Mark Eves is running for Maine House of Representatives District 146 (North Berwick and parts of South Berwick. If you want to know what district you are in go to Maine.gov-lookup)
Tell us something about yourself.
I live in North Berwick with my wife Laura and two children Elaina (3) and Lucas (21 months). I first met Laura in graduate school when we were both studying towards our masters degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy. After graduating we looked around the country and decided to make Maine our home where we would raise our family.
While in Maine, I have worked in community-based mental health as a family therapist helping families find solutions to difficult problems. I have had the opportunity to advocate for children’s and family issues, including increasing access to healthcare, at the state and federal level in my position as President of the Maine Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. I am currently on the North Berwick Budget Committee and I have chaired the North Berwick Democrats for the past several years.
Why are you running for this position?
My choice of profession as a family therapist and my decision to go into public service are both rooted in a strong sense of wanting to help others. My motivation to run for State Representative includes, bringing sustainable good paying jobs to Maine, investing in renewable energy, lowing our tax burden, and bringing attention to the fact that 1 in 5 children in Maine live in poverty. My motivations have been reinforced as I have talked with residence in our district. People are scared and uncertain about their immediate and long term future. These are uncertain times with unknown outcomes and opportunities. I believe I have the skills, work ethic, and personal life experience to best represent the individuals, families, and seniors of district 146.
What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing House District 146?
Supporting Small Businesses and Economic Development
What I have learned as I have talked with community members is that people want the opportunity to work and shop locally. They want their children to have an opportunity to have good paying jobs that allow them to stay within the community. As the Brookings Institute Report indicated, one of our best economic assets is our quality of life and place. This includes the attraction of a local village, a low crime rate, a reputation for beautiful landscapes and great schools, and the abundant recreational opportunities we have. We must find a way to grow locally through supporting small businesses without compromising the assets we have.
Increasing Taxes and Falling Home Prices
Seniors are at a real risk of loosing the homes they have lived in their entire lives because of the increasing tax burden combined with fixed incomes and falling home prices. Families are making difficult decisions about cutting back, considering bankruptcy, and facing foreclosure. Lowing our tax burden is connected to growing our local economy.
Education
My children are my reference point. We must make education a priority without overextending ourselves. Marshwood’s outstanding reputation for great schools has attracted families to the district to raise their children. We also need to continue to attract and keep excellent teachers that shape our children’s lives. We must strike a balance that is fair to our children and tax paying community members.
If you are elected, what priorities will you have for your term in office?
Health Care
Increasing access and affordability for small businesses, families, and individuals. The rising cost of health insurance is a top concern for family budgets and small businesses who would otherwise be using those resources to create new jobs. We can cut costs now by making sure more people have coverage. Medical expenses account for one of the top reasons for bankruptcy. As we consider healthcare policy we do not want to loose the ground we have gained in recent years. Maine is the only state in the nation to see the number of people without health insurance go down over the last five years.
Creating Opportunity through Education
Access to affordable, high quality education is crucial to creating new jobs and more opportunities for Maine people. Maine needs to invest in making college affordable for our families to build the skills of our workforce, to attract businesses and create new entrepreneurs, and to increase incomes in Maine.
