, and make sure our health care system meets the needs of all Mainers. Finally, there is too much division and extremism in our political climate holding us back from making our government work. Community is the antidote to division, and I will work with the broad goal of strengthening communities in mind. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 134
Candidates
R	Elizabeth A Jordan	House District 134_	No response Elizabeth A Jordan Maine House of Representatives - District 134
D	Traci Gere	House District 134_	Answers Traci Gere Maine House of Representatives - District 134 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is increasing costs for all of us, and making it more difficult for low- and moderate-income earners and people on fixed incomes to afford life’s necessities. Growing up in a household where it was sometimes hard for my family to put food on the table, I know how difficult and stressful this can be. In the Maine House, I will continue to work to make housing more affordable and available, lower health care costs, maintain state revenue-sharing to municipalities so that they can avoid increasing property taxes, and hold utility companies to account for improving performance and lowering rates to customers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion is an essential part of the continuum of women’s healthcare. Pregnancy is a risky prospect. A number of conditions (uterine infections, ruptured placenta, waters breaking early, ectopic pregnancies) require abortion treatment because of the threat of sepsis, death, and loss of reproductive organs. Abortion care is also necessary treatment for the physical and mental health of survivors of rape and incest, including children whose reproductive systems are likely to be permanently damaged by pregnancy. Finally, women must have the right to make, with our healthcare providers, the complex reproductive health decisions that affect every aspect of our lives. I will always vote to protect the right to abortion in Maine law and policy and assure that it remains a private decision. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. I have been focused on the housing crisis throughout my first term, after hearing from a number of constituents who were struggling to stay in Maine, or who were concerned that their children and grandchildren would not be able to live here, due to housing costs. As a result, I worked hard to help pass LD 2003, which allows homeowners to use their own property to build additional housing units. I will continue to work for policies that support community efforts to build housing that is affordable to regular people, including the many people who work in our towns, businesses, and schools and make our communities the rich and vibrant places we love. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We are fortunate in Maine to have a secure voting system. Our dedicated town clerks, election officials, and volunteers do an excellent job of maintaining voter rolls, administering elections, making sure that votes are counted accurately, and maintaining free and fair access to our electoral process. I will defend the Maine laws that make our system function well, including BMV "motor voter" and same-day voter registration, paper ballots, early and absentee voting, ballot drop boxes, and clear chain-of-custody of ballots. I will also support the continued use of ranked choice voting, also known as “instant run-off,” an effective system that keeps down election costs while assuring that elections with multiple candidates have winners who have the support of the most voters. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The opioid epidemic is taking an incredible toll on Maine families, with so many suffering and dying. Every life matters, and is worth saving. I’ve learned from advocates in the recovery community that by not giving up on those suffering with substance use disorder and by providing multiple chances to access recovery, we can turn the tide on this epidemic. As my good friend in the recovery community says, “The opposite of addiction is connection.” We need to help people suffering with substance use disorder by providing access to life-saving resources like Naloxone, and by connecting them with evidence-based recovery treatment, with services that create and sustain community, and with opportunities to rebuild purpose into their lives. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? We are fortunate in Maine to have dedicated and capable public school teachers and staff. Emerging from the pandemic, we have seen programs initiated in some districts that identify students who have fallen behind, often due to Covid-related stresses on their families, and then intervene to provide classroom learning opportunities and tutoring to help those students get back on track. We need more of these types of programs across the state. In the bipartisan budget we passed in the last legislature, we fulfilled Maine’s commitment to fund our schools at the promised 55%, helping to assure that our schools have the resources to provide a safe and academically strong education to all our students. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Tourism is vital to our economy, and I am so impressed with the creative spirit and dedication of our tourism businesses that led to a successful summer season. Of course, challenges continue. The high cost of housing makes it difficult for employees to find affordable housing. In the last legislature, we passed a bill to support smart housing growth and development, to make housing more affordable and our communities stronger. I will continue this focus in the next legislature. We also invested in career training and certification and internship and pre-internship programs, helping Maine residents build job skills and become effective contributors to our economy. We must continue to invest in Maine’s most important asset – our people. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? My lifetime of experience as a leader in businesses and non-profit organizations gives me essential tools for working in the legislature. I collaborate well with colleagues on all sides of the aisle to diagnose problems, analyze data and findings, identify policy options, and use my communication skills to build coalitions and advocate for solutions. My goal is always to help Maine people innovate, grow, and succeed. If re-elected, I will continue to empower Maine people. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 135
Candidates
D	Daniel Sayre	House District 135_	Answers Daniel Sayre Maine House of Representatives - District 135 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is a global problem, caused by global forces that we can't control in the Maine Legislature. Nonetheless, the legislature can address the real economic pain of Mainers in need. It has already done so through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which we should expand and promote more heavily heading into this winter. Recent action on property tax relief for seniors will also help. We need better outreach to make those who qualify aware of the program. We should also explore providing direct assistance to municipalities that will be fielding many requests for emergency assistance for fuel bills this winter. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine should maintain its existing laws that permit access to abortion and all other forms of reproductive care. I will oppose any effort to limit a pregnant person's right to make their own healthcare choices in consultation with medical caregivers of their choosing. I will oppose any law aimed at introducing government control into that private decision-making process. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. In towns like mine (Kennebunk), the proliferation of short-term rentals has reduced the inventory of already-scarce rental units and lower-priced homes. I would like to explore policies that will license and regulate STR's on a par with inns and hotels, promote the development of accessory dwelling units, and stimulate the construction of more units of affordable housing by working in collaboration with developers and builders to find ways to reduce the cost of new construction. I am also interested in scaling up models like the Kennebunkport Heritage Housing Trust. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine is highly rated for voting access and fair, transparent elections. I would support 3 changes to make our already strong system even stronger: 1. permit registration for continued receipt of absentee ballots; 2. apply RCV to all statewide elections; and 3. make it easier to register to vote at a wider range of state agencies. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I recently attended a recovery conference in Elliot, held by Rotary district 7780, of which I'm a member, where I learned that fighting the opioid crisis requires an "all-of-the-above" strategy: widespread education for abuse prevention AND reducing stigma for those living with substance use disorder; broad Narcan training and distribution; funding for residential recovery treatment; diversion of substance users from criminal prosecution to care and treatment institutions; monitoring of prescriptions and restrictions on over-prescribers; and support for employment of people recently released from incarceration and actively pursuing their own recovery, such as is underway at the Nonantum Resort. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The top priority is maintaining the 55% state revenue sharing so that all districts have adequate resources to address this gap. My local district, RSU21, has expanded summer school to help students who have fallen behind to catch up. We need to ensure all districts have the funds and staff to support enrichment programs to remediate COVID-era learning loss. The current policy of free community college for recent graduating classes is an existing state policy that enables students who completed their K12 education to address their learning and skills gaps. It should be continued for several more years. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Ironically, Maine has thousands of unfilled service jobs and a great many refugees and asylum seekers who are prevented from working due to federal policy. I support enabling recent arrivals to become self-sufficient through work as soon as possible, without needless government interference. I support the Maine Compact on Immigration and other commonsense approaches to attract hard-working people to Maine from the rest of the US and throughout the world. I will seek to build public-private collaboration so that Maine students can more readily acquire the specific technical and professional skills that local employers need. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I've had a 35-year career in book publishing for students and professionals in science and engineering. In the past 2 years I've run a national collaborative to reveal best practices in preparing America's skilled technical workforce. I am aware of many successful models for getting educational institutions, employers, and state and local government on the same page to develop strategies and programs that prepare local students and workers for high-wage, high-reward careers in manufacturing and technical industries. Maine has all the ingredients required to build a more diverse and robust economy. I have the expertise and experience to help make this a reality. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Jared Hayes Hirshfield	House District 135_	No response Jared Hayes Hirshfield Maine House of Representatives - District 135

