Full name: Lisa Renee Villa, 43
Address: P.O. Box 427, Harrison
Family: Two children
E-mail: lisarvilla@hotmail.com
Web site: www.lisavilla.com
Lisa Villa is the democratic challenger for Senate District 13 covering Norway, Paris, Oxford, Otisfield, Harrison, Bridgton, Fryeburg, Denmark, Brownfield, Porter, Hiram, Baldwin, Sebago and Naples.
Villa has worked as a flight attendant for 22 years, is the vice-chairman of the Harrison Board of Selectmen and a volunteer member of the Harrison Fire Department.
Villa, who has lived in Harrison for 13 years, has worked on numerous boards and committees, including the Lake Region Transportation Coalition, the Lake Region Development Council and the executive board of the Greater Portland Council of Governments. Villa also founded one of the state’s first fuel collaboratives last winter.
Villa said transportation infrastructure is one of the areas she wants to improve if elected. She has worked already to implement bus service between Portland and Harrison and wants to make sure Route 302 between Bridgton and Fryeburg is rebuilt.
“Mass transit for rural areas is really important,” Villa said. “I think we need to start looking at where we’re going to be 10 or 20 years down the road.”
Villa would like to see a wind farm in western Maine and said the state could promote local business by offering tax breaks for businesses that carry Maine-made products. Villa said she would also work to introduce more local agriculture into school cafeterias.
Villa believes in universal health care, pointing out the example of her own mother, who did not have insurance and did not get preventative care for her cancer.
In the absence of universal health care, Villa said it’s important to reduce insurance costs. Specifically, Villa said she would work to allow more insurance companies to compete in the state and abolish the guaranteed issue law, which guarantees insurance to all residents, therefore allowing people to get insurance after they become sick.
“When the majority of people can’t afford insurance, I think you’re punishing the many for the few,” Villa said.
Villa opposes building a casino in western Maine, instead advocating for investment in alternative energy. Tax incentives and building up an educated work force could make Maine more appealing to businesses, Villa said.
“I’m not afraid to take on issues,” Villa said. “I’m not afraid to ask questions.”
Meet the candidates: Senate District 13 – Lisa Villa
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