Childcare as a Path to Prosperity
Too many daycare facilities in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties have closed, turning our district into a childcare desert. According to a recent report by the bipartisan Council For A Strong America, Maine has lost over a quarter of its family child care providers since 2010. It now costs more than public college tuition to pay for infant care in Maine. Our district's working families are stretched to the limit. As a mother, I understand that having access to childcare can mean the difference between being able to work—and being forced to survive on a single income. I will do everything in my power as your senator to support and encourage the operation of daycare centers in our district so that working parents can provide a solid future for their children.
In addition, our district has a large number of children with special needs, the majority of whom are unable to remain with their families due to a shortage of community-based behavioral health care. Some of the services available to residents of southern Maine include assistance with daily duties, behavior modification, and individual or family counseling. However, the majority of families in our district do not have access to this type of support. As your senator, I will push to bring more community-based services to our district so that more children can receive care while living at home with their parents.
Why It Matters
In Maine, the shortage of child care and special needs programs affects everyone, not just parents. Once these concerns are resolved, we'll finally be able to make headway in the current labor shortage, because more parents will be able to return to the workforce.
Not Just Housing, Homes
Everyone is entitled to a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, in our district, homelessness is on the rise. As your senator, I will work to create solutions that help more Mainers get on the path to homeownership, a crucial factor in building wealth and success throughout our district. I will encourage local townships to make zoning regulations more flexible, allowing families and communities to construct affordable housing that meets their needs. I will also work to ensure that senior citizens have the resources to remain in their homes comfortably — without worrying that a big tax bill or expensive repair would force them to move.
For renters, I will strive to develop incentives for landlords to repair their properties, thereby making rentals safer and more dignified for those who occupy them, all while allowing property owners to build equity. There are housing solutions that will create prosperity for all parties involved, and I am committed to finding them.
Why It Matters
Increased homeownership and improvements to rental units will benefit us all. When others in our community have a safe place to live, they are better equipped to enter the labor force. And as the properties surrounding us are improved, our neighborhoods become safer and more enjoyable places to live.
S.M.A.R.T. Support for Schools
(STEM, Music, Art, Remediation of Lead, Teachers)
Supporting Teachers’ Smart Initiatives
Teachers form the backbone of our communities, but unfortunately, they are stretched thin when it comes to supplies and support. As your senator, I’ll work to get more resources for teachers and smart educational initiatives, especially in projects related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Arts, and Music.
Getting the Lead Out
As a mother of a child who is still dealing with the effects of lead poisoning, I am acutely aware of the risks of not testing the water in our schools. Thankfully, our legislature unanimously passed a bill to require all K-12 schools in Maine to test for lead, and testing is currently ongoing. Unfortunately, if lead is found, mitigation and remediation are only voluntary for our schools. As your senator, I will make sure that the schools in our district have the resources they need and understand the tools available to them so that they can follow through on removing the threat of lead from our children's drinking water.
Learn more about testing for lead in drinking water and find out about your school’s testing progress at the Maine Division of Environmental and Community Health.
Why It Matters
Lead in schools impacts us all. Lead exposure has been linked to impaired intellectual functioning and behavioral problems that can last a lifetime. This creates an additional strain on teachers and the school system, not to mention the hardships on lead-affected individuals and their surrounding communities as they grow up less prepared for life beyond school.
Increase Defense Attorneys in Rural Areas
The right to legal representation is a key tenet outlined in the Sixth Amendment of our Constitution. Unfortunately, the number of free legal services for Mainers who cannot afford to hire their own attorney has never been lower. According to the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, the number of lawyers accepting court appointments for criminal or child protection matters is barely more than half of what it was just a few years ago. As your senator, I will work to raise incentives for court appointed attorneys, partner with law schools to attract more attorneys to rural parts of the state, and open more legal aid clinics in rural areas.
Why It Matters
Court cases are delayed when defendants who are entitled to counsel cannot obtain it. When justice isn't served to our fellow residents, our neighborhoods lose their sense of security and credibility. Everyone, not just the extremely affluent and well-connected, should have the right to a fair trial.