Maine House of Representatives - District 136
Candidates
R	Heidi H Sampson	House District 136_	No response Heidi H Sampson Maine House of Representatives - District 136
D	Joe Wagner	House District 136_	Answers Joe Wagner Maine House of Representatives - District 136 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? If revenue once again exceeds expectations, another refund to taxpayers, similar to the $850 provided this past fiscal year, should be considered. Consideration should be given to taking an appropriate amount from the Rainy-Day fund to augment the State’s heating assistance program. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. No change unless current State statutes are in need of strengthening. Direct connection, through statute, between reproductive rights and the State constitution’s equal protection clause [Article 1, Section 6-A] should be considered. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The funding of the MaineHousing Authority should be increased through a prudent and affordable bond issue. More incentives should be given to the building of low to moderate priced housing. Building McMansions is comparable to trickle-down economics – the benefits go only to the well-off while the assessments of older neighbors on fixed incomes increase. A study of the impact of housing acquisition by private equity firms [hedge funds] should be commissioned. The efforts of Habitat for Humanity should be promoted through coordination with high school and community college trade education programs. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. To suggest Maine's voting procedures are somehow flawed is a pathetic attempt to undermine public confidence in a system that has been proven safe and secure through the years. It is also an insult to Town Clerks throughout the State who painstakingly ensure the system is safe and secure. One possible voting reform could be expansion of rank choice voting to State offices through an adjustment to the State constitution. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Addiction is a public health issue as well as a law enforcement challenge. The best method to address addiction is through connection. Resources should be directed to an expansion of extensive long-term rehabilitation services. An emphasis should be placed on outreach to the addicted and support services to their families. The availability of lethal illegal substances must be addressed through dedicated policing. More pain management specialists and services are needed. The contributing factors to addiction – poverty and social dislocation – require a comprehensive social commitment. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? By initiating volunteer programs, encouraging retired adults, particularly retired teachers, to assist in providing remedial instruction to students at every level [elementary, middle school and high school]. Encourage colleges to offer programs for their students [not just those majoring in Education] to volunteer in tutoring programs at local schools. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Along with other States, appeal to the Federal government to allow immigrants to receive work permits earlier; encourage teens to work during the summer and, at the same time, maintain regulations that prohibit their exploitation in terms of hours and compensation. Support parents so they can work by expanding affordable summer childcare services. And, in reference to affordable housing, people should be able to live where they work. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Expand renewables such as deep-water offshore wind and land-based solar. Make transitions to more energy conserving systems more affordable for the average household by expanding the eligibility and increasing the funding of Efficiency Maine programs. Consider the creation of a Maine Generation Authority [modeled on the TVA] financed through Federal Department of Energy grants. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 137
Candidates
R	Nathan M Carlow	House District 137_	No response Nathan M Carlow Maine House of Representatives - District 137
D	Robert W Faucher	House District 137_	Answers Robert W Faucher Maine House of Representatives - District 137 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The Maine people are experiencing an artificially-induced price increase in their electric bills, as punishment from CMP and Versant for the overwhelming opposition to their corporate hegemony. We must end this corporate hegemony and create a public utility, a non-profit entity that would offer Mainers power at a rate solely pegged to operating costs. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Abortion law in this state only gives exceptions after viability in cases where the health of the mother is threatened; I believe we must also expand this exception to include cases of rape and incest. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. The housing affordability crisis- like the energy crisis- is a manufactured problem, resulting from an out-of-control housing market driven by bad-faith investors. We must develop a strategy for limiting the practice of, "House flipping," where homes are bought and sold as commodities rather than living spaces. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Election days are public holidays in most other developed nations, yet in this country they are considered a work day like any other. This I believe is the greatest driver of low participation, and it is important that we rectify this problem at once by making every statewide election day a public holiday. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. People die from drug overdoses because they are treated like criminals and are afraid to seek help. We need to decriminalize the use- but not sale- of all illicit substances, so that our citizens can seek the help they need to recover from their addictions. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The teaching gap cannot be bridged without teachers, and in Maine we are facing a growing demand for educators that we are not able to meet. The state must work to better fund teachers throughout the state and especially in low-income areas, where staff shortages are most prevalent due to the minimal support provided to educators. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? These workforce shortages are driven partially by the Federal government's reduction of temporary foreign worker visas. The quickest way to make up the deficit would be for the State Legislature to petition the Federal government for an increase in foreign worker visas. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Title IX is a Federal law which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program that receives Federal funding. This law has been expanded by legal precedent to include protections for survivors for sexual violence. While noble in intent, survivors of sexual violence deserve better protections. than a second-hand legal interpretation. If elected, I will champion the creation of a new set of laws aimed at protecting the survivors of sexual violence in school and in the workplace, so that they no longer have to rely on a legal precedent which could be changed at any moment. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 138
Candidates
R	Mark John Blier	House District 138_	No response Mark John Blier Maine House of Representatives - District 138
U	Michael T Barden III	House District 138_	Answers Michael T Barden III Maine House of Representatives - District 138 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Raise the corporate tax rate The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Total confidentiality between Patients and Doctors A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Limit and regulate the involvement of corporate investors Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. None, our system of voting system is safe and secure In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Create easy access to safe spaces for use, provide affordable counseling, make narcan readily available for all emergency responders National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Remove "for profit private schools" from Maine. For a society to function well, all children deserve the same education Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Raise the minimum wage and require all businesses to offer fringe benefits to all workers What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Raising the corporate tax rate, universal healthcare, and the eradication of ticks Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 139
Candidates
R	David Woodsome	House District 139_	No response David Woodsome Maine House of Representatives - District 139
D	Nancy Germaine Piche	House District 139_	No response Nancy Germaine Piche Maine House of Representatives - District 139

