Policy should work for you! And it can!
It feels like these days everywhere you look there’s a new problem in our society. Every time you turn on the news there’s some issue which needs to be fixed. It can get overwhelming. And all of these problems are connected to each other like a tangled ball of yarn. When you start to pull on one, you pull on others.
Here’s the good news: with smart policy making, we can address multiple problems at once. No problem ever has a single solution. As the saying goes, there aren’t silver bullets, but there is silver buckshot. This is a good thing, it means our problems can be tackled from multiple angles, and aren’t reliant on just one bill or one decision to solve them. Even better, we can hit multiple targets, multiple problems, in a single shot if we’re smart about our policy making.
My top priorities are:
Invest in our future: fund education and fight climate change
Protect our democracy and civil rights
Win back affordability and a fair tax system
Below is a list of issues, and some of the possible solutions to them. Policy making and budgeting our always about priorities and choices. In the legislature, we need to recognize this reality while fighting as hard as we can to make life easier for ordinary Mainers. I’m always happy to hear constituents ideas and perspectives, so don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s an issue you feel is important or an innovative possible solution you would like to share!
Our country is facing two major crises - here’s what Maine can do about them
Climate Change
Incentivize not only a transition to clean energy, but a democratic energy system, through programs like community owned solar, home owner friendly net metering structures, incentivizing solar installation on existing developed areas instead of farm and forest land, community control of the energy grid, and modern distributed grid systems.
Fund climate resiliency and repair systems, for example improving waterfront and road infrastructure to better handle larger storms and rising sea levels.
Fund conservation, riparian restoration, and other projects which both protect our natural world and give beneficial ecosystem services which help to clean the air and manage flooding.
Ensure our communities have the training, resources, and planning in place to respond to climate driven emergencies.
Protect our wildlife and marine life, while also supporting the jobs and industries which rely on them!
Crumbling Democracy
An attack on anyone’s rights is an attack on everyone’s rights. We will never compromise on anyone’s rights and liberties, especially not for our most vulnerable populations: immigrants, racialized minorities, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ.
Hold federal officials and agencies accountable for the harm they cause, and prevent it in the first place whenever possible.
Protect Maine’s nation leading election system - same day voter registration, mail in ballots, paper back ups of all ballots, clean elections funding, and more make Maine one of the most democratic states in the country. We need to keep it that way, and improve it.
Protect Mainers from technology corporation’s profiteering off of our data and violating of our privacy.
Work to keep Maine from being complicit in illegal wars, human rights abuses, unlawful arrests, and other acts of misconduct.
Talking with voters at the Democratic Party 2026 regional caucus
Posing in front of the state house on the day I dropped off registration papers to officially be on the ballot!
Talk of the Town - What else are Scarborough residents concerned about, and how are some ways the legislature can help?
Housing Prices and Affordability
Stop “mega-landlord” companies and venture capital from artificially driving up the price of renting or buying
Bring down electricity and heating prices through democratically controlled and cost effective roll out of renewable energy, weatherization, and fuel assistance
You deserve to live in the home you’ve worked for: ensure that tax burdens on homes which have skyrocketed in value don’t force retirees out of their houses; keep neighborhoods aging friendly with walkability, public transit, and access to services.
Work with towns on zoning and permitting to incentivize apartments, “starter homes”, town houses, and residential ADUs that working people can actually afford.
Population Growth and New Construction
Fund Public Transit and Active Transit Infrastructure - including infrastructure which ensures young children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and anyone else facing structural barriers have the same access to our community as everyone else.
Incentivize smart, well managed growth which prioritices housing, walk ability, and reliable infrastructure.
Housing and infrastructure aren’t just a town by town issue, it effects counties and regions - support inter-municipal collaboration.
Public Education
Funding for what matters most: smaller class sizes, more teachers and student support staff, better pay for the workers shaping our future!
Protect and expand Maine’s public pre-K and public college programs
Protect students rights and foster an inclusive, welcoming society.
Lessen the burden of school funding by ensuring the state shares tax revenue, thereby expanding opportunities for our students and reducing municipal property taxes.
In winter of 2026 I helped to plan and lead a protest at Senator Collins’ office demanding an end to ICE’s terror on our communities. Over 30 faith leaders and care workers conducted a pray in at the Senator’s office. Keeping our children and neighbors safe is of the utmost importance to me.
Other priorities - just a few of the issues closest to my heart
Every child deserves love, safety, and the opportunity to thrive: properly fund Maine’s child protective services, supports for new parents, services for higher needs students, and foster care systems to make sure no child ever “falls through the cracks”.
Everyone deserves a home and food: support municipalities and non-profits in pursuing best practice “housing first” programs and adequetly resourced food banks to protect our most vulnerable.
We’re all better off when we’re all healthier: Ensure accessability of mental health, primary care, preventative care, public health, and social work services for a happier, safer, thriving society.
Support Women to create an equitable society, including through: ensuring accessible women’s healthcare, and gender affirming care for all; scientificly accurate and ethical sexual education in schools; preventing instinces of and supporting victims of rape, assault, domestic violence, and domestic abuse, including increased funding for Maine’s domestic violence response and prevention centers in the face of rising costs.
Respect Wabanaki Sovereignty, and work in equal partnership with the tribal nations.
Support Workers through working in partnership with labor unions and workers’ rights groups.
Talking with our friends at the Maine League of Women Voters at the March 2026 No Kings rally