1. What are your three top priorities?
First, we need to make sure that no hard-working Mainer is denied the opportunity for a good, high-paying job.  With Opportunity Maine likely to swell the ranks of Maine’s college educated we have a fantastic opportunity to move Maine forward by working to attract good paying jobs in technology, alternative energy and transportation, and other fields.  Businesses in all these sectors should take interest in what will be an increasingly educated population.
Second, we need to work to ensure that Mainers have access to quality, affordable healthcare choices.  This means working to expand healthcare coverage to all Mainers, stabilize insurance premiums and ensure that medical decisions are always made by patients and doctors.
Third, we need to continue to invest in education and work to ensure that every parent can be proud of the education their children receive.  Education, including college, is the key to our children’s future and to ensuring that our state has the kind of educated citizenry we’ll need to move our economy forward. 

2. The past few years, Maine Housing Authority has utilized the HOME Fund (Housing Opportunities for Maine) to help finance fundamental programs as loans for first-time homebuyers, housing for people who are homeless, affordable rental housing, home repair, and housing for people with special needs. The Fund also helps finance programs that makes homes safer for children and makes homes accessible for people with disabilities. Over the last two years, the legislature has considered taking money from the HOME Fund in order to balance the budget. If elected, would you support the protection of the HOME fund? If so, what other ways would you suggest balancing the budget?
Affordable housing is a major issue in the state, and particularly in District 114.  The HOME fund is a major way we ensure access to housing and give people the chance at home ownership.  I would absolutely work to protect the HOME fund from use as a budget stabilization tool and I would work to ensure that it is not used to fund other initiatives (such as happens when additional programs are placed within the HOME fund budget line item) but remains a protected fund that continues to be used for its intended purpose.  Budget stabilization should be the result of either spending cuts to outdated and ineffective programs, or the result of increased revenues generated from any number of sources. 

3. A major concern among young people is the rising cost of health care. 17,000 more Mainers are now uninsured since HMOs first arrived in Maine.  State-funded health care programs like MaineCare is facing consistent cuts, while publicly financed heath insurance like Dirigo, has a current freeze on new applicants. Many First World countries have supported comprehensive health care systems that cover every person with health care. Within the United States, states like Massachusetts and Maine have taken steps towards universal, comprehensive health care coverage. Would you support state legislation for universal single payer health care in Maine?
As a young person myself I certainly understand the plight of young people who are uninsured and I wholeheartedly support the goal of extending health insurance coverage to all.  I am open to any proposal that can help us to expand healthcare coverage to more people.  One element that must be considered is public support for changes to the system.  I feel that the best way to create a universal single-payer system is likely to be through a ballot question—which would give the initiative popular legitimacy—rather than through the legislative process.  If no such ballot question emerges however, I would certainly be open to a single-payer solution through the legislative process.

4. It seems that every month there is another recall or concern about children's toys or consumer products. The fact is that Maine families are exposed to hazardous toxic chemicals found in the consumer products that we use every day. Toxic chemicals in the environment are among the causes of critical health problems that can be prevented. What would you do to help Maine ensure that hazardous chemicals in everyday consumer products are replaced with safer substitutes?
I am appalled at the levels of toxic substances that can be found in many of the products we commonly buy, not the least because so many of the products are ones—like toys and backpacks—that disproportionately affect children.  I think that LD 2048, currently before the legislature, would be a good step forward.  At a minimum, we need to ensure that manufacturers are responsible for alerting consumers to the presence of such substances in their products, and where we know that there are effective and affordable alternatives available we should begin to require manufacturers to use the non-toxic alternatives. 

5. The State of Maine is currently a participant in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an innovative project geared toward cutting global warming emissions by establishing a cap-and-trade system for power plant emissions.  Do you support Maine's participation in RGGI? Would you support the establishment of an economy-wide cap-and-trade program in Maine that would cut greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors (i.e. transportation, commercial and residential heating, etc.)?
I do support Maine’s participation in the RGGI, and would also support the establishment of a cap and trade system if doing so would reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.  Protecting our environment is a moral responsibility that we have, and it is also of particular of importance here in Maine where our environment is so important to our quality of life, place, and the image we present as we market ourselves to businesses and tourists in other parts of the country. 

