The Local News asked candidates in three house and two senate races for the Maine Legislature to answer six questions in order to help voters make an informed choice.
Candidates were given up to 200 words per answer. We have not edited the candidates’ answers for substance, argument or viewpoint. We only lightly edited for length, obvious typos or formatting consistency. We did not fact-check or add commentary to candidates’ answers. Candidates in each race appear in alphabetical order.
Questionnaires are appearing in this order:
House District 134: Allen Daggett (I), Traci Gere (D) — Tuesday (read it here)
House District 135: Scott Craig (I), Lisa Joy Pratt (D) — Wednesday
House District 140: Wayne Perry (R), Kirstan Watson (D) — Thursday
Senate District 32: Henry Ingwersen (D), Jason Litalien (I) — Friday
Senate District 34: Jonathan Fallon (R), Dan Sayre (D) — Saturday
House District 135 (Kennebunk, partially)
Scott Craig (Independent)
1. What specific issue facing your town or district led you to run for this seat? How would you bring this to the attention of other legislators in Augusta?
I decided to run for the state legislature because I want to bring a sense of
optimism back to the kids in Maine. Growing up in Maine we thought anything
was possible if you worked hard enough, did well in school and played by the
rules. A lot of the young people I’ve talked with have grown cynical about their
future in Maine. We need to help create a climate regardless of where in the
state you grow up, you’ll get a great education, be able to find a job that’ll support
you and a family and help you afford a home.
2. What would be your top three priorities in your first term?
My top priority is to change the trajectory of test scores in the state. 74% of our
4th grade students don’t read at grade level. 75% of eighth grade students aren’t
proficient in math. This is a crisis that needs to be addressed quickly. My second
priority is to reduce the tax burden in the state. We’re now 5th in the country in tax
burden, and the legislature keeps adding new fees and taxes rather than
reviewing how our money is being spent. Finally, we need to address energy
costs in the state. Instead of relying on government mandates that pick winners
and losers in the energy transition, we should let competition identify the most
effective path beyond a petroleum-based economy.
3. What state-level policies would you support to address Maine’s housing shortage and rising cost of housing? How could you help to implement increased housing in your district?
I’ve watched with interest as large scale housing projects around the state are
either delayed or scrapped because of the amount of time and costs that has
been layered into these projects because of local and state regulations. I’d
advocate for a complete review of the hurdles that are placed in front of these
builders, by a group of stakeholders who would be empowered to make
recommendations back to the legislature to determine what adds value and what
should be eliminated.
4. What would you do to improve health care access and affordability in Maine, including the future of MaineCare funding? Would you support supplemental funding of Maine Care into the future? If not, why not?
We’ve added more than 90,000 working age adults to our MaineCare program,
while at the same time MaineCare does not reimburse hospitals fully for the cost
of care. This shift put increased financial pressure on the health care system and
added costs for people with private health care. This is unsustainable, and is
resulting in hospitals closing, or eliminating services. At the same time, the
Affordable Care Act has failed, resulting in many people choosing to be
uninsured. I would recommend a bipartisan review, including public and private
stakeholders to address the shortfalls of ACA to help make the program
financially viable in Maine.
5. In terms of energy, Maine is highly impacted by the volatility of the oil market, a primary source of heating fuel for many here. Do you see any “out of the box” solutions to this dilemma? Should the state be more focused and create more incentives for heat pumps, solar power, and wind? If not, why not?
At a time when the state should be casting a wide net for energy solutions the
legislature has chosen to limit our options by limiting the size of hydro electric
projects. There is an immediate opportunity to lift this burden, which would allow
Maine to import Canadian hydroelectric power, which would lower costs around
the state. Maine should also continue to explore opportunities to expand the use of geo thermal energy, small nuclear power projects and expansion of natural gas. I would also continue to incentivize the use of heat pumps.
6. What statewide policies would you support or initiate to help manage growing climate change effects such as power outages, flooding, and the need to adapt our infrastructure?
At the state level, I would advocate for infrastructure projects involving state
funding to plan for a range of potential climate outcomes and build these projects
with an eye to protect them from any potential sea rise, river flooding or heat-related impacts.
Lisa Joy Pratt (Democrat)
1. What specific issue facing your town or district led you to run for this seat? How would you bring this to the attention of other legislators in Augusta?
The issue that led me to run for the Maine House is the growing burden of property taxes and the lack of revenue options available to municipalities. Serving my second term on Kennebunk’s Select Board has given me firsthand experience with the challenges towns face in funding essential services while balancing the financial pressures on residents. Property taxes provide the majority of municipal revenue, placing a disproportionate burden on homeowners, seniors, and working families. At the same time, towns need sustainable ways to generate revenue. In Augusta, I would collaborate with fellow legislators from communities that share Kennebunk’s experiences, like Bar Harbor. I would explore opportunities to expand municipal revenue
sources, including examining whether communities could have greater flexibility to benefit from tourism-related economic activity. Any changes though would need to consider fairness, economic impacts, and the potential effects on local businesses and residents. My goal is to help municipalities become more financially sustainable while reducing reliance on property taxes. I believe local leaders should have a meaningful voice in shaping policies that directly affect their communities, and I would bring that perspective to Augusta.
