Welcome
Serving in the Maine Senate is an incredible honor, and an incredible responsibility. I'm eager to keep working for our community and all Mainers in the next Legislature.
I am honored to represent South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough - Senate District 29 - in the Maine Legislature. During the last two years, you reached out to me by phone, in emails, and in person at office hours, sharing your priorities and your position on legislation. I am moved and inspired by the confidence you’ve placed in me and grateful for your guidance and direction. You help me serve our community as we work together toward a better future.
In 2018 I was elected to the Maine House of Representatives. I served on the Labor and Housing Committee, and participated in the Children’s Caucus, the Caucus on Aging, and the Coastal and Climate Action Caucus. I also took part in the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations process to assess the impact of legislation on racial disparities.
In 2020 I ran for State Senate to deliver real, concrete change that benefits our community and our state. The priorities of the district—South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and Scarborough—have been at the heart of my work: making health care affordable to all, promoting economic security, advocating for public education, advancing civil rights and protecting our environment. The work we did over the last two years to address Maine’s most urgent needs has sharpened my focus and increased my passion for this work.
This Legislature, with your support, I passed new laws that achieve our priorities.
After 4 years of work, Maine’s CHIP program has been expanded to cover families up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Up to 40,000 Maine children now have access to health insurance coverage that is not dependent on their parents’ jobs, funded primarily with federal dollars.
New parents covered by MaineCare have a full year of postpartum coverage as of August 1, 2022. This new law makes sure new moms have health care during a medically vulnerable time, and benefits newborns too. Another new law I introduced gives new moms covered by private insurance the level of care they need, not just a single 6 week postpartum visit.
Two years of free community college, a new program that will provide a life-changing opportunity to Maine high school graduates and support economic growth, passed with strong support by my colleagues and I. We also funded 55% of K-12 public education, supporting our students, teachers and taxpayers.
Short and long term economic support for Maine people and businesses are in place, including $850 in direct relief to help address rising energy, food and other costs, driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine global inflation; property and income tax credits will help older Mainers, families and veterans balance their budgets; a new law gives municipalities greater support in bringing broadband to their communities.
Maine’s air, soil and water are cleaner with new laws I introduced requiring proper disposal of unwanted drugs, imposing tighter restrictions and testing on emissions from oil tank farms, and banning toxic out-of-state demolition debris from our state-owned landfill.
Under my leadership as Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee, funding for civil legal services has increased and Maine is taking significant strides to restructure our system for providing criminal defense for those unable to afford legal representation.
Our human rights laws, especially those protecting against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, have been clarified and strengthened as a result of legislation my colleagues and I introduced.
Our community and our state continue to face tremendous challenges. You can count on me to meet these challenges with thoughtfulness and compassion, determination and respectful leadership in the Maine Senate. Please know that I will work tirelessly on behalf of you, our community, and Maine.
