Building care infrastructure and economic equity
What do you see as the biggest barriers and challenges facing the care work industry (child care, elder care and health care) and systemically undervalued and underpaid care workers, 80% of whom are women?
“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.”
Highlights from our conversation on April 27, 2026
"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 given the rapid closure of birthing units, especially in rural areas?
“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 services given recent federal VOCA funding cuts?
“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.”
“We need to stand behind them, protect them, and hold those perpetrators accountable for their actions.”
Developing equitable & accessible government systems
Laws that address discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression protect all women from discrimination based on their appearance, but there are efforts in Maine and nationally to change these protections. How would you address these proposals?
“Let people be… who they are. It's sad to me just how polarizing it's become. What all we're asking for is to be treated the same. I always felt kind of interesting being an older, white, heterosexual male. It's a great position to be in to talk about, you know… Fairness for all. And I do think that has resonated somewhat. With my peers, you know, certainly in the legislature. But it would go a lot further, you know. From the Blane House, than it would from… you know, District 112.”
If elected, how would you stay connected and accessible to the people you represent?
“I've always lived by and believed in the open-door policy. I love the idea that I think the chief executive should have regular public meetings. Across the state. Too many people that are working in Augusta right now think what happens in that bubble is what's really important to the folks outside the bubble. And it really isn't. ”
“Let people be… who they are. It's sad to me just how polarizing it's become. What all we're asking for is to be treated the same.”
“I've always lived by and believed in the open-door policy. I love the idea that I think the chief executive should have regular public meetings.”
Other notable quotes
“I would totally support them [efforts to pass an inclusive ERA]. 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.”
Each profile features direct quotes pulled from candidate’s answers to our questions. Full transcripts of each conversation can be found by clicking here.