What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
There is no doubt that Maine – and the country – is facing a severe housing shortage. Given the limited supply, the current cost of homes on the market is far beyond what many Mainers can afford. A recent study showed that Maine needs to build 84,000 new homes by 2030. This lack of housing has serious downstream effects. Needed professionals cannot relocate to the state if they cannot find a place to live.
Many regulatory barriers prevent us from achieving our housing goals. Between environmental, energy efficiency, zoning and building code regulations, too much red tape exists. Building delays cost developers money. It has been estimated that regulations account for approximately 25% of the cost of a new home. We need to lessen regulations to lower costs and increase housing production.
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?
I support an “all of the above” approach to energy. No energy source should be off limits. Our major problem now isn’t that we don’t have enough energy; it is that average Mainers are paying too much for it. Instead, we need to lift the renewable energy cap on hydro and explore safe modular nuclear energy.
We also need to examine our current policies. Next year, solar incentives will cost electric ratepayers over $220 million per year. If you are a Versant customer, you can see how much you are paying under the “Public Policy” section on your electric bill. For CMP, it’s included in the fixed charge. Mainers pay the 6th highest electricity rates in the nation. This cost prevents many businesses from relocating or expanding to our state, thereby costing us high-quality jobs.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
Maine should make significant changes to its tax laws. We don’t have a revenue problem – in fact, we have too much. Maine currently has the fourth-highest tax burden of any state and the highest property tax burden in the nation. Our citizens are obviously losing too much of their income to taxes.
The main culprit is our spending – it’s simply out of control. Since 2018, the State budget has increased nearly 60%. I believe that Mainers know how to spend their own money better than politicians in Augusta do.
With the massive increases we’ve seen in revenue, Republicans began our “Give it Back” campaign that resulted in taxpayers receiving refund checks in 2022. We need to reduce taxes at the state and local levels and reinstitute the tax levy limitation that Democrats repealed this year.
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?
We already know the new 72-hour waiting period that was passed by Democrats would have had no effect on the situation in Lewiston. We also know from the Lewiston Commission’s report that it was a series of human errors that led to the tragedy.
Maine’s Extreme Risk Protection Order process is the most constitutionally sound version of such laws in the 21 states that have them. As the Commission pointed out, if it had been used as designed, the Lewiston tragedy could have been avoided.
The dash to more gun control laws is unwarranted as Maine is one of the safest states in the country regarding gun ownership and violence. Instead, we need to put more resources into mental health treatment. The recent Department of Justice lawsuit proves we’re not doing enough, especially for our children.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
I believe that my law enforcement background, particularly as a DARE officer, means that I bring a focus on building a better Maine for all children in my district and across the state. I hope to be able to work for healthy communities in my district and ensure that our young people have all the resources they need for success.
In particular, we need to reexamine our educational system. Maine has gone from one of the leading states in the nation to near last when it comes to the education of our children. Test scores don’t lie, and that sobering statistic is certainly one we do not want to keep repeating.