KENNEBUNKPORT — Incumbent Republican Stedman Seavey is running against Democrat Diane Denk for the House District 9 seat, which includes Kennebunkport and parts of Biddeford and Kennebunk.

Seavey, 64, is a semi-retired grocer residing in Kennebunk. A graduate of Kennebunk High School’s class of 1970, Seavey studied political science at the University of Southern Maine in 1977. He’s been married 43 years, a parent for 37 years, and a grandparent for eight years.

Seavey is serving his sixth non-consecutive term in the state Legislature, and is serving as lead Republican on the Taxation Committee as a ranking minority member.

Denk, 66, is a former businesswoman of 25 years who worked her way up to vice president of a large brokerage firm in Chicago. For the past 18 years, she has worked as a special education teacher in both Illinois and Maine. Currently residing in Kennebunk, she works as a teacher/tutor outside the traditional setting for students who have impairments.

Seavey said he’s made strides in the Legislature to cut taxes for the residents of Maine and his district.

“I have worked hard as the lead Republican on the Taxation Committee to lower property taxes from the state level,” he said. “If re-elected, I would work on municipal assessing rules and regulations to continue to reduce the tax burden for my constituents.”

Seavey said taxation is “spiraling out of control,” and that state spending must be controlled. People in Maine work hard, and should be able to stay in Maine their entire lives without being subject to harsh taxes, he said.

Denk said she wants to assist struggling families who work multiple jobs, add incentives to attract new businesses to Maine while helping current businesses create jobs, improve the state’s education system, and explore alternative energy sources.

If elected, Denk’s main priority would be to improve the quality of life for the district’s numerous senior citizens, she said.

“(Seniors) are concerned as to whether their income will cover their increasing tax bills or if they must sell their homes and find suitable housing. Finding a conduit through which they may learn about available services for home health care, hospice care, transportation and respite care for caretakers is essential,” Denk said. “I would also create a program of county and town ombudsmen who can advocate locally and determine services available for in-need seniors.”

Denk added that she would create a system of check-ins throughout neighborhood watches and police departments to ensure there’s never again a situation like Lucie McNulty, a Wells woman who died in her home about three years ago but wasn’t discovered until early this year.

Seavey’s biggest priority would be bringing civility back to state government, he said.

“It seems like each party is entrenched in a goal line defense; one party at one end and the other party at the other end and the whole middle is open,” Seavey said. “This philosophy is not constructive, and few accomplishments are made. We need to sit around the table and work things out. Lawmakers could help solve many of Maine’s problems if they could agree that half a loaf is better than nothing.”

Denk cites the behavior of Gov. Paul LePage and other elected officials as a huge concern for her constituents, as well as the need for tax and wage fairness, and the effects of global warming.

“The area includes many coastal areas whose residents are concerned with global warming and their futures,” Denk said. “They’re looking for real solutions.”

When asked about the most critical infrastructure needs in his district, Seavey responded that Route 9, the major roadway that runs from one end of district 9 (Mousam River) to the other end (Saco River), needs improvement. The roadway is shared by pedestrians, cyclists and oversized vehicles, said Seavey, and needs to be brought up to modern standards.

Denk said there’s a need in Maine to replace or repair roads, bridges and schools. The harsh winters have “destroyed our bridges, docks, roads and even taken a toll on our beaches’ shorelines,” she said. “Our schools were literally sinking, and bonds had to be approved to rebuild them.”

— Staff Writer Ryder Schumacher can be contacted at 282-1535.