SACO – Incumbent District 15 State Rep., Democrat Margaret “Maggie” O’Neil, is facing opposition from Republican Joseph Lynch.
District 15 covers part of Saco.
Lynch, 28, is an accountant who owns J. Lynch LLC and is the treasurer for Saco Main Street.
Lynch said in adressing the issue of school gun violence and mass shootings, the issue that needs to be looked is the fact that there are young people who want to kill other young people.
“The anti-gun industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that drives up fear to line their pockets while trying to take guns away from honest people,” said Lynch. “Let’s instead focus on what is causing these kids to lose their minds and want to kill other kids. Kids are not killing other kids because they are mad about guns.”
Lynch said the issue of rising health care costs will only be resolved through a bi-partisan effort, with people looking for answers rather than spouting talking points.
“ I will bring my accounting experience to the table and analyze data honestly to come up with real solutions,” he said.
Lynch said the state needs to lower taxes and create a better job climate to lure high-paying jobs and retain young workers.
Lynch said he’s a true Mainer in line with “The Way Life Should Be,” and if elected will work to make realistic changes that will benefit everybody. He said is an outdoor enthusiast who wants to preserve Maine, the “perfect place on Earth” that he calls home.
“I am not a politician. I am an accountant. I am running to solve problems. I am not running to pad a resume,” said Lynch. “Our city’s traffic and our state’s political gridlock both need to end. We need non-politicians to focus on business not politics.”
Lynch said if elected he will work to make sure the City of Saco and the Maine Department of Transportation continue to follow-through with the proposed Route 112 and Industrial Park Road traffic congestion solution.
“I have already taken the lead on this issue and as you rep I will work tirelessly to resolve this issue, not to promote myself or a partisan agenda. This issue is only going to get worse and stifle any growth we hope to have in our downtown,” said Lynch.
O’Neil, 29, works in hospitality and has served as a state representative since 2016.
“Maine has a long legacy of hunting and enjoying the outdoors,” said O’Neil. “Though the right to bear arms is protected in our constitution, guns are deadly weapons, and gun violence is not inevitable. We must do more as a state and country to ensure that not one more life is lost and not one more future stolen.”
O’Neil said she participated in a working group of lawmakers seeking common ground regarding legislation to prevent gun violence in schools. She said the group supported measures to improve existing mental health resources and to upgrade school facilities to make campuses safer for students. She said there are more measures to consider, including creating mechanisms to address access to firearms.
O’Neil said she supported legislation preventing those in crisis from posing a danger to themselves, family members and the community.
“ I have been so moved by the activism of students in Maine and across the country. I will listen, work with them, and amplify their voices, so that every student can have a safe place to learn. I am committed to this work, and I will continue to work with anyone, regardless of politics, to reduce gun violence in our state and across our country,” she said.
O’Neil said that though the majority of corrective healthcare policy requires a scale of investment that must be made on the national level, Maine voters have already taken a major step to address rising health care costs by voting to pass Medicaid expansion two years ago at the ballot box.
“Mainers are already funding Medicaid expansion in other states across the country with their federal tax dollars. We also already share the costs of charity care that hospitals must provide to uninsured emergency room patients,” said O’Neil. “It’s time that we accept federal funds, increase access to healthcare for low income Mainers, and lower costs for all of us. If the current governor manages to delay implementation until next January, the next governor and legislature must be ready to move forward with Medicaid Expansion immediately.”
O’Neil said Maine is a special place to live, with vital communities and downtowns and access to pristine beaches, lakes, mountains and forests and to attract young workers to Maine, the state must invest in these and must also continue to invest in education so families will know their children will have an excellent education.
O’Neil said the education system needs to be tailored to prepare students for jobs in demand by Maine employers to help retain young workers in the state.
O’Neil said the state needs to invest in its broadband infrastructure to support entrepreneurs and young professionals who have moved to the state to work remotely.
O’Neil said the state should focus on growing Maine businesses rather than attempting to luring jobs to the state
“To plan for our next diverse and robust economy, we must support Maine entrepreneurs who are already working to grow businesses here,” she said.
O’Neil said she has built a reputation as a fair-minded, bipartisan collaborator committed to improving the quality of life for the people in her local community and for the state as a whole, and she would be honored to continue to serve her constituents.
“Above all, I will listen to the needs of the community and act as a voice for Saco citizens in Augusta. I will continue to prioritize communication and inform Saco citizens about endeavors in Augusta. I will bring information home, respond to questions and concerns, and connect our community with state resources,” she said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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