Age: 23

Running for: House District 127

Party: Democrat

Residence: Scarborough native

Family: Unmarried

Education: bachelor’s degree in history and political science from George Washington University

Occupation: Works for Pond Cove Mill Work Co. and as youth swim instructor

A 2003 graduate of Scarborough High School, Democrat Sean Flaherty said the “global climate crisis” is what motivated him to run for the House District 127 seat.

The 23-year-old Scarborough native graduated from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science. Currently, he works for Pond Cove Mill Work Co. and as a youth swim instructor for Coastal Maine Aquatics swim team.

Flaherty said during the past two decades he has seen Scarborough change significantly. The town was “was a great place for me to grow up,” and he’d like to see the growth the town has experienced stabilized.

Flaherty wants to make sure Scarborough’s marsh and beaches remain clean. He said he thinks the state’s done a good job so far and he wants to make sure it continues that way.

Flaherty believes that the school consolidation law that was passed last year was “a step in the right direction” for the state, but said he has some reservations it.

“More money should be going to our kids and not top-level administrators. That’s important to me,” he said about why he supports the law in general, but added that he hopes to have the chance to reform the plan, specifically by eliminating the budget referendum required of every district.

Though Flaherty said he wouldn’t have voted on the so-called beverage tax that was passed this last term, he does think Dirigo Health is an important program that needs to be “working at a cost-efficient rate for Maine taxpayers before we continue to expand it.”

Flaherty said he is “suspicious of casinos” in general and does not support the one proposed for Oxford County.

“They’re asking for an awful lot,” he said, including lowering the gambling age to 18 years old, which is one of the reasons Flaherty doesn’t believe that “this particular initiative is right for Maine.” He’s also opposed to having slot machines at Scarborough Downs.

Flaherty thinks the state should focus its efforts on investing in green technologies and renewable energy, not only because it’s the right thing to do for the environment, but also because he thinks it can help create jobs and lower energy costs in the state.

Sean Flaherty