Maine House of Representatives - District 140
Candidates
D	Kirstan Lee Watson	House District 140_	No response Kirstan Lee Watson Maine House of Representatives - District 140
R	Wayne Parry	House District 140_	No response Wayne Parry Maine House of Representatives - District 140

Maine House of Representatives - District 141
Candidates
D	John McAdam	House District 141_	Answers John McAdam Maine House of Representatives - District 141 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is global. Make applying for heating assistance easier for those that need it. Be sure Maine citizens are aware of Efficiency Maine that can help with home weatherization. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. A constitutional amendment to protect a woman's reproductive rights. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. There needs to be real incentives for developers to include apartments for low income renters. Bring back incentives for first time home owners so they can compete in the housing market. Tiny houses should be allowed in certain zones close to downtown or close to public transportation. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Anyone who believes there is voter fraud should volunteer (you get paid for your time) as an election clerk to witness the process. There are a number of checks and balances after the elections close. Voting absentee in Maine is pretty easy but it should be made permanent so it can't be changed. Automatic voter registration. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. My oldest son is having issues with drugs. He is so angry at times. I think there needs to be more mental health opportunities and support networks for people abusing drugs. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Identify the students/schools that have been impacted by this and offer the additional support they need. The type of support may vary from district to district. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Encourage our young people to stay in Maine to live and work but the pay must be a livable wage. Work with our congressional leaders in DC to loosen restrictions on foreign workers. H2A and H2B programs. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Being a farmer I see the effects of climate change. I support the Governors "Maine Won't Wait" four year plan for climate action. Our granddaughter was born this May and I wonder what the climate will be like when she is my age. I'm concerned about the loss of farmland. Supporting our seniors and low income families who fall just above the cutoff for some type of state or federal aid. Food insecurity is also a huge issue. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Lucas John Lanigan	House District 141_	No response Lucas John Lanigan Maine House of Representatives - District 141

Maine House of Representatives - District 142
Candidates
D	Anne-Marie Mastraccio	House District 142_	Answers Anne-Marie Mastraccio Maine House of Representatives - District 142 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation and high energy costs are not a result of any particular state policy. However, increasing LIHEAP funding, maintaining an adequate snap food benefit and a direct payment paid out of budget surplus to Mainers under a certain income level would at least ensure some relief for our citizens. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? There should be no change in abortion laws. Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. I would support a state constitutional amendment to ensure Maine law will continue to protect a woman’s right to choose, no matter what rulings come out of the Supreme Court. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Honestly, this problem is not going to go away. It began long ago and has been exacerbated by the pandemic and in migration to Maine. There are no simple answers but I think we need to continue the work of the Housing Commission that accomplished some gains in LD 2003, a law that won’t be implemented until July of 2023. I think government housing policy, both state and federal, needs to be reformed and become more involved in supporting housing options for working Mainers. Reliance on the private sector has not seemed to produce sufficient housing. . And since inflation has increased materials and labor costs, we will not be catching up with housing needs any time soon. So put all the stakeholders at the table and come up with a strategic plan that really addresses the problem. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. We need to implement true early voting, not just absentee voting. Mainers should be able to go into their designated municipal voting location, vote and place their ballot directly into a machine. The early votes would not be tallied until after the polls closed on Election Day. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. I think it is imperative that we financially support community based prevention and treatment options that include medication assisted treatment, individual and family therapy and educational and jobs supports. Overdose prevention is critical but clearly only one step in saving children and families and giving everyone the opportunity to recover and regain healthy, happy, productive lives. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Low income students suffered tremendous losses during the pandemic. First and foremost we need to continue funding the state cost of education at 55% and fund universal preschool. I would also propose that the state implement and support after school and summer school programming in our neediest districts, specifically targeting those districts that receive over 50% of their funding from the state. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? I think one solution would be to work with our federal delegation on immigration reform that would allow immigrants quicker access to work visas. We also need to ensure that the number of temporary work visas allowed by the federal government are sufficient to meet the needs of the Maine tourism industry. The labor market will continue to contract as more Mainers reach retirement age, so we will clearly need more in migration and immigrants to meet our ever increasing labor needs. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I think my experience and perspective, even in a citizen legislature such as ours, is unique. I have years of experience in all levels of municipal, school and state governance, having served as a School Committee member, Town Councilor, State Legislator and Mayor. Understanding the impact and consequences of legislation on all entities is one of a legislator’s most important functions, especially if you believe, as I do, that government exists to make life better for everyone. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Pamela Diane Buck	House District 142_	No response Pamela Diane Buck Maine House of Representatives - District 142

