Why the State House? Why Me?
We need to stop thinking of politics in layers: like state policy is the minor leagues and federal is the majors. The truth is all policy matters and all levels of government can do things about the problems we face. In fact, the “lower” a governing position is, the higher chance it will impact your life every single day. The state house isn’t some stepping stone in a career for me, it is a means and an end to make the world better for my neighbors.
We need to use every lever of power at our disposal: protests, civil disobedience, state policy, municipal zoning, mutual aid, volunteering, it all can work together to make the world a better place. We need to start acting like it. And one way elected officials can act like it is to use every ounce of public voice they have, every single procederal sticking point, every buearaucratic tool they have to slow or even reverse the march of climate destruction and fascist powergrabs.
We need younger people in elected office: nothing personal against my elders! The wisdom you bring and the long time in the fight is deeply valued. But a third of the US senate is over the age of 70 and only 10 are under the age of 50. The youngest President in my life time so far is the same age as my parents. In fact, most U.S. Presidents in my life were born the same year as each other! The most common job in the Maine State House is retiree. We need our elected offices to look more like the communities they represent, and that means electing more folks across different age groups.
We need workers in elected office: after retired, most members of the state house are self employed or business owners. When you have too many people of a particular profession or class in office, it starts to effect how the legislature sees the world. I’m a Maine Guide, an educator, and a bike mechanic. I know what it’s like to juggle multiple gigs, to balance work and childcare and family and friends on too small a paycheck, to worry about how I’ll pay for rent or groceries. I hope no one has to worry about those kinds of things, that we build a society where everyone can thrive. But in the meantime, we need more variety of economic experiences shaping policy.
On Division in Politics and Society
It’s no secret, politics has gotten more divisive and rhetoric more toxic than ever. It’s something I hear a lot from constituents as I talk to people around Scarborough, and it’s a part of the reason we’re facing the two Big Crises we are right now.
But the reasons aren’t mysterious. In fact, they’re quite simple:
Billionaires and corporations are using their money and control of the media to pit us against each other, weaken our power as workers, voters, and community members, and demonize common sense solutions to many problems.
To break that down a little further:
They’ve poured money into elections to weaken voter power and keep us arguing with each other on what they want us to focus on, instead of the negative impact they have on the country, the earth, and our daily lives.
Technology companies and social media silo us into ideological echo chambers online, and distract us with constant bombardments of notifications, while the plummeting purchasing power of wages, constricted vacation time, and creeping “always at work” demands, keep us from connecting in the real world.
Politicians from both major parties on the national level have moved to protect those already in power and support corporate interests over real people, while disguising it with a handful of emotionally charged, highly publicized fights.
A decades long propaganda campaign has shifted the “Overton Window” to the far right, meaning common sense solutions once supported by Americans regardless of party now seem “extreme”.
Fascists have taken power, making compromise or collaboration on many issues impossible, because inching towards Fascist goals is still helping Fascists.
Maine politics is better than the national level on these problems, but even we aren’t immune. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to innoculate outselves against these problems, including maintaining and strengthening our clean election system, protecting our voting rights, democraticing our systems by enacting policies like ranked choice voting, not allowing ourselves to be tricked into attacking each other, and limiting the power big corporations and the federal government have in our state.
Policy making is about three things: relationships, power, and will. As a legislator, I will ensure I am not engaging in divisive rhetoric or unkindness towards others, while ensuring I never back down on protecting Mainers’ fundamental rights. Those who know me often hear me say, ‘Hey, I’ll talk to anyone’, and it’s true. I’ll work with anyone who genuinely wants what’s best for Mainers, but I also won’t back down about calling out injustice, and I won’t “compromise” or chase “bipartisanship” for it’s own sake. Building relationships is critical to me as a person, and to the legislative process, but so is having a clear sighted vision and the willingness to build and wield power. Together, we can repair the relationships that hold society together, rebuild the power of ordinary people in our government, and redirect our will towards a better society for all.