A state representative from Falmouth is running against a Gray resident for the Senate District 25 seat, which represents Falmouth, Cumberland, Gray, North Yarmouth, Long Island and part of Yarmouth.

Rep. Teresa Pierce, a Democrat, is running against Jennifer White, a Republican.

White did not respond to the Press Herald’s requests for information about her candidacy.

Here is a look at Pierce’s priorities and positions on some key issues.

Q: What are your three top priorities and why?

Continue to provide all Maine children with a strong education, pre-K–12, career and technical education, community college or university.

Protect our natural resources for the health of our state and the positive impact our environment has on our tourism economy. Address the housing crisis and property tax issues; Maine residents should be able to afford their first home and age in place if they choose.

Q: What are your biggest concerns about the economy right now and what should the Legislature do to address them?

Helping Mainers weather the current inflation issues. As a State Senator I cannot control the national and global issue of inflation, but I can work to help Mainers. As a State Representative, I voted to send $850 relief checks to over half of our residents, provided Property Tax relief and funded the State’s share of Education at 55%.

We also need to focus on our workforce development, by encouraging people to move to Maine and providing current Mainers the tools and education to pursue jobs of their choice. Providing current and recent Maine high school graduates with free community college is one example. I will continue to look for pragmatic bipartisan solutions to help Mainers.

Q: Do you support changing Maine’s abortion law to make it more or less restrictive and how?

I have and will continue to support and protect Maine’s laws for women’s reproductive rights.

Q: Do you believe President Biden won the 2020 election fairly?

Yes.

AT A GLANCE

City/Town: Falmouth

Party: Democrat

Occupation: State representative 2014-2022, House District 44 Falmouth (majority), University of New England associate director of alumni advancement, 2010-2013; 20-plus years in nonprofit management

Education: University of Colorado, BA political science, 1985

Civic/Political Experience: State representative, 2014–2022; House Chair of Appropriations and Financial Affairs, Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Government Oversight Committee. Falmouth Town Council, 2008–2014, council chair (2012, 2014); Falmouth Education Foundation 2006-2012, president (2008); Maine Coast Heritage Trust communication committee member 2016–current

Website, Facebook

— Juliana Vandermark

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