Support for Our Seniors
We must focus more on the needs of our senior citizens as the population of our district ages. Seniors and those with permanent disabilities can now defer paying their homestead property taxes, thanks to the recently established State Property Tax Deferral Program. However, seniors require more assistance than just reduced property taxes. Property repairs, quality of life issues, mobility, and healthcare are all concerns that impact our community’s seniors.
As your senator, I’ll work to find solutions for increasing social, financial, and homecare programs and services to help senior Mainers stay in their homes and communities.
Why It Matters
Providing senior citizens with the resources necessary to help them stay in their homes and communities is often less expensive than providing them with nursing home care. That can mean a decreased tax burden for everyone else in the community. And according to some studies, when our older friends and neighbors are allowed to stay more active at home and in their neighborhoods, it can help them stay healthier longer. When senior citizens are happier and healthier, they are more able to use their knowledge and life experiences to make our communities better places to live.
Protect Reproductive Freedom
Maine is a state that has always championed personal freedom. In 1994, Republican Governor John McKernan signed The Reproductive Privacy Act as a response to a wave of anti-abortion violence.
But in light of the recent supreme court decision to strike Roe v. Wade, some Republicans are seeking to overturn state decisions that would protect Mainers’ right to decide what happens with their own bodies. My opponent has said that he supports a ban on abortion and implied that women (who are often faced with the most difficult decision they’ll make in their lives) are flippantly using abortion as an alternative to contraception.
The reality is that nobody looks forward to having an abortion. For some women, it is the only way out of a horrific situation, for others, it is a heart-wrenching decision made out of medical necessity. In addition, imposing harsh restrictions on how doctors are allowed to treat their patients cannot possibly account for all medical situations, and it undermines doctors’ ability to uphold their oaths and protect patients.
I believe that reproductive decisions are a personal choice. Doctors, family members, and other trusted experts may play a role in these decisions, but the government should have no say in that aspect of our personal lives.
As your senator, I will consistently vote to uphold personal freedoms, including the fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
Why It Matters:
Pregnant individuals and children should not be forced to give birth to their rapist’s baby, those who are at risk of dying during childbirth should not be forced to carry to term, and would-be parents who have faced the devastating news that their baby will be born into a short, extremely painful existence with no chance of survival shouldn’t be forced into prolonging that suffering.
Ending a pregnancy in any case is a devastating decision, but it doesn’t get easier with government mandates. Often, laws that restrict reproductive freedom add yet another hardship on top of an already traumatic time in a person’s life.
More broadly, the government should not be allowed to control what happens to our own bodies. It is one of the most fundamental human rights we all share. Taking away reproductive freedom is a slippery slope that threatens all of our freedoms.
Respect for First Responders
Our district's rural communities are witnessing a drop in state police patrols while local sheriff's agencies struggle to fill the vacancies. The majority of healthcare facilities in our district have shut down, and the few that remain have trouble paying paramedics and emergency medical technicians a fair wage. Considering our aging population and the escalating opioid and drug problem, it is evident that our current route is neither sustainable nor safe.
As your senator, I will collaborate with our local police, sheriffs, hospitals, EMTs, and firefighters to determine what they need and to encourage recruiting and retention initiatives. Also, I will explore ways to prepare the next generation of first responders by providing resources to high schools, community colleges, and CTE schools.
Why It Matters
Everyone is affected by emergency response services. Whenever we need the police, ambulance, or fire service, we need to know that they are adequately equipped and staffed. Providing them with the necessary resources can be the difference between life and death for ourselves or a loved one.
Other Important Policy Positions
As your senator, I will advocate for:
Too many daycare facilities in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties have closed, turning our district into a childcare desert. According to a recent report by the bipartisan Council For A Strong America, Maine has lost over a quarter of its family child care providers since 2010. It now costs more than public college tuition to pay for infant care in Maine. Our district's working families are stretched to the limit. As a mother, I understand that having access to childcare can mean the difference between being able to work—and being forced to survive on a single income. I will do everything in my power as your senator to support and encourage the operation of daycare centers in our district so that working parents can provide a solid future for their children.
