OLD ORCHARD BEACH — State Rep. Sharri MacDonald, R-Old Orchard Beach, has announced her intention to run for a second term in the Maine House of Representatives in Augusta.
“I worked hard to make a difference in Augusta these past two years, and I would be honored to serve another term,” said MacDonald. “I have consistently stood up as an independent voice for the people of this beautiful beach community, and I’ve just gotten started.”
MacDonald works at her family’s business, MacDonald’s Garage and Beach Convenience. Her experience as a store clerk motivated her to introduce a welfare reform bill that would have prohibited the use of welfare funds to purchase alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, or to post bail, she said. The bill did not gain enough votes in the Legislature to become law. MacDonald said she will continue the fight if elected to another term.
MacDonald was also a vocal proponent of a local option sales tax, bucking her party in an attempt to lower the property tax burden by shifting more of the tax burden to Old Orchard Beach’s summer tourists, she said.
“I care a lot more about this town than I do about any one political party,” said MacDonald, who also emphasized the importance of protecting the local environment and beaches, which she says is the backbone of the tourism economy. “My biggest goals are breaking the cycle of intergenerational welfare dependency by supporting our small businesses and natural resources, helping our local entrepreneurs create jobs and opportunities for my neighbors and constituents.”
An Old Orchard Beach native, MacDonald is an Old Orchard Beach High School graduate and to studied electrical engineering at the University of Southern Maine. MacDonald serves as president of OOB365 and is a member of the Saco Bay Rotary Club, the Old Orchard Beach Lion’s Club and the Old Orchard Beach High School Alumni Association. She works to raise funds for the local food pantry and continues her support for the Old Orchard Beach Ballpark revitalization project, she said.
If re-elected to the Maine House of Representatives, MacDonald said a primary goal of hers will be to bring natural gas infrastructure to Old Orchard Beach, helping residents to alleviate the high cost of heating their homes.
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