6. The Maine Department of Transportation estimates that it faces a shortfall of more than $2 billion to simply maintain the existing transportation infrastructure. What, if any, funding solution do you support:
 LD 2019, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Funding Passenger Rail, which would secure funding for transit by dedicating a portion of revenues from general fund sources like meals and lodging, sales tax, and car rental fees?
 Using Maine Turnpike Authority funds, which are currently dedicated to highway maintenance and expansion, for all transportation projects, including transit?
 Raising car rental fees to subsidize transit?
6a. Please detail other funding options you might propose or for which you might advocate:
The expansion of alternative transportation is something that we need to invest in seriously as a state.  I wholeheartedly support expansion of rail in particular and believe that I am well-positioned to work for it.  Not only am I running for the current transportation Chair’s seat (Rep. Boyd Marley), but I grew up in Brunswick, a town which will be instrumental in the expansion of rail throughout the state.  My knowledge of Brunswick gives me a unique advantage in being able to market rail expansion to a variety of different interests. 
More generally, I feel we need to push for funding mechanisms that encourage more holistic solutions and greater strategic planning, rather than funding mechanisms that so firmly distinguish between roads, rails, ferries and buses.  To the extent that raising car rental fees and opening up MTA funds to greater uses encourage this type of strategic transportation planning I am willing to support them.

7. With the state facing a $200 million revenue shortfall in the current biennium (a projection that may change when April receipts are tallied), Do you support increasing the sales tax in order to avoid balancing the budget entirely through program cuts? If you do not support a tax increase of any kind – and given that “enhanced government efficiencies” will provide only very modest savings if any at all -- which programs do you propose to cut and by how much?
I think it is wholly inappropriate that the current budget shortfall has been closed by cutting programs for the neediest in our state.  I think that any budget shortfall should be made up through a careful combination of alternative revenue sources, streamlining of state government to provide increased efficiencies, and budget cuts—but only to programs we know are not effective and aren’t helping to increase the opportunities available to those they are meant to serve. 

8. As municipalities continue to provide what are increasingly expensive public goods (like education, police and fire protection), what is your plan for controlling growth in property taxes while maintaining these fundamental government services?
Property taxes are out of control for many of the residents in district 114, particularly those on the islands.  Fundamentally, we need to ensure that citizens do not have their homes taxed as though they were liquid assets that can be bought and sold just like anything else, and I will work to ensure that homesteads are treated differently than investment properties, so that people do not lose their homes as a result of property taxes.  I think that we can do this and maintain the level of public services we have exploring alternative revenue sources and encouraging smaller municipalities to work together to produce greater efficiencies in the providing of public services.

9. The Opportunity Maine program will allow students who graduate from any Maine college or University, and continues to live, work and pay taxes here, to be reimbursed for student loan payments through a state income tax credit or an employer tax credit.
Projections show that in ten years, this strategy could cost the state as much as $55 million annually, but the return on that investment is conservatively estimated at $75 million in new state and local tax revenues and decreased social expenditures. If elected, will you commit yourself to protecting this long-term economic development strategy, without any reduction in the credit’s size or availability?
I absolutely feel that Opportunity Maine is one of the most important initiatives we’ve seen in some time and will certainly commit to protecting it.  The program is essential to ensuring that more Mainers gain college educations, that more college-educated Mainers stay in the state, and that we have the type of young, educated population that will allow us to attract new business to the state for years to come.

10. Portland schools are seeing less funding from the state due, in part, to increasing value of residential and commercial property.  Although property valuation is a measure of taxable resources, it is not necessarily a good indicator of the ability of taxpayers to meet the funding needs of our schools. What are your thoughts on how to balance local and state contributions to school costs?
There is no easy answer for the question of school funding.  As addressed above, the use of property taxes as a measurement of ability to meet school funding needs does not necessarily tell the whole story.  Those who have homesteads rising in value are not suddenly able to generate greater incomes unless we continue to incorrectly act as though their homesteads are liquid assets which can be sold to generate a quick profit.  The school funding formula needs to do a better job of taking into account incomes, the percentage of school children living in poverty, and other factors in determining how state dollars are allocated to schools across the state.

11. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the state's new school district consolidation law, particularly as it affects Portland?
I feel that goals of the school consolidation law are commendable.  The more efficient that our schools become on the administrative side, the more resources that will be available to fund worthwhile educational initiatives and/or reduce property taxes.  While it is difficult to comment on the specifics of the consolidation law with so many changes still before the legislature I would say that there are two fundamental concerns with the law. First is the potential to penalize certain school districts—either by not accommodating those districts that have already banned together and reduced administrative costs, or by forcing certain small districts to join larger districts and potentially making them ineligible for certain federal funds in the process.  Second, the law may expose certain needy populations such as ELL and special education students to cuts because of the way it mandates that administrative cost savings be generated. 

12. Given Mainers’ struggle to balance work with family care responsibilities would you support:
 Paid sick days to full and part-time workers - yes
 Paid family and medical leave - yes
 Legislation that allows workers to request flexible work schedules without employer retaliation - yes
I definitely support efforts to allow workers to more effectively balance their work and family care responsibilities.  It is important however to make sure that we do remain sensitive to small businesses and the economic pressures that such policies could create for them.  I would be open to considering small, targeted support to truly small businesses to help offset any economic hardships they could face, and to make sure that the goal we are aiming for--helping workers--does not have the unintended consequence of leading small businesses to cut jobs or part-time positions.

13. Do you support current Maine law (22 M.R.S.A. § 1502), which allows minors to consent on their own behalf for health care including contraceptive counseling, mental health care and substance abuse treatment?
It is extremely important that we not discourage anyone from seeking healthcare that they need.  I support the current law.

14. Currently seventeen states fund abortion care for poor women on the same or similar terms as other pregnancy-related and general health services in their state-run Medicaid program.
Maine’s Medicaid program only covers abortion care when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk or she is the victim of rape or incest. Would you support funding abortion care for women covered by Medicaid in Maine?
I believe that we should provide funding on the same terms as we do other general health services. 

15. There is a significant move in Europe, Alaska, and Southeast Asia toward the independent certification of fisheries as sustainably-harvested.  In effect, consumer demand for sustainable fisheries is moving faster than regulatory bodies to save fisheries from overfishing. New England is behind the rest of the world in this regard; Maine has no independently certified fishery. Would you support a similar move toward independent certification in Maine?
I wholeheartedly support sustainably-harvested fisheries and the move towards independent certification.  First, as an environmental issue we must ensure that we do not irreparably damage the food chain.  Second, as an economic issue, certification works to the advantage of Maine’s fisherman.  Maine has a strong “brand” and reputation as place of high quality.  This general reputation certainly extends to our fisheries, and particularly our lobster fishery.  The lobster fishery is already held up by many as a model due the restrictions on numbers of traps, size of lobsters caught, and ban on catching egg-bearing female lobsters.  They certainly deserve the recognition and added business opportunities that can come from independent certification as sustainably-harvested.   

16. What do you see as the biggest challenge for Maine fisheries over the next five years? Biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenges and opportunities for the fishing industry are deeply intertwined.  The challenge is to compete effectively in an increasingly integrated global marketplace and with increasingly larger and larger companies.  Thus far, the industry has generally done well by preserving the image of Maine as a place of extremely high-quality seafood and lobster.  The challenge, and the opportunity, is to resist the short-term pressures that might undermine this long-term brand.  This means a commitment to sustainable fishing and protection of the high quality seafood that we do legitimately have off our coast, and a rejection of the tendency to overfish to make up for this past year’s smaller than usual catch.  It also means moving quickly (as the lobster fishery is already doing) to achieve independent certification as a sustainable fishery so that the quality of the seafood product is translated into a more easily understood and marketable asset.

17. Do you favor creating a path of citizenship that allows undocumented immigrants to come forward and begin the process of permanent residency and then legal citizenship?
 
I do support the creation of a process by which undocumented immigrants can come forward and place themselves on a path to citizenship.  I believe we are all better served by having people come out of the shadows, acquire documentation, pay taxes and become fuller members of our society.  I also believe that everyone who is willing to work hard should be given the opportunity to become citizens in due time.  However, it is important to add that the question of citizenship is primarily a federal issue.  If in the legislature I will work to make sure we know who is in our state, have them pay taxes and participate in society, but citizenship is something that we do not have the power to establish at the state level.