In addition, our district has a large number of children with special needs, the majority of whom are unable to remain with their families due to a shortage of community-based behavioral health care. Some of the services available to residents of southern Maine include assistance with daily duties, behavior modification, and individual or family counseling. However, the majority of families in our district do not have access to this type of support. As your senator, I will push to bring more community-based services to our district so that more children can receive care while living at home with their parents.
Why It Matters
In Maine, the shortage of child care and special needs programs affects everyone, not just parents. Once these concerns are resolved, we'll finally be able to make headway in the current labor shortage, because more parents will be able to return to the workforce.
Not Just Housing, Homes
Everyone is entitled to a safe place to call home. Unfortunately, in our district, homelessness is on the rise. As your senator, I will work to create solutions that help more Mainers get on the path to homeownership, a crucial factor in building wealth and success throughout our district. I will encourage local townships to make zoning regulations more flexible, allowing families and communities to construct affordable housing that meets their needs. I will also work to ensure that senior citizens have the resources to remain in their homes comfortably — without worrying that a big tax bill or expensive repair would force them to move.
For renters, I will strive to develop incentives for landlords to repair their properties, thereby making rentals safer and more dignified for those who occupy them, all while allowing property owners to build equity. There are housing solutions that will create prosperity for all parties involved, and I am committed to finding them.
Why It Matters
Increased homeownership and improvements to rental units will benefit us all. When others in our community have a safe place to live, they are better equipped to enter the labor force. And as the properties surrounding us are improved, our neighborhoods become safer and more enjoyable places to live.
S.M.A.R.T. Support for Schools
(STEM, Music, Art, Remediation of Lead, Teachers)
Supporting Teachers’ Smart Initiatives
Teachers form the backbone of our communities, but unfortunately, they are stretched thin when it comes to supplies and support. As your senator, I’ll work to get more resources for teachers and smart educational initiatives, especially in projects related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Arts, and Music.
Getting the Lead Out
As a mother of a child who is still dealing with the effects of lead poisoning, I am acutely aware of the risks of not testing the water in our schools. Thankfully, our legislature unanimously passed a bill to require all K-12 schools in Maine to test for lead, and testing is currently ongoing. Unfortunately, if lead is found, mitigation and remediation are only voluntary for our schools. As your senator, I will make sure that the schools in our district have the resources they need and understand the tools available to them so that they can follow through on removing the threat of lead from our children's drinking water.
Learn more about testing for lead in drinking water and find out about your school’s testing progress at the Maine Division of Environmental and Community Health.
Why It Matters
Lead in schools impacts us all. Lead exposure has been linked to impaired intellectual functioning and behavioral problems that can last a lifetime. This creates an additional strain on teachers and the school system, not to mention the hardships on lead-affected individuals and their surrounding communities as they grow up less prepared for life beyond school.
Increase Defense Attorneys in Rural Areas
The right to legal representation is a key tenet outlined in the Sixth Amendment of our Constitution. Unfortunately, the number of free legal services for Mainers who cannot afford to hire their own attorney has never been lower. According to the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, the number of lawyers accepting court appointments for criminal or child protection matters is barely more than half of what it was just a few years ago. As your senator, I will work to raise incentives for court appointed attorneys, partner with law schools to attract more attorneys to rural parts of the state, and open more legal aid clinics in rural areas.
Why It Matters
Court cases are delayed when defendants who are entitled to counsel cannot obtain it. When justice isn't served to our fellow residents, our neighborhoods lose their sense of security and credibility. Everyone, not just the extremely affluent and well-connected, should have the right to a fair trial.
