What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
Housing is a supply and demand problem.

Regulations account for 25% of all new home construction and 40% for apartments. We need to work with builders on ways to reduce those costs and encourage new construction.

Experts say we need 84,000 new homes to meet current demands. The Governor’s commitment to attract 75,000 new Mainers through the Office of New Americans will add to that problem.
Transmission lines, solar incentives and offshore wind development have been controversial over the past several years. What steps should Maine take to meet growing demand for electricity?
Stop favoring the profits of large out of state solar and wind companies over the needs of Maine consumers.

I voted with the Public Advocate and
Republicans to lower energy costs last session. Ratepayers, especially those struggling to pay bills, should not be paying .20 cents a kilowatt hour for energy that can cost as little as .05 cents to produce.

I am committed to fixing the problem next session if reelected.

Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
The Legislature had $1.5 billion in excess tax revenues last session. Democrats refused to even consider Republican proposals to lower taxes, especially for low to middle income earners trying to survive financially.

Worse than that, Democrats raised property taxes by repealing the senior property tax stabilization program after only one year. They also eliminated scheduled increases in the homestead property tax exemption and repealed a bipartisan provision in law that prevented rapid increases. Increases are no longer tied to income growth.

I will continue to support lowering taxes to let people keep more of what they earn.
We are closing in on the one-year anniversary of the Lewiston mass shooting. Are further legislative responses required around guns, mental health, supporting victims and families or other policy areas?
The commission investigating the Lewiston tragedy made it very clear that the current yellow flag law could very well have prevented the tragedy. Since then, the law has been used over 400 times. Greater awareness of current laws, combined with focus on mental health is the answer.

None of the gun control bills presented last session would have prevented the shooting. I am a firm supporter of our Constitution and the many protections it provides for our citizens.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
As a member of the Education Committee, I am an advocate for a return to teaching our students the basics in school. There is no reason our student achievement should continue to be near the bottom nationally when our funding continues to increase. Parental involvement and directing more resources away from administration toward the classroom is part of the solution.