What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
There is no single policy that will make housing easier to build and afford, but there are several things that should be done. One is to make the MUBEC code easier to understand and to roll back some of the newer adoptions to the Code that have taken place. Builders and developers have told me that many of the newer mandates are quite costly with minimum overall benefits, and many Code Enforcement officials and contractors are not familiar with all of the new portions of the code. We should also promote private developments rather than focusing on publicly financed projects that carry more mandates and costs. Workforce training is a necessity. Work with municipalities to develop means to streamline permitting and loosen up some land restrictions.
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?
We need diverse sources of power, especially in light of the ascendant use of AI, which requires much more power than we now generate. Solar and wind power are OK only to a certain degree and do not provide the power we need now, let alone in the future. There is no need to over incentivize their development. We should focus on hydro power and the best way to get it from Canada into Maine, natural gas distribution, waste wood to energy, and even look into the newest developments of small nuclear generators – provided they meet stringent safety standards. We need to realize that the renewables we now promote do not produce consistent power and always necessitate backup sources, which themselves add costs to power generation.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
Overall, our tax burden needs to decrease significantly. We are one of the highest taxed states in the country, and that discourages both businesses and people from moving here. Over taxation creates a vicious cycle where people move away to avoid it, leaving fewer people to pay higher amounts to pick up the tab, causing them to want to move away. We should lower income tax rates on all income levels, which will leave more money in the pockets of many Mainers who will then be better able to afford what the state now pays for. We also need to stop mandates being placed on municipalities and schools, which always cost money with questionable benefits. This will help relieve a bit of the pressure on local property taxes, which are a major consideration for those on fixed incomes.
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 recent report to the Governor on the horrible tragedy in Lewiston does shed light on what needs to be done. I don’t see how any gun laws that have been proposed would have changed what happened in Lewiston. We should focus on the mental health aspect that the tragedy illuminated, and provide training and personnel to intervene when the danger signs arise. Law enforcement now better understands how the “yellow flag” law can be implemented, and we also need to step up and protect them, as they are too often placed in perilous situations, by providing them with necessary support systems and training. We also can help provide counseling for the victims and families in such situations. One more thing: it makes no sense to enact laws that will be tossed out on Constitutional grounds.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
One of the largest challenges facing virtually every business and industry in Maine is the lack of workers. We do need targeted workforce training in such areas as the building trades and newly developing technologies. A statement I often hear is that many are not entering the workforce because of too many disincentives to do so. Many are perhaps content to live without steady jobs because they can access such necessities as shelter, food and healthcare through government programs or private entities that provide these things. I have no idea if this is the case, but the issue is serious enough that the state needs to take a deep dive into it.