Support for Our Seniors
We must focus more on the needs of our senior citizens as the population of our district ages. Seniors and those with permanent disabilities can now defer paying their homestead property taxes, thanks to the recently established State Property Tax Deferral Program. However, seniors require more assistance than just reduced property taxes. Property repairs, quality of life issues, mobility, and healthcare are all concerns that impact our community’s seniors.
As your senator, I’ll work to find solutions for increasing social, financial, and homecare programs and services to help senior Mainers stay in their homes and communities.
Why It Matters
Providing senior citizens with the resources necessary to help them stay in their homes and communities is often less expensive than providing them with nursing home care. That can mean a decreased tax burden for everyone else in the community. And according to some studies, when our older friends and neighbors are allowed to stay more active at home and in their neighborhoods, it can help them stay healthier longer. When senior citizens are happier and healthier, they are more able to use their knowledge and life experiences to make our communities better places to live.
Protect Reproductive Freedom
Maine is a state that has always championed personal freedom. In 1994, Republican Governor John McKernan signed The Reproductive Privacy Act as a response to a wave of anti-abortion violence.
But in light of the recent supreme court decision to strike Roe v. Wade, some Republicans are seeking to overturn state decisions that would protect Mainers’ right to decide what happens with their own bodies. My opponent has said that he supports a ban on abortion and implied that women (who are often faced with the most difficult decision they’ll make in their lives) are flippantly using abortion as an alternative to contraception.
The reality is that nobody looks forward to having an abortion. For some women, it is the only way out of a horrific situation, for others, it is a heart-wrenching decision made out of medical necessity. In addition, imposing harsh restrictions on how doctors are allowed to treat their patients cannot possibly account for all medical situations, and it undermines doctors’ ability to uphold their oaths and protect patients.
I believe that reproductive decisions are a personal choice. Doctors, family members, and other trusted experts may play a role in these decisions, but the government should have no say in that aspect of our personal lives.
As your senator, I will consistently vote to uphold personal freedoms, including the fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
Why It Matters:
Pregnant individuals and children should not be forced to give birth to their rapist’s baby, those who are at risk of dying during childbirth should not be forced to carry to term, and would-be parents who have faced the devastating news that their baby will be born into a short, extremely painful existence with no chance of survival shouldn’t be forced into prolonging that suffering.
Ending a pregnancy in any case is a devastating decision, but it doesn’t get easier with government mandates. Often, laws that restrict reproductive freedom add yet another hardship on top of an already traumatic time in a person’s life.
More broadly, the government should not be allowed to control what happens to our own bodies. It is one of the most fundamental human rights we all share. Taking away reproductive freedom is a slippery slope that threatens all of our freedoms.
Respect for First Responders
Our district's rural communities are witnessing a drop in state police patrols while local sheriff's agencies struggle to fill the vacancies. The majority of healthcare facilities in our district have shut down, and the few that remain have trouble paying paramedics and emergency medical technicians a fair wage. Considering our aging population and the escalating opioid and drug problem, it is evident that our current route is neither sustainable nor safe.
As your senator, I will collaborate with our local police, sheriffs, hospitals, EMTs, and firefighters to determine what they need and to encourage recruiting and retention initiatives. Also, I will explore ways to prepare the next generation of first responders by providing resources to high schools, community colleges, and CTE schools.
Why It Matters
Everyone is affected by emergency response services. Whenever we need the police, ambulance, or fire service, we need to know that they are adequately equipped and staffed. Providing them with the necessary resources can be the difference between life and death for ourselves or a loved one.
Other Important Policy Positions
As your senator, I will advocate for:
- Additional resources and employment opportunities for veterans
- More support for farmers and resources to help them deal with “forever chemicals” such as PFAS and biosolids sludge, in addition to irrigation assistance
- Increased healthcare and dental services in our district
- Protecting the freedoms and rights of all people living in Maine, including LGBTQ+, minority, Indigenous and Native American communities
- Solutions to prevent and treat opioid addiction and other substance abuse disorders
- Increased mental health support and resources for everyone in our community
- Fairness in the distribution of state resources so that our district can enjoy the same benefits and prosperity as Mainers who live farther South