Maine House of Representatives - District 143
Candidates
R	AnnMarie Fredericks	House District 143_	No response AnnMarie Fredericks Maine House of Representatives - District 143
D	Wesley John Davie	House District 143_	No response Wesley John Davie Maine House of Representatives - District 143

Maine House of Representatives - District 144
Candidates
D	Daniel Norwood	House District 144_	No response Daniel Norwood Maine House of Representatives - District 144
R	Jeffrey Sean Adams	House District 144_	No response Jeffrey Sean Adams Maine House of Representatives - District 144

Maine House of Representatives - District 145
Candidates
D	Daniel J. Hobbs	House District 145_	No response Daniel J. Hobbs Maine House of Representatives - District 145
R	Timothy M Roche	House District 145_	No response Timothy M Roche Maine House of Representatives - District 145

Maine House of Representatives - District 146
Candidates
R	Bradley S. Moulton	House District 146_	No response Bradley S. Moulton Maine House of Representatives - District 146
D	Walter G Runte Jr.	House District 146_	Answers Walter G Runte Jr. Maine House of Representatives - District 146 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? The single greatest cost to Mainers, other than housing, is healthcare. Maine has the highest per capital expenditures on healthcare in the nation. The age – and aging – of our population plays a role, but so do basic costs. Publicly funded healthcare for all Mainers, properly designed and leveraging all federal programs, can reduce this single largest expenditure for most households. The cost of energy, whether that be heating oil, propane,natural gas or gasoline/diesel, is largely driven by forces the State cannot control. Legislative initiatives to promote the rapid electrification of heating systems and vehicles, while concurrently working with the other 5 New England states to reduce our reliance on fossil gas power plants that generate grid electricity, will drive these costs down. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Enshrine existing legislation that protects reproductive health rights in an amendment to the State Constitution. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Increasing affordable housing will require changes to zoning that allow for smaller, more compact housing and expanding housing subsidies to low-income households. Zoning changes need to be carefully designed and will be different across the state in order to meet the unique regional needs within Maine, both in terms of the local economy and conserved land use. Expanding subsidies, however, is not simply a matter of mailing checks from Augusta – what is needed is a support system of social service networks that can assist in a holistic way – those assisted, in addition to housing, need access to transportation, child care and job training. I would like to assist in achieving that comprehensive network. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Instead of absentee balloting, the state should simply mail a ballot to every registered voter several weeks prior to an election, as is done in 8 other states. In-person voting would also be allowed. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. The Mills administration has made major strides in improving access to medication and therapy across the state through its Strategic Action Plans for its opioid response. The recent executive orders should increase access in rural areas by assisting with funding of new treatment centers. An additional step that could be taken is to make maximum use of telehealth by providing additional funding for installing appropriate technology to reach patients who are otherwise limited by transportation or other barriers. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? The cost sharing formula that determines the level of state funding needs reexamination, especially increasing the extra weight given to low-income students, frequent cost of living adjustments and ensuring the commitment by the State to fund 55% of local needs is met. A problem that the pandemic highlighted is the disparity in access to both technology and the availability of a high-speed data network. Investments by the state in improved broadband, as well as technology down to the individual student are essential. I think we need to look longer term here as well and assure that universal pre-K education is available to all Mainers. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Maine has the oldest mean age of any state, and, in fact, about a third of our population are over 65. With some facilitation and incentives, some fraction of these people might become a resource to support tourism. The Legislature could develop a program like one in Maryland, whereby the state funds an initiative in conjunction with tourism business associations, to recruit, train and place these workers in seasonal positions. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? Maine is implementing a robust climate action plan. Many of that plan's intiiatives rely on the involvement of regulated utilities and the creation of a grid quite different from what exists today. Ensuring these utilities provide the highest standards of reliability and customer service, and that our grid systems are appropriately modified, will be a major challenge. The most appropriate place to begin meeting this challenge is by reforming the way Maine regulates these utilities. This work only began in the last legislative session with the imposition of performance standards and oversight of improvements to the local grid infrastructure, but there is much more work to be done. I hope to be able to contribute to the continuation of these reforms moving forward. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 147
Candidates
R	David D Koopman	House District 147_	No response David D Koopman Maine House of Representatives - District 147
D	Holly T. Sargent	House District 147_	No response Holly T. Sargent Maine House of Representatives - District 147

