What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
Maine has made historic investments in housing since 2019, largely due to one-time federal funds. The low-income housing, rural affordable housing, and affordable homeownership programs have received these investments, which led to the construction of housing across Maine for families and older adults. Despite this tremendous progress, Maine still needs thousands more homes by 2030 to meet demand. The legislature needs to identify a funding source to maintain these investments over the years to come. We cannot afford to revert back to the miniscule housing investments made during the turn of the century. Maine businesses and towns need workers and workers need affordable places to call home.
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 should continue to diversify our sources of energy production, especially as we move away from fossil fuels sources to heat our homes and power our vehicles. Maine is fortunate to have a bounty of natural resources and a geography that positions us to lead the fight against climate change and to generate cleaner, more affordable energy. By generating our energy in Maine and moving towards electrification, we will also move away from volatile energy sources like oil. Instead of letting corporate oil executives and foreign adversaries gouge us for every hard earned dollar, we can keep our money here at home.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
We should look at changing our tax laws so hard working families can keep more of their money. We should provide tax relief to first homebuyers by eliminating the real estate transfer tax. We should also expand tax credits to reduce tax liabilities for middle class families. At the same time, we still have the LePage Era income tax code that reduced taxes for the wealthiest Mainers. We should not cut funding to education or health care or public infrastructure like road repair, because of this LePage Era tax code.
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?
I know responsible gun owners are dismayed when someone who is violent and/or experiencing a mental health crisis gets ahold of a gun and hurts innocent people. We should implement backgrounds checks to make sure those who are irresponsible do not become gun owners. Bad people should not have unfettered access to guns. In addition, we need to pass the so-called Red Flag law in order to provide law enforcement and families with the tools they need to make sure people who are experiencing a mental health crisis are not a risk to themselves or others. Often times, we lose an important element of this conversation: suicide. Suicide is the leading cause of gun-deaths. How many families in Maine wish their son, daughter, father, mother, aunt, uncle, cousin, or friend were still here? If only?
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
I am the proud son and grandson of mill workers and a caregiver. My family moved to Biddeford in 1964 from Packington, Quebec. My memere and pepere worked hard to earn a living in the textile mills. My dad would eventually work in the mills as well. My mom never graduated from high school, but worked hard caring for older adults at assisted living facilities, the nearby covenant, and people’s homes. My grammy raised three kids on her own and earned a living at Fairchild Semiconductor. I know what hard work looks like. I know what my neighbors in Biddeford and across Maine are doing everyday to just get by. When elected to the legislature, my fight is for the families and young people who want security and prosperity.
