Maine election 2022: Buck and Mastraccio of Sanford run for House District 142 seat
Republican Pamela Buck is running against Democrat Anne-Marie Mastraccio in the 2022 election for the District 142 seat in the Maine House.
Anne-Marie Mastraccio
Hometown: Sanford
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
Maine already has strong protections in place that allow women to control their reproductive rights. Without question, legislators should continue to protect those rights. We should also ensure that as other states restrict reproductive rights, those seeking care in Maine will not be punished and our providers will be protected as they provide that care.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
Inflation and rising prices are a global issue and there is no state policy that will cure that problem but there are ways to mitigate the resulting effects on our citizens. I would support direct inflation relief in the form of a check if there is sufficient surplus as well increasing heating assistance funding and making it available to more income groups. I think we need to hold the line on electricity prices and explore ways to hold oil companies accountable for enjoying record profits at the expense of working people. As housing becomes more unaffordable, particularly for renters and first time home buyers, we need to support the construction of new housing. While building more housing will help, we should also explore regulation of the short term rental market. As for the labor market, the pandemic exacerbated and accelerated a problem that has been expected and discussed for the past 10 years. Baby boomers retiring at record rates and fewer babies being born, it was just a matter of time. We need to make it easier for women to work by ensuring safe and affordable childcare is available. Incentivizing seniors to return to the workplace and allowing asylum seekers quicker access to work permits might help as would putting pressure on our federal delegation to increase the number of temporary work visas. Coordinating training opportunities between high school CTE programs, Adult education, community college and businesses would also help.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
I am committed to continuing Municipal Revenue Sharing at the statutory 5%, education funding at 55% and fully funding any tax incentive program (like the Homestead exemption) that would otherwise shift more taxes onto the local property tax payer. I will put in a bill to implement a dental therapy program at the University of Maine at Augusta so we can finally increase access to dental care. We can never train enough dentists to solve this problem and we have the law in place to utilize this dental professional but no place to train them. I support universal Pre-K programs; it is the best way to ensure equity in educational opportunities for all children, no matter where they live. I support free breakfast and lunch for all children-one of the best things to come out of the pandemic. I believe we need to rebuild community supports for those individuals and families suffering from mental health and drug related issues. There are programs that worked in the past that were systematically dismantled by the previous administration and we are seeing the effect of that dismantling today. I firmly believe that government exists to help people and that belief informs my policy decisions.
Pamela Buck
Hometown: Sanford
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and placed the power to regulate abortion with the states. What should state lawmakers do regarding abortion laws?
We need to protect all our residents' rights, including women's right when it comes to abortion. Maine abortion rights did not change when Roe v. Wade was overturned due to the trigger law and forward thinking of our past administration. This is a very sensitive and individual topic where science and humanity needs to find a balance. Maine to date has been proactive and concerned for women's and the unborn child in its law making. Maine permits safe pre-viability abortions and requires health plans to cover legal abortions. I personally do not believe that abortions should be used for birth control, which Maine's current laws give protection under the guidance of science and data based research backing its laws. Maine is balanced compared to other states to preserve all peoples lives mother and unborn child. I would continue to stand behind Maine's current abortion laws.
The state's residents and businesses face many economic challenges, including high prices for electricity and fuel, a labor shortage, a lack of affordable housing and rising prices due to inflation. How would you address these challenges?
Priority of affordable and workforce housing is desperately needed, due to it vast shortage. Without our workers we can not build our economy, attract businesses and keep our state competitive. Our income level of our workforce does not support the higher costs of living in Maine including individuals on a fixed income or providing safe & affordable housing for our our elders. Reducing the red tape to make this a top priority in Maine is mandatory. That would include revamping the tax structure on home ownership, the highest tax burden is placed on property tax which is not a balanced approach or solution to retain our workers. An adjustment of our State of Maine taking more active commitment to providing better paying jobs with decent benefits is required. Workers and their families would like to live in or near their communities they reside in. This would increase our workforce and retain our valuable workers & their families. It is simple, no housing, no workers, no businesses, no economy, no state.
What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?
As a resident, full-time worker, parent and proud grandparent, I would like to continue living and eventually retire here in Maine. With our current administration, I can not see this happening. Having been and continued work experience in Career and Economic Development, Municipal Government and working for non-profits for homelessness and education & training, my diversity would assist in being a productive state representative. Myself and my family have been raised and educated in Maine along with my husband of 35 years. Adding, I assist with caring for my vibrant 87-year-old Dad that served in the Korean War. I care and am I am concerned about Maine's economy and the future of our hard workers, business owners, residents and their families. Priority must be taken at the state level to protect Maine's natural and human resources. Our tax structure needs to be totally revamped, education and training offerings for our youth and anyone at any age need state ownership, the crisis of opioids is now a constant and cannot be put aside for too many have died, resources for economic development need to be top priority to become a competitive state again. I take a common-sense approach, I know how to listen first and know when to be heard. I am compassionate, fair, and understand decisions should be balanced not for a special interest or to follow party line. I want to represent my community in Sanford Springvale and our state as a "whole."
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine election 2022: Buck vs. Mastraccio for Sanford District 142 seat