Maine House of Representatives - District 148
Candidates
D	Margaret Wheeler	House District 148_	Answers Margaret Wheeler Maine House of Representatives - District 148 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? Inflation is not unique to Maine but is in fact a world-wide concern right now. As a new candidate for the House, I do not have any magic answers. Before picking a ‘top policy’ I’d need time to listen to the concerns of voters and the ideas of veteran law makers. I believe it is every elected representative’s responsibility to make sure citizens in their district are aware of cost saving programs available to them to help manage expenses during these challenging times. I’d want to assure that as cold weather approachs, residents are aware of how to apply for assistance with heating costs. And we should be working to make the process less complicated. We can increase support for weatherization while also working to help stop price gouging by energy companies. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. We are fortunate to live in state that currently provides protection over the government having control over women’s bodies so I'm not suggesting we need laws that specifically make getting an abortion easier, but it will be important to remain vigilant to protect those rights while we also continue to work to assure that residents in the rural portions of the state can have access to good, affordable health care. So if I had to pick one specific abortion policy I would support, I think the most important one would be a continued effort to allow women to have full choice, full access to the care they need without government intervention. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Housing affordability is an issue of great importance to me. It has been hard to watch my own kids struggle to remain in the state due to the high cost of housing. I fully support and would priority programs that make first time home ownership affordable. Maine has also fallen behind on the creating of low cost apartments due to changes in federal subsidies, but we should be looking at ways to address those changes, get them refunded, or find other ways to support adding to that housing resource which has historically been important to our elderly population. If we want our children to stay in the state and participate in the workforce, and if we expect to attract young professionals in fields we need to support our residents, then we need to address the availability of affordable housing. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. It is important to acknowledge first that Maine elections have been safe and fair. But it is clear to me that given the rural nature of our state, and the long hours many of our residents work, the busy lives they all have, that we can and should make voting easier and more accessible. I would support an expansion of automatic voter registration that allows more state agencies the ability to register voters and the ability for residents to choose absentee ballot voting as an ongoing status rather than having to reapply before every election. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Too many families I know have been impacted by the opioid crisis. We need to continue to do better to help residents battling this disease. As our Attorney General pursues Big Pharma for their devastating role in causing this crisis, it should be our top policy priority to make sure any funds that are won in this fight are directed towards the community recovery support resources that need the money to provide services. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? If we want to solve these educational gap problems, the first thing we need to do is to have a strong voice in supporting teachers. If we don’t have talented, educated, experienced teachers in the classroom, more students will fall behind. The state can help bridge the gap between high- and low-income students by making sure schools have the resources to provide before and after school programming that can help students catch up. Free community college is another step in providing access to higher education for low-income students so it will be important to look at the success of this initiative and how to continue offering this for future students. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Workforce shortages are not only being felt by the tourism industry, but by many other industries as well. If we do not address the high cost of housing in Maine, it will be hard to solve this problem. We need to focus on programs that make housing more affordable, programs that provide incentives for people to come to the state, programs that celebrate diversity and welcome immigrants and shorten the time it takes for them to obtain work permits. Millennials expect employers to welcome and celebrate diversity and Maine is going to need to find ways to integrate support for underrepresented groups in our workforce development goals. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I've spent many years trying to support access to a good education and the ability for Maine kids to be able to grow up, go to school, and stay and work in their home state. I spent 2 terms on the Board of Selectmen, 12 years on the School Board, and over 20 years teaching in higher education. I hope to continue this effort at the state level. I have also worked many years in veterinary medicine (veterinary technician in practice and in education) and I am concerned about how hard it is to attract veterinarians professionals due to the high cost of living and student debt they experience. It's becoming harder to get access to pet health care in many parts of Maine. We must look at incentives that will make it affordable for them to live and work in Maine. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast
R	Thomas Lavigne	House District 148_	No response Thomas Lavigne Maine House of Representatives - District 148

Maine House of Representatives - District 149
Candidates
R	Mark Andrew Rouillard	House District 149_	No response Mark Andrew Rouillard Maine House of Representatives - District 149
D	Tiffany Danielle Roberts	House District 149_	Answers Tiffany Danielle Roberts Maine House of Representatives - District 149 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? In the last legislative session, we demonstrated what can happen when we come together with bipartisan common sense solutions. The economics of inflation and rising costs are majorly driven by forces outside of the state, but as legislators, we do have the ability to help Mainers offset rising costs with actions like property tax relief and prescription drug cost relief for seniors. Specifically for heating costs, there is the Home Energy Assistance Program. These are policy decisions that we made that have a real impact. We need to continuously look for ways like these to ease the economic burden on Mainers. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. When laws push abortion care out of reach, this undermines the economic security women need to raise happy, healthy families. I raised my children as a single mother and I know firsthand what it is to struggle every day to make sure my children were fed. Women know their own capabilities, and they should be trusted to make these decisions privately with their health care providers. We need to support women and families with things like paid leave, affordable childcare, and good-paying jobs. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. Making sure the building industry is at the table is going to make an impact on finding common sense solutions. Adopting building codes that ensure homes are built safely without creating overly burdensome mandates is critical. The Maine legislature can't control lumber prices and labor wages, but we can look at things like requiring fire sprinklers in all new construction homes, just as an example. We can ask, is there a problem with fires happening in new construction homes that required fire sprinklers can fix? I don't know the data on home fires, but my approach is to ask questions before making blanket requirements that will have a dramatic impact on the cost of a home. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. Maine has some of the best and most secure voting laws on the books. I support preserving our right to vote - it is the cornerstone of our democracy. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. Whatever policy solutions we can put forth in the next legislative session to help alleviate this tragic loss of life must be informed by the community who have the lived experience of opioid addiction. There is still a stigma around medicines like Narcan; I think we can do more to demonstrate that this life-saving drug is making an impact on people who experience an overdose. We can do more to make sure that there are supports in place for people who want to make a choice to live without opioids. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? Making sure that we build a budget that continues to meet the financial obligations of funding our public schools is going to be critical to make sure our schools have what they need to support students as they close the gaps that happened during the pandemic. In 2004 the Maine people voted by referendum that the state budget must be built to provide 55% of education funding, we accomplished that for the first time just in the last session! That's more than 15 years later. This is about respecting the will of the people. We need to keep it going and support our educators. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? If we look at the makeup of the tourism sector, many are small business owners like myself. As a small business owner, it is very difficult to offer comparable compensation packages or benefits, such as work-from-home flexibility, that an employee could find at larger or more national companies. What we can do in the Maine legislature is help facilitate incentives or programs that help level the playing field for small business owners. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? During my time as a legislator, I have demonstrated my commitment to responsible legislation and working respectfully with my colleagues no matter their party affiliation. We need as many good faith problem solvers as we can get in Augusta, and that's what I will bring to the table. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Maine House of Representatives - District 150
Candidates
R	David Rumery	House District 150_	No response David Rumery Maine House of Representatives - District 150
D	Michele Meyer	House District 150_	No response Michele Meyer Maine House of Representatives - District 150

