Bailey, Pendleton compete for State Senate District 31 Seat

Current State Representative Donna Bailey of Saco, a Democrat, is running for the State Senate District 31 Seat against former chamber of commerce director Craig Pendleton of Old Orchard Beach, a Republican.

State Senate District 31 includes the municipalities of Hollis, Limington, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and part of Buxton. The District 31 seat is being vacated by Democrat Justin Chenette.

The candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Family/marital status, age:

Married, aged 59

Occupation:

Lawyer

 

Current State Representative from Saco; House Chair of the Judiciary Committee House Chair of the Maine Indian Claims Task Force, Speaker’s appointee to the Pre-Trial Justice Task Force, and former chair of the sub-committee to re-write the Maine Probate Code

Former Mayoral appointee to the Saco Senior Tax Abatement Committee, York County Probate Court Judge, Governor’s Appointee to the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse, member of the Maine Guardian ad litem Task Force, member of the Probate and Trust Law Advisory Commission’s subcommittee to Revise Maine’s Probate Code,  Co-chair Saco Zoning Board of Appeals, and member Saco Planning Board

Why are you a good choice for State Senate? List any experience, background and skills that are relevant.

I am uniquely qualified to be a State Senator. As a small business owner, lawyer and having served for 4 years as a State Representative, I bring the business perspective of having had to make payroll, the legal expertise of a lawyer, and have enough experience in the Legislature, to know how to get things done. As the House Chair of Judiciary, I also understand the Committee process and how to “work” a bill so as to garner bi-partisan support. I would be honored to put my vast knowledge, experience, and Yankee common sense to work for the citizens of District 31 in the Senate.

I have been given so many opportunities in my lifetime, starting with Head Start, to scholarships and grants for college and Law School, that I want to give back to my community and put my knowledge and experience to work continuing the work I started in the Maine House. I want to help others to help themselves and improve the lives of all Mainers.

 When we lift up others, we lift up the State as a whole. You’ve heard the expression a chain is only as strong as its weakest link? This is true of society and communities. I want to continue giving a voice to those who may not have a voice – the elderly, the poor, working families, students, domestic violencevictims, veterans, and those suffering food insecurity.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

1. Supporting our recovering economy:

Our economy is suffering from the economic downturn caused by the ongoing pandemic. We need to continue providing assistance to our local small businesses to support them through these tough times. One item I will push for is rental assistance for small businesses. Although I applaud our State’s efforts to provide residential rental assistance, many of our small businesses lease their business location space or their equipment and need assistance to make those payments or face possible closure.

We need to continue the small business grant programs currently in place, and insure they are not unduly burdensome or complicated to apply for, while insuring the program’s integrity. I would also advocate for State programs that infuse money into the local economy, while at the same time helping our neighbors in need, similar to the Federal USDA Farmers to Family food box program I have been involved with.

2. Lowering healthcare costs and making insurance more affordable to increase coverage.

Health care and health insurance are still too expensive for too many, and the number of Mainers uninsured is unacceptable. At the same time, many Mainers, particularly in rural areas, can’t access the healthcare they need without having to travel too great a distance.

I will continue to fight for expanding healthcare services in Maine, especially in rural areas. I will also continue to fight for and pass legislation to lower the costs of prescription medications, as I have done throughout my time in Augusta .

I will continue to fight for lowering the cost of health insurance by giving Mainers the option to buy into the State’s health insurance plan based on their incomes, making health insurance affordable for more Mainers.

Lastly, I will advocate for decisions about someone’s medical care be only made by them and their doctor, and not dictated by the health insurance company, so that health care decisions are made based on what is best for the patient, not the insurance company’s bottom line.

3. Fighting food insecurity

Food insecurity is a problem that has been made worse by the uncertain economy during the pandemic.

I have volunteered with our program here in Saco to deliver meals to Seniors, and in the region distributing food boxes through the USDA Farm to Families program. I have only seen the need grow, not diminish. I would like to see these, or a similar program continue at the State level. These programs not only feed those in need, it also infuses money into our local economies. Growing up poor and knowing firsthand what it is like to go to bed without having enough to eat, this is an issue I am passionate about.

What are the greatest challenges facing the state in the upcoming year?

The greatest challenge will be to balance the budget without further harming our economy or further burdening those already struggling. Poverty and food insecurity are on the rise, while at the same time our economy has slowed due to the pandemic. Balancing the budget always requires us to balance the needs of the many and insuring our priorities reflect our values of compassionate assistance, but now this is heightened by the challenges imposed by the overlay of a global pandemic.

 

 Craig Pendleton

Occupation:

Director of External Affairs at Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit

List any previous political offices held and for how long. Also, list any municipal or school appointed committed you have served on. 

Currently a board member at PeoplesChoice Credit Union and National Board member of The Food Commons.  Formerly on Saco Economic Development Commission; Saco Coastal Waters Commission   Maine Marine Resources Advisory Committee, New England Fisheries Management Coincil-Advisory Committee

Why are you a good choice for the state senate? List any experience, background or skills that are relevant.

   I'm experienced at making tough decisions and working in an environment where people do not always agree. I successfully operated a small business in one of the worlds most dangerous professions, commercial fishing.  I served on policy advisory boards at the local, state and federal levels. My years as executive director of the local chamber of commerce, I played a role in economic development and had a specific focus on workforce development. 

My recent experience at public transportation has broadened my life's experience even more as we provide essential transportation services to the communities of Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach, with additional service to Scarborough, South Portland and downtown Portland. We had to make very difficult choices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to implement policy to keep our staff and our customers safe while still providing essential service. I was the lead on implementing our new routes, our moving of customer service and our buses to the Saco Transportation Center and most recently the implementation of our new electronic fare system. 

My nearly 30 years as a board member at PeoplesChoice Credit Union where I served as Board Chair for nearly 20 years, extends my background of leadership and knowledge of financial systems.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

My first concern is the looming deficits and the unknown long term impacts of business decision making due to COVID-19. We mustn't be hasty and tax our way out of this situation. We must look broadly and innovatively at the situation and do what is best for all of Maine. my second interest is to create policy and incentives to grow our workforce. I made it my personal focus during my time at the Chamber. Our area has strong manufacturing, restaurant and hospitality, tourism and more, all of which were hurt drastically due to the lack of a skilled, ready and able workforce. 

 Another interest of mine is to change the message coming out of Augusta and out of Maine. We know the data shows we are old and getting older, too white, too poor and the list goes on and on. For far too long, our negative messaging has chased our young people away and stagnated our growth. The opposite example would be the Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Region where positive messaging, solid leadership and incentive for development created a great economic boom. This are is getting younger. Opportunity is everywhere and the Mill District is now home to thousands of people, many of which are new to the area. We can broaden this trend and make Maine a very desirable place to live and work.

What are the greatest challenges facing the state in the upcoming year? 

COVID-19 of course, the sickness and the fear it has created is only surpassed by the divisiveness it has spawned. I'm concerned about the budget. With the new normal of people successfully working from home, I want to pay attention to the long term impacts this will have on ownership of brick and mortar by businesses we count on for tax revenue. I am concerned about the impacts of remote learning and how we get internet to all areas of the state so all students can fairly and successfully participate. I don't only look at the negatives associated with this shift. There are many positives such as less travel offers cleaner air-but again the flip side is we count of the gas tax to fund programs. It is very complicated and it will take a collaborative effort to think it through.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].