What is one new policy that the state should embrace to make housing easier to build and afford?
I’ve been involved with building safe and affordable housing for close to twenty years through my work with Habitat for Humanity, and I know that solving our state’s housing crisis requires more than just one policy. It’s clear we need to continue to build well-designed affordable homes and apartments, funding them through partnerships and incentives, and we need to be creative with our older housing stock. For example, one of the towns in my district is looking to create teacher housing in an old schoolhouse downtown. We also need to increase help for first time homebuyers who want to live and raise their families in Maine. As a Realtor, I can say with certainty that these young buyers are having a very hard time breaking into the current housing market, yet they are key to our future.
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?
Clean energy production is the path to energy independence for Maine. Presently our heavy dependence on fossil fuels from outside our state means ratepayers like you and me are held hostage by price fluctuations. I’m glad we’ve begun the transition to renewable energy, because it is good for our pocketbooks as well as the environment, and the jobs created in these new industries are already benefiting Mainers. I’m excited by a bill I sponsored last session to create a pilot program for hydrogen production in Maine, as this fuel can work in situations (such as heavy industry) where electricity cannot, and good jobs will be created. We also have to continue to strengthen our grid as demand for electricity grows, and be sure Maine’s investor-owned utilities are accountable to Maine people.
Should the state make changes to its tax laws? If so, outline your priorities.
Taxes should be fair and provide impactful relief to those who actually need the help — folks like working families and older Mainers on fixed incomes. In my six years in the Legislature, we’ve worked hard to make sure tax relief has reached everyday Mainers — $285 million dollars to date. Our accomplishments include a new, refundable Maine child tax credit of $300; an increase in the annual income tax pension deduction; an increase in the property tax fairness credit for Mainers 65 or older; and expansion of the property tax deferral program. That said, I know increased property taxes caused partly by soaring home sales and rising valuations are hitting vulnerable constituents in my coastal community hard, and I’m listening and working to craft legislation that will hopefully help.
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?
This anniversary will not be easy for anyone in Maine, especially the victims’ families, survivors of the shooting, and members of the Lewiston community who were directly impacted, such as first responders and law enforcement. My heart is heavy with grief, but I’m also angry because we know that gun violence is preventable. Some important measures were passed in the wake of the shooting, such as the 72-hour waiting period and expanded background checks, as well as increased funding for crisis centers, but our work to prevent gun violence is far from done. Reasonable measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands are supported by Maine citizens, and their voices will guide our work to prevent further firearm tragedies, whether from accidents, suicide, or violent crime.
Describe a unique attribute or area of focus that you will bring to the Legislature.
Time and time again the Legislature has called on my lived experience. I find that being a working woman who raised my family here has been incredibly helpful because I understand the challenges of day-to-day life for many Mainers, especially hard-working moms! Being a Realtor has given me an insight into what new folks in our state face, as well as how tricky it is for people to downsize, relocate, or get their first home. I’m a writer, and that means I value communication with my constituents. However, I think my best attribute is my experience as the founder and owner (with my husband) of a successful hospitality business. I know firsthand that running a small business is super challenging, and I am always mindful that ventures like this are the backbone of our state’s economy.