About the Candidate
Wife and mother, two-term Select Board member and municipal officer in West Bath, certified Maine assessor, licensed real estate designated broker, proud American.
Education
Bachelor’s degree, University of South Carolina
Previous campaigns and elected office(s) held
West Bath Select Board member and municipal officer, 2020-2025; Ran for Maine Senate District 24 in 2024
Why are you running?
I am running for the House seat to become a voice of the people. Nationally, Maine ranks fifth highest in the cost of energy and taxes, and has the oldest population in the country. The increased costs to live in Maine are burdening our oldest, foundational families while chasing our younger generation out of the state. We need to create an environment to encourage our residents to stay while attracting new residents and businesses to support our Maine slogan, “The way life should be.”
Top three priorities
My top priority is reducing costs for Maine residents that affect their healthcare, energy, homestead exemptions for our aging population and real estate taxes. I also support housing initiatives for all age groups, helping to find a place to call home. I support enacting no tax on overtime and tips in Maine, which affects our service industry directly aligned with tourism – Maine’s largest revenue stream, which will also support the growth of small business, Maine’s largest economic influence.
If you could change one thing about how Augusta functions, what would it be and why?
We need to focus on collaboration among all parties and promote full transparency. We should listen to our constituents, which truly are all the people in our district. We seem to fight more than listen, and we will never find harmony on the current path. We once had common ground and found ways to work together to support the needs of all the residents. We need to switch from special interest groups to the population as a whole.
What is the biggest challenge facing Maine? The biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenge facing Maine is the high cost of living. Many of our older foundational families cannot afford to live here, and the younger generation cannot find jobs and affordable housing to remain here. We must reduce costs to live and work in Maine. We need to find ways to attract business and promote the greatness of Maine, like the 3D-printed houses from the University of Maine, which has the largest 3D printer in the world. How cool is that!
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
Costs to live here have increased year over year. We need to reduce the cost of energy, health insurance, housing, food, taxes and stabilize the homestead exemptions for our older population. Our government is heavy. We can do more with less government spending. We can attract new business to bolster our economy and reduce the cost of living here.