Building care infrastructure and economic equity
What do you see as the biggest barriers and challenges facing the care work industry and care workers in Maine?
“Most of my focus in the legislature has been around this type of issue, centered around education, primarily, and workforce development. One of the biggest hindrances of recruiting people to come to the state of Maine is affordable anything. Whether it be housing, or childcare, or those things. So we have to make a concerted effort to address those costs.”
"One of the biggest hindrances of recruiting people to come to the state of Maine is affordable anything.”
Ensuring reproductive and gender-specific healthcare
What do you see as the biggest barriers and challenges facing access to consistent, high-quality perinatal care?
“I think the biggest obstacle is the legislature. Right now, you're dealing with the last 6 years, we've been operating under what you're all familiar with now is the majority budget. What that has done in practice, it has totally divided the legislature.”
“I think the biggest obstacle is the legislature.”
Ending gender-based and carceral violence
What do you see as the key policy interventions to support sexual assault and domestic violence survivors, and protect access to these services?
“We need to support them. I know there's no such thing as 1,000%. But that's what we have to do. I mean, you know, the legal system is… It's a difficult road to navigate. Doesn't make it easy for victims. But we need to stand behind them, protect them, and hold those perpetrators accountable for their actions.”
“The legal system is… It's a difficult road to navigate. Doesn't make it easy for victims.”
Developing equitable & accessible government systems
there are efforts in Maine to pass an expansive Equal Rights Amendment, which would embed all of the Maine Human Rights Act protections into our Maine Constitution, including sex and gender. As governor, how would you anticipate interacting with these efforts?
“I would totally support them. I mean, you guys all know Lois Reckitt, who’s always been a champion of women's rights. I've had the privilege of sitting in her seat in the chamber for the last couple years, and I hold that very dearly. It amazes me that there's still a question about equal rights with respect to women, or ethnicity or anything else. It's embarrassing to me that that's where we still are in this country and in this state. And I will be a loud voice for equity along those lines.”