Christopher J. Caiazzo

Democrat

Candidate’s Links:

Office Sought: Representative – District 28
Age: 46
Occupation: Business development manager
Education: Portland High School ’88; Maine Maritime Academy ’94
Family: Married with 2 children

Hometown: Scarborough

Political experience

Scarborough Board of Education 2012 – 15 (Finance Chair 2012 -15)
Scarborough Town Council 2015 – Present (Finance and Energy Committee’s)

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I believe that our current representative has proven time and again through her voting record that she chooses to put the needs of her political party above those of our community. We need representatives who will work across the aisle and across the State in order to solve the real challenges facing our communities. Complex issues such as Drug Addition, education and tax reform are resolved through civil, respectful and meaningful action, not through political rhetoric.

• Income Tax: Gov. LePage would like to lower Maine’s income tax rate and eventually eliminate it, by increasing the state’s sales tax and expanding it across a broader range of goods and services. Do you support this proposal?
  • No

    We don’t have to look much farther than our neighbors in New Hampshire to see the devastating impact the elimination of an income tax would cause. Such a measure would also serve to shift the tax burden further away from the wealthy and onto the backs of the poor and middle class thorough more regressive tax mechanisms such as sales and property taxes. Municipalities would be forced to raise property taxes in order to bridge funding gaps created by lost State revenue or cut critical programs such as Emergency services or education. I would rather see the Governor focus on finding ways to provide property tax relief to those struggling on low or fixed incomes like our Seniors on Social Security. Then Seniors might not be faced with the impossible task of choosing between staying in their homes or getting sufficient food, medicine or heating oil in the winter. Our Seniors deserve better and our State deserves better!

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • Yes

    I believe that private sales and gun shows provide too big of a loop hole for those wishing to acquire firearms for illicit purposes. I believe the exemption for transfers between family members or in case of personal defense are adequate, however I believe that we should have the same requirements for purchasing any firearm whether it is through a licensed gun dealer or through a private sale.

• Minimum Wage: In light of the ballot question facing voters this fall, do you support raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 an hour by 2020?
  • Yes

    I believe that if a person is willing to work full time, they should be paid a livable wage for that time.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • No

    Before we legalize marijuana for recreational use, I believe we need to do further research to determine what are acceptable, safe and non impairing levels of THC in the body. We also need to develop a field test for Law enforcement that is safe and non-invasive for both the officer and the applicant, in order to measure the amount of THC in a person to accurately determine if they are above those prescribed limits, similar to what we have done to accommodate the safe and legal consumption of alcohol.

• Addiction/Overdoses: Do you believe the state is doing enough in response to the rise in heroin/opiate addiction and overdoses? If not, what else should be done?
  • No. I believe the state needs to do more to develop effective treatment programs and facilities for existing addicts before they become dependents of our criminal justice system. I also believe we need work on more preventative measures such as increasing focus on developing more responsible prescribing habits for Medical Professional as well as public education efforts to try to keep young people from using such substances in the first place.

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