2. What would be your top three priorities in your first term?
My top three priorities in my first term would be climate action, addressing food insecurity, and expanding municipal revenue options. I would support investments in climate resilience, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure while helping municipalities implement their climate action plans. I would advocate for continued
funding for Maine Community Action Grants. These grants are awarded through the Community Resilience Partnership managed by the Maine Office of Community Affairs to help local and Tribal governments reduce carbon emissions and build climate resilience. It is so important to protect Maine’s environment while recognizing the financial realities facing towns and residents.
I would work to strengthen food recovery programs, support local food networks, and improve access to nutritious food for families, seniors, and vulnerable residents. Reducing food waste while directing edible food to those who need it can benefit both our communities and our environment.
I would explore a local option sales tax or other mechanisms that allow municipalities to
diversify revenue sources and reduce reliance on property taxes. Any proposal would need to consider impacts on residents, local businesses, and tourism, while ensuring municipalities do not lose existing state funding.
3. What state-level policies would you support to address Maine’s housing shortage and rising cost of housing? How could you help to implement increased housing in your district?
I would support continued investment in MaineHousing’s affordable housing programs and the affordable housing tax credit which offers financial help to developers to build, preserve, and rehabilitate income-restricted housing.
It is important for the state to help municipalities update land use ordinances to allow more housing options. Maine has already taken steps in this direction through the Housing Opportunity Program, which provides municipalities with technical assistance. At the same time, I believe housing policy needs to respect local communities and infrastructure capacity. We need to balance increasing housing supply with protecting natural resources, ensuring adequate transportation and services, and avoiding development that simply shifts costs to municipalities.
I would like to explore policies that appropriately regulate short-term rentals and discourage large corporations from purchasing homes that could otherwise be available for year-round residents. Expanding the availability of long-term rentals and homeownership opportunities can help keep communities accessible to the people who live and work there. We need to continue promoting vibrant, year-round communities where families can put down roots, local businesses can thrive, and neighborhoods remain active throughout the year.
4. What would you do to improve health care access and affordability in Maine, including the future of MaineCare funding? Would you support supplemental funding of Maine Care into the future? If not, why not?
I would support continued and sustainable funding for MaineCare because access to health care should not depend on a family’s ability to pay. MaineCare provides critical coverage for children and pregnant women, helping ensure that future generations have a healthy start to life here in Maine. I would support supplemental funding when necessary to maintain access to care and protect these essential services.
Improving access also means addressing Maine’s health care workforce shortage. I would support greater investment in higher education, workforce training, and programs that encourage health care professionals to live and work in Maine. We need nurses, physicians, behavioral health professionals, technicians, and other health-care workers to provide the extensive, high-quality care Maine communities need.
I would also support policies that expand access to care in rural and underserved communities, including strengthening community health centers and telehealth services.
These investments require significant public resources, so we should continue looking for ways to use those funds efficiently and ensure that MaineCare dollars directly support patients and providers. To me, investing in health care is also an investment in Maine’s future: healthy children become healthy adults, and a strong health-care system supports families, communities, and our economy.
5. In terms of energy, Maine is highly impacted by the volatility of the oil market, a primary source of heating fuel for many here. Do you see any “out of the box” solutions to this dilemma? Should the state be more focused and create more incentives for heat pumps, solar power, and wind? If not, why not?
Maine needs to continue moving away from our dependence on fossil fuels for heating and electricity while making clean energy affordable and accessible. We are fortunate to have an organization like Efficiency Maine, and the Legislature should support its work, expand its reach, and provide sustainable funding. I would investigate additional incentives for heat pumps and solar power, while investing in public education so homeowners understand how these technologies can provide heating and cooling.
We need to invest in educating and training contractors who can properly install and maintain alternative heating and cooling systems. Building that workforce is essential if we want these solutions to be available throughout Maine.
I would also explore less traditional renewable energy opportunities, including wave-generated energy, which could be an area where Maine’s coastline provides an advantage. As a board member of ecomaine, I have also seen the potential of turning waste into energy and would support examining opportunities for energy generation from municipal waste. Maine’s energy future should include a mix of renewable sources, including solar, wind, water, and emerging technologies. Our goal should be to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets while creating a more affordable, resilient, and sustainable energy system.
6. What statewide policies would you support or initiate to help manage growing climate change effects such as power outages, flooding, and the need to adapt our infrastructure?
I would support increased state funding for the strategies outlined in Maine Won’t Wait,
including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping communities prepare for climate impacts. Communities that have adopted active Climate Action Plans should receive additional support to implement those plans.
We also need to rethink how and where we build. I would support land use policies that account for future flood and drought risks, discourage development in vulnerable areas, and encourage nature-based solutions and infill development where appropriate.
Transportation is another important part of reducing emissions. I would support funding for communities with active transportation plans and increased investment in public transportation.
Climate adaptation will require significant investment, but delaying action will increase future costs. I believe Maine should use state resources to help communities implement practical solutions while continuing to reduce emissions. Our policies should prepare us for the climate we are experiencing while working to prevent even greater impacts in the future. To help fund these investments, I would support exploring a green local option tax that allows municipalities to generate revenue for climate resilience, conservation, and sustainable infrastructure. Any new tax should be carefully designed to balance environmental benefits, affordability, and impacts on local businesses.
