Democratic state Rep. Mark Dion of Portland is running a virtually uncontested race for the District 28 seat in the Maine Senate, representing the western portion of the city and part of Westbrook.

Republican Karen Usher of Westbrook is listed on the ballot as Dion’s challenger, but the 49-year-old declined to be interviewed for this story, describing herself as a “placeholder candidate.”

Dion is a 61-year-old lawyer and former Cumberland County sheriff who has been an outspoken proponent of legalizing marijuana. He supports background checks for private sales of firearms and increasing the minimum wage.

He believes the state should lower, but not eliminate, income taxes by expanding the list of goods and services eligible for the sales tax.

Regarding the opiate crisis, he thinks the state is focusing too many resources on law enforcement and not enough on treatment.

Dion won a competitive three-way Democratic primary in June. He would replace Democratic Sen. Anne Haskell, who is retiring from politics.

 

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