Maine House of Representatives - District 151
Candidates
D	Kristi Michele Mathieson	House District 151_	Answers Kristi Michele Mathieson Maine House of Representatives - District 151 Inflation and high costs are hammering Mainers with cold weather coming. What's the top policy you would champion in Augusta to reduce costs? o Simplify the HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) application process. o Increase state support of GA (General Assistance) and streamline the application and distribution process. o Electrify more and increase local control, affordability, and security of our shared electrical grid. Electric vehicles and heat pumps are now mature technologies but most consumers will switch only if electricity is affordable and reliable. This requires a major change in how we finance and manage the grid. o Rooftop solar, storage, microgrids and distributed renewables offer savings and can help with resilience - a critical need with more severe weather on the horizon. The Supreme Court ended federal abortion-rights protections, although they still exist in Maine. Should the Legislature make abortions easier or harder to get? Easier Name one specific abortion policy you would support to best serve your goal. Maine people resoundingly support an individual’s right to have an abortion. In the Diane Green study those denied abortions experienced worse economic, health and mental health outcomes. The children of those denied an abortion were less likely to achieve developmental milestones like language and fine gross motor skills and the women were more likely to live in households without enough money to meet basic needs. I will support policy to maintain and expand Maine law to: codify the right to a legal abortion, ensure insurance coverage (both private and public) for abortions, support the safety of clinicians who perform abortions, and the safety of patients who seek abortions (with qualified clinicians) in their own communities. A housing affordability crisis has touched all parts of Maine over the past two years. Outline a major policy you would champion to help fix it. We are in the most difficult housing crisis Maine has ever seen. We need to invest more of our state budget in Maine housing. We made good strides over the last 2 legislative sessions with 80 million dollars invested in creating senior housing and helping legalize construction of units where we need them he most. But building units and continued investment in rent stabilization are by far the most important ways to start to close the housing shortage gap. When we have Mainer’s stable in their homes we have better learning in schools, more consistent workforce and less money is spent on the homeless system. It’s the best investment we can make. Is Maine's voting system safe and secure? Yes Outline the top voting reform that you believe the Legislature should pass. o Election security – increase resources for training and support of our local election officials in physical and cyber security. o Strengthen and expand early voting and vote by mail options to improve accessibility and convenience. o Prohibit foreign-owned companies or foreign nationals from contributing to referendum campaigns in Maine. o Allow ranked-choice voting to be used in the general elections for governor and the Legislature. In the first five months of 2022, 53 Mainers per month died of drug overdoses, putting us on track for the deadliest year ever. Outline your top policy priority in fighting the opioid crisis. o Invest in harm reduction programs like the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program our neighbors in Massachusetts have launched. o Build greater capacity for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) approaches that include medication, counseling and effective evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction with the engagement of corrections. o Direct funds (from for example - federal block grants) to support the implementation of the 9-8-8 Lifeline, including: expansion of local crisis call center capacity, staff training, network operations, and behavioral health crisis coordination. o Fund evaluations of crisis support help lines to determine best practices, such as the National Academy of Medicine’s evaluation of 9-8-8’s performance. National studies have shown that educational gaps between high-income and low-income students widened during the pandemic. How can the state help students catch up? These gaps have existed for a very long time but were exacerbated by the pandemic. A student is an individual and each student thrives for different reasons. The legislature introduced a community schools pilot program that focuses on a community-based effort to coordinate and integrate educational, developmental, family, health and other comprehensive services through community-based organizations and public and private partnerships. This approach deserves more support and attention. Travel to Maine has rebounded strongly, but this tourism season was hampered by massive workforce shortages. What can the Legislature do to help grow this crucial economic sector? Job seekers report a need for openings that match their skill sets. They seek jobs with adequate pay, benefits and flexibility. As legislators we need to work with business’s, stake holders and schools to identify strategies to increase wages and benefits. We need to continue to expand workforce development programs to help business's train workers. We need to improve broadband infrastructure to meet the increasing expansion of tele-work opportunities. At the federal level states need help to employ immigrant workers by reducing the 180-day waiting period for work permit eligibility. But ultimately if we do not have affordable homes we cannot house or attract workers. This is by far the most important consideration for our workforce shortage. What is a unique focus or priority that you would bring to the Legislature if elected? I am a registered dietitian and co-owner of a small, private, medical practice. This combined experience offers an unusual perspective to the challenges around accessing preventative healthcare and the difficulties providers have with insurance reimbursement. I see daily how much more is spent on treatment when a patient is not able to routinely see a provider - before they get sick. Preventative care keeps patients healthier and identifies potential problems earlier. Regardless of your socioeconomic status, race, age, or location the people of Maine should not face insurmountable barriers to get preventative health care. Which chamber are you running for? House Region South/Midcoast

Local Races

We are highlighting three communities with consequential local races and ballot questions this November. Select the community to learn about what will be in front of voters in Bangor, Bar Harbor and Portland.

Bangor has one competitive local race on its November ballot, with five residents seeking three positions on the City Council. The council race comes as the city grapples with rising homelessness and population loss.

The city will also elect two members to its school committee.

City Council (vote for three)

Cara Pelletier
Pelletier is a senior director for diversity at a human resources technology firm who would be a new member of the council. One of her top priorities would be to address homelessness and addiction by encouraging the development of more transitional housing and partnering with social service agencies to see what people suffering from substance use disorder most need. Another is to improve the accessibility and maintenance of city sidewalks.

