Party affiliation:
Democrat
Social media accounts:
facebook.com/KSCMaineHouse
Occupation:
Associate director, Center Operations, Harward Center, Bates College
Education:
B.A. in journalism from Northeastern University; M.A. in Leadership Studies from USM
Community Organizations:
Member, University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College Community Advisory Board; member, New Mainers Community Collaborative; member, Community Concepts, Inc. Board of Directors; member, Lewiston-Auburn Railroad Board of Directors.
Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
I enjoy reading books, watching movies, cooking, baking, and taking in all that our beautiful state has to offer while spending time with my family and pets.
Family status:
Married with one child and two dogs
Years in the Legislature:
Four
Committee assignments (if elected):
Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Q&A
Define what “success” would look like if you are elected to serve your district.
My priority has always been to serve my constituents and to respond to their needs in as timely a manner as possible, so building strong, personal and trusting relationships with those who elected me is where I draw much of my sense of “success” from, and what I enjoy most about this work.
In terms of policy, there is so much work to be done, but if I had to choose one area to focus on right now, it would be economic security. Recovering from the pandemic is proving to be harder than we expected for people, and the costs of basic necessities, such as groceries, housing, heat, and electricity have continued to skyrocket.
We need to continue to focus on tax relief for those who truly need it, support efforts to increase the creation and availability of affordable housing across the state, increase access to reliable high-speed internet, and provide more workforce development opportunities for everyone, including our neighbors who come here from other countries, hoping to provide a better life for their families.
We also need to support our educators and students as they return to full-time instruction after several years of disruption. We have a unique opportunity to take what we have learned over the course of the pandemic and to make active, lasting change that will have direct impact in people’s everyday lives. To turn our backs on that opportunity would surely be a failure.
Characterize your view on public access to governmental business.
Maine is lucky to have a citizen Legislature where our neighbors serve as our elected officials, not career politicians. I believe my primary role is to serve my constituents, and in that regard, I believe in transparency in the governmental process and in the accessibility and accountability of governmental officials.
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