Maine election 2022: Ingwersen vs. Corbett for Senate District 32 seat

Democratic state Sen. Henry Ingwersen, of Arundel, is being challenged by Republican Rev. David G. Corbett, of Lyman, for the Maine state Senate seat representing District 32 (Arundel, Lyman, Dayton, Hollis and Biddeford).

Rev. David Corbett

Hometown: Lyman

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?

Why did the United States Supreme Court do this? 1. Did you know that two of the Justices in 1973 had family members that worked for Planned Parenthood? 2. Did you know that there is no "right to privacy" in the U.S. Constitution? 3. Did you know that "Roe" was used by special interests to bring this matter to the court? 4. Did you know that "Roe" later opposed what she did? 5. Did you know that the infamous "Dr. Scraper" who became wealthy doing abortions opposes what he did and has written, "Silent Scream." 6. Did you know that when abortions became the law of the land there were no (fetal) ultrasounds? 7. Did you know that now doctors can see the pain and agony that the baby is going through? You see, abortion is death and that is prohibited by the 14th Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. I stand for the life of both the mother and the child. We need to make adoptions easier with no costs. We need strong laws against rape and incest so that the perpetrator pays for the care of the child. No woman should be forced into a sexual relationship against her will. She deserves dignity, respect and honor.

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?

This is all the result of the recession that we are now in. Yet the liberal media calls it inflation because the president says so. Remove the foolish policymakers in Washington D.C. and Maine, and you will reverse direction. Just two years ago under another administration, we had gas at about $2 a gallon and heating oil and natural gas were much lower. What changed? The foolish policies trying to force green on the people, when the infrastructure was not in place. This will not be reversed if you keep the same party in charge that is in Washington and Augusta. You do realize, don't you, that the Democrats run both Washington and Augusta. Therefore, if you return them to power for the next two years you will get more of the same. Surely, we the people must send a message to Washington and Augusta, no more! Elect Republicans and change course.

What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?

I have written about many issues. Just go to davidcorbett.org and read what I have to say. We have issues in our schools, courts, police and community. In short, we are in a mess. Most Mainers agree so vote with your pen and change course. I look forward to working for the people in Augusta and in Washington.

Henry Ingwersen

Hometown: Arundel

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?

In Maine, abortion should always be protected as part of a continuum of women’s health care - it’s that basic. Maine currently has strong abortion protection laws, some of which I helped enact when I served in the Maine House of Representatives. One example is LD 820, which ensures health insurance coverage for all reproductive care, including abortion. If I am elected to the state Senate, I will want to hear from healthcare professionals and legal experts about whether or not Maine’s abortion laws need strengthening. The right to a safe, legal, and accessible abortion is a woman’s private health care right to be decided between a woman and her health care professional. It is not the business of the government to take away a woman’s private health care decisions and rights. This is a right that my wife of 47 years has always had, and as a father of three daughters and grandfather of eight granddaughters, I will fight to uphold this right for them and all Mainers.

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?

Taking steps to manage the skyrocketing cost of living for working Maine families and retirees is a priority for me. Passing legislation that will open the door to more affordable housing, bring down energy costs by holding corporations and utilities accountable for price-gouging, and making health care more affordable are a few things that can help bring down costs for fellow Mainers. As a legislator, I also helped bring more than $130 million in property tax relief to Maine families. Regarding heating fuel, increased funding and expanded eligibility for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is needed even if the governor’s request to the feds is granted. We need to hold utilities accountable for their unacceptable rate spikes and have more consumer input into the rate-setting process so that Mainers have lower electricity bills. A new law does this, but we will need to make sure it’s effective. Affordable housing and increased availability of rental units are key to bringing down costs as well as addressing Maine’s labor shortage. I would strongly support the new affordable housing law, LD 2003. This law will help family members of homeowners and others stay in their communities to live and work, while opening up more rental units for working people. Finally, we need to continue to train Mainers for Maine jobs. As a legislator, I supported funding for career and technical education and will continue that work if elected to the Maine Senate.

What else do you want voters to know about you or your policy positions before the election on Nov. 8?

As a career educator and grandfather, I care deeply about our public schools. The pandemic has exacerbated a major problem that our schools were already facing: teacher and staff shortages. This problem will not be easy to solve; an aging population and the shortage of a labor force is only making it harder. As a legislator on the Education Committee from 2018-2020, I voted to increase minimum teacher salaries and bring the state’s share of school funding to 55%. But much more must be done. Our schools need more qualified classroom teachers, ed techs, and professional staff, including social workers, guidance counselors, and bus drivers. For this, adequate funding and innovative training solutions are needed. One good idea has been USM’s new teacher training program, which allows teacher trainees to earn a salary in schools while receiving their training. I want to continue my work to improve our Maine schools if I return to Augusta. My experience in the Legislature has shown that I have the qualities needed to get the work done for the people in my district; the ability to listen carefully and work tirelessly with my constituents and fellow lawmakers regardless of party. I am invested in Maine for the long haul. As a husband, father of three, and grandfather of ten, all living in Maine, I want our communities and our state to remain a more affordable, healthy, sustainable, and safe place to live. I want to make Maine a better place for generations to come.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine election 2022: Ingwersen vs. Corbett for Senate District 32 seat