Donald McCann
McCann runs the Maine Liberty Alliance advocacy group and would be a new member of the council. His top priority would be to instill public confidence in the Bangor City Council. He also would address high taxes and a lack of “welcoming” amenities such as bike lanes and public transit. He urged caution on new housing development on the city’s outskirts and instead would prioritize additional housing development on existing lots.

Rebecca Schwartz-Mette
Schwartz-Mette is a University of Maine psychology professor and mental health researcher who would be a new council member. Her priorities in office would be encouraging economic growth and workforce development, in part by highlighting the city’s cultural amenities to show it’s a desirable place to live. She also said the city council has a role to play in coordinating social service agencies and other organizations to address homelessness.

Dan Tremble
Tremble is the owner of Fairmount Market in Bangor and is running for reelection to the council, on which he has served on and off since 1999. He described the city’s growing homeless population a “humanitarian crisis” and called for more housing of all types. He said a lack of affordable housing was too much for a single city to handle. He would encourage a city partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that’s taking root and further collaboration with the state.

Rick Fournier
Fournier, currently the city council chair, is seeking a second, three-year term on the council. A retired commercial lender, Fournier said the development of more affordable housing, with state and federal help, would be a focus of his if re-elected to the council. He also would devote a portion of the city’s $20.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to a housing specialist who would help residents find affordable housing.

School Committee (vote for two)

Marwa Hassanien
Hassanien is serving her first term on the Bangor School Committee and is currently the committee’s chair. She is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Northern Light Health.

Imke Schessler-Jandreau
Schessler-Jandreau teaches in the Department of Communication and Journalism at the University of Maine and has previously run for school committee.

Bar Harbor voters will be presented this fall with five local referendum questions when they get their town ballots. The questions are as follows:

Article 2) Shall an ordinance, dated November 19, 2021, and entitled “An amendment to remove the two-thirds majority vote requirement to amend the Land Use Ordinance;” be enacted?

Currently, the town gives limited power to the planning board when it comes to amending the town’s land use ordinance. If a majority of the planning board recommends against amending the ordinance, then a two-thirds majority is required at a subsequent town election to approve the ordinance change. If the board supports changing the ordinance, then only a simple majority among voters is needed to change it.

If this article is approved, then only a simple majority of voters would be needed to amend the land use ordinance, regardless of whether the planning board supports the change.

Article 3) Shall an ordinance dated July 19, 2022 and entitled “An amendment to the Town of Bar Harbor Code to Impose Daily Limits on Cruise Ship Disembarkations,” be enacted?

This question was placed on the ballot by a citizens’ petition that seeks to impose more strict limits on cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor than the limits negotiated by the town with the cruise ship industry. It would limit daily total cruise ship passenger shore visits (i.e., the number of passengers who actually get off one or more ships and come to shore) to 1,000, with a retroactive date to March 17, 2022. Ships that made local reservations prior to March 17, 2022 would be exempt from that cap. For each passenger above that limit who comes to shore, a $100 fine would be imposed.

Article 4) Shall an ordinance dated August 16, 2022 and entitled “An amendment to allow Retail Marijuana Stores in the Downtown Village I, Downtown Village II, Bar Harbor Gateway, Downtown Village Transitional, and Shoreland Development III districts,” be enacted?

Article 5) Shall an ordinance dated August 16, 2022 and entitled “an Adult Use Marijuana Store Licensing Ordinance, allowing for the licensing of retail marijuana stores in zoning districts in which retail is an allowed use,” be enacted?

These questions, both placed on the ballot by citizens’ petition, are closely related to each other, but address different aspects of allowing retail marijuana stores in Bar Harbor.

Article 4, if approved, would allow retail marijuana stores to operate in certain parts of town, in particular the downtown area. Article 5 would set operating requirements for licensed retail marijuana stores, such as hours of operations and how far away they must be from schools.

Article 5 also would allow no more than two retail marijuana stores to be licensed in the town at any one time.

Article 6) Shall an ordinance, dated August 11, 2022, and entitled “An amendment to Appendix A – Historic Properties in Design Review Overlay District” be enacted?

This question, if approved, would update dates of construction for eight properties in the district, update the names for seven properties, and correct the address for one property.

Voters in Maine’s largest city will face a total of 13 ballot questions, including five citizens’ initiatives and eight proposed changes to the city’s charter.

In addition, the following council and school board seats are contested:

An at-large city council seat: Candidates are Pious Ali, Aqeel Mohialdeen and Richard Ward. Ali is the incumbent.
A city council seat representing District 3, which covers the Libbytown, Stroudwater, Rosemont and Oakdale neighborhoods: Candidates are Nathaniel Ferguson and Regina Phillips. Incumbent Councilor Tae Chong did not run for reelection.
A Board of Education seat representing District 3: Candidates are Adam Burk, Julianne Opperman and Samuel Rosenthal. Burk is the incumbent.

Citizen initiatives

The five citizens’ initiatives touch on policy areas including a new local minimum wage, limits on cruise ships and short-term rentals, and tenant protections. The local chapter of the Maine Democratic Socialists of America’s Livable Portland campaign is behind four of the five initiatives, questions B, C, D and E. The group has since withdrawn its support for Question E — which would limit the number of passengers allowed to disembark from cruise ships — but the question remains on the ballot.

A “yes” vote approves the measure while a “no” vote rejects the proposed changes.

Question A
An Act to Regulate Short-Term Rentals in Portland and Prohibit Corporate and Absentee Operation of Short-Term Rental Properties
Brought forward by a group of short-term rental unit owners, the proposal would bar corporations from registering short-term rental units — such as those advertised on sites including Airbnb and VRBO — with the city. It would also require that short-term rental unit operators be located within a 20-mile radius of Portland, or that they have a local resident available to respond to complaints. It would also prohibit the eviction of tenants so property owners can convert their units to short-term rentals.

Question B
An Act to Reduce the Number of Short Term Rentals (STRs) in Portland
The proposal would limit short-term rentals to units that are occupied by their owners or tenants, or to duplexes where the owner lives in one of the units. The measure also raises the annual registration fee to $250 for owner-occupied short-term rentals and $750 for non-owner occupied units. Other changes include a notification requirement to all residents within 500 feet of a registered short-term rental unit, higher penalties for and stronger enforcement of rule violations, and the ability for the city to revoke a short-term rental unit’s registration. The city would also maintain a log of complaints against short-term rentals.

Question C
An Act to Protect Tenants in Portland
This measure aimed at boosting tenant protections builds on a 2020 referendum approved by Portland voters that capped rent increases. Question C would institute a 90-day notice requirement for any lease terminations or rent increases, and it discourages no-cause evictions by limiting a city rule that allows a 5 percent rent increase when a new tenant moves into a unit to voluntary turnovers. The proposal also limits deposits to one month’s rent, prohibits application fees and slows the rate at which landlords are allowed to raise rent annually to 70 percent of the Consumer Price Index.

Question D
An Act to Eliminate the Sub-Minimum Tipped Credit Wage, Increase the Minimum Wage and Strengthen Protections for Workers
The measure raises Portland’s local minimum wage to $18 per hour over three years and eliminates the tip credit that allows employers to pay workers who depend on tips half the minimum wage. Tipped workers would receive $18 per hour plus tips. The proposal would also apply the minimum wage to workers such as taxi drivers, personal shoppers and delivery workers. The measure would create a local Department of Fair Labor Practices as well. Portland’s current minimum wage is $13 while the statewide minimum is $12.75.

Question E
An Act To Restrict Cruise Ships in Order to Reduce Congestion and Pollution
The measure, which would take effect in 2025, aims to limit cruise ship traffic by capping the number of passengers disembarking from cruise ships at 1,000 daily. A measure to limit cruise ship traffic is also on the ballot in Bar Harbor, another major Maine cruise ship port. The Democratic Socialists of America gathered the signatures to place this measure on the ballot, but the group has since withdrawn its support for it in hopes that the city council will take up a compromise it crafted with labor groups.

Charter commission

Voters will consider eight proposals from the city’s charter commission to change the city’s chief governing document.

Question 1
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission to Amend the Preamble and Include a Land Acknowledgement as Summarized Below?
This change would rework the preamble to Portland’s charter and add an acknowledgement that Portland is located “in the unceded territory” of Indigenous people and that “European colonizers displaced Wabanaki people by force and went on to displace and harm indigenous peoples throughout what is now Maine and the United States. We acknowledge that displacement and that harm with sorrow, even as we celebrate and honor the Wabanaki knowledge and culture that continue to thrive in the Tribal Nations that have and always will call this place, the Dawnland, their home.”

Question 2
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to Governance and Other Governance Related Matters as Summarized Below?
The question would establish an executive mayor, giving more power to the elected mayor position the city adopted more than a decade ago but to which it didn’t ascribe day-to-day responsibilities. The measure would also expand the city council from nine to 12 members, allow the council to remove or censure the mayor, and convert the city manager position into that of a chief administrator.

The executive mayor would have the power to nominate the chief administrator and all department heads, and veto power over the city budget and other council actions, subject to override votes. The mayor would also be able to introduce legislation and issue executive orders to implement existing council policy.

If approved, the question would introduce a range of other city governance changes detailed in this summary document.

Question 3
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to Clean Elections as Summarized Below?
The measure would establish the City of Portland Clean Election Fund to provide public campaign funds to municipal candidates who agree to fundraising limits and other requirements the city council would have to set. Candidate participation in the public financing system would be voluntary. The proposal would also prohibit corporate contributions to any municipal candidate, bar foreign entities from spending money on ballot question campaigns, and require that all campaigns report their contributions to the city clerk, who would be charged with creating a searchable online database with the information.

Question 4
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to Proportional Ranked Choice Voting as Summarized Below?
This change would authorize proportional ranked choice voting for elections in which more than one person is chosen for an office. The city council would have to pass an ordinance establishing the proportional ranked choice voting method. The city already uses ranked choice voting to choose a mayor, councilors, school board members and charter commission members.

Question 5
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to School Board Budget Autonomy as Summarized Below?
This measure removes the city council’s authority over the adoption of a school budget. The city council would be allowed to hold a public hearing on a proposed school budget and provide non-binding recommendations to the school board, but the board would be free to ignore them. Voters would continue to have the final say over the school budget through the annual school budget validation referendum.

Question 6
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to the Peaks Island Council as Summarized Below?
This proposal codifies in city rules the Peaks Island Council as an elected advisory board to the city council.

Question 7
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to the Civilian Police Review Board as Summarized Below?
The measure replaces the city’s Police Citizens Review Subcommittee with a Civilian Police Review Board of nine or more members appointed by the city council. The board would have the power to receive complaints and refer them to the Portland Police Department’s command or internal affairs unit for investigation. The board would also be able to review the police department’s command and internal affairs investigation reports with an eye toward fairness, thoroughness and objectivity, and issue its own reports on those investigations.

Question 8
Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter Commission Relating to an Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics as Summarized Below?
This measure would require that the city council form an independent, seven-member ethics commission and adopt a code of ethics recommended by the commission. The ethics commission would be able to render advisory opinions on matters of city business and violations of public trust. It would also be able to recommend that the city council fund an accountability officer position and hire someone for it. That officer would serve as an ombudsperson who would receive complaints from the public about alleged government waste, favoritism, mismanagement and other impropriety. The officer would provide ethics training to public officials.