State Senate Dist. 31 race

Incumbent Democrat Donna Bailey is running against Independent Craig Pendleton for the State Senate District 31 seat, serving Buxton, Old Orchard Beach; and Saco.

The two candidates, in alphabetical order.

 Donna Bailey, 63, lives in Saco. She is married with two adult children and three grandchildren.

She is a former member of the Saco Planning Board, former co-chair Saco Zoning Board of Appeals, former York County Probate Court Judge, former State Representative for District 14 (now district 130), former member of the Saco Senior Tax Abatement Committee, and has served as  State Senator for District 31 since 2020.

Bailey is a member of the Rotary Club of Saco Bay, corporator for Sweetser and a volunteer for Saco Main Street. She has also served as a volunteer for the Old Orchard Beach Park and Rec Rock the Park, Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce Car Show and Lobster Rock , Saco Harborfest, Saco Grange Backpacks for Students, Saco Parks and Recreation food/meal distributions, Age Friendly Saco food/meal distributions,  OOB Community Friendly Connection food distributions , and Ocean Park Association annual spring clean-up, and has also volunteered at the Lucky Ducky Booth at Saco and Old Orchard Beach harvest festivals.

“My experience as an effective legislator who works collaboratively in a bi-partisan way to find common sense solutions. As an attorney and former Probate Court Judge, I know how to listen to all sides, while also standing up to the myriad of lobbyists and interests groups advocating on behalf of their clients in Augusta. I understand what it takes to get a bill from an idea to enacted law, and am willing to roll up my sleeves to get it done for my community,” said Bailey.

She said if re-elected, her top priorities would be affordable housing and property tax relief.

Bailey said the number one issue she hears from constituents is the lack of affordable housing. The legislature needs to continue its work to increase the number of affordable units, make it easier for first time home-buyers to purchase a home, and protect the current stock of affordable homes, she said. She said she voted for funding programs at Maine State Housing such as the affordable housing TIF that offer incentives for the development of more affordable housing units. The state needs to continue funding these programs and offer more assistance for first time home buyers such as mortgage loan guarantees and down payment assistance, she said.

“We need to be creative and think outside of the box, such as a program mirrored on the Habitat for Humanity model where first-time home buyers can opt to trade “sweat equity” in lieu of a cash down payment. Finally, we need to do all we can to protect the affordable housing we already have, including our manufactured housing units that are under attack from out of state investment firms threatening to raise park rents beyond what the residents can afford,” she said.

Bailey said she championed the Senior Property Tax Deferral program and if re-elected will continue to ensure it is funded going forward.

“I will also introduce legislation to allow municipalities to adopt their own property tax stabilization program for older Mainers, to “freeze their property taxes” at a certain level, with the option to offset the lost revenue with a local option sales tax on meals and lodging. In this way, towns can choose to shift some of the burden of property taxes away from seniors,” she said.

 Craig Pendleton, 64, lives in Old Orchard Beach. He is married with two adult children and three grandchildren.

Pendleton has not held an elected position but has served on state and federal marine resource committees and commissions. He said he also testified before Congress on legislation that impacted Maine's commercial fishing resources. 

He founded the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, is a former Corporator at Sweetser, and served on the inaugural coastal waters commission and Saco economic development commission. He served as the executive director of the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry and director of transportation at BSOOB Transit. Pendleton was also a board member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and is a member of the PeoplesChoice Credit Union board of directors.

Pendleton said his extensive work background gives him insight into the issues facing local citizens and businesses.

“I ran a small business in the most dangerous profession, so I know what it's like to struggle, meet payroll, and deal with burdensome legislation that hinders your business. I've spoken on marine resource issues all over the world. I listen, I take in information and make sound decisions. I'm not afraid of controversy and difficult situations. I have many contacts in and out of the State of Maine. I am well respected by Maine's elected officials at all levels. I can be intense yet respectful and I will get things accomplished. Most importantly I love collaborating and working together to solve problems and create opportunity,” he said.

Pendleton said he is running as an unenrolled candidate because the legislative process is a mess with each party blaming the other. 

“We need to turn the discussions about Maine away from all negative and toward positive like we did with Biddeford. People are tired of hearing we are old, high taxed, too white, can't make a living to raise a family and on and on. It's time to change that narrative by removing the hurdles that hold us back. High property taxes are hurting Mainers,” he said. “We need to evaluate what services are absolutely needed and what we can do better as a citizenry. We need to reduce the regulatory burden on our small businesses and allow them to thrive.”

If elected, he said he will keep a watchful eye on new energy technology such as electric, wind and solar. He said as a former fisherman, he has experience and knowledge that could benefit discussions on offshore wind energy.

“I'm seriously concerned that we are giving up productive farmland to unproven solar technology. Last I knew, you can't eat a solar panel. Unfunded mandates forcing agencies to use unproven technology and raising local costs must stop,” said Pendleton.

He said mitigating coastal erosion is a high priority for him as he grew up in Camp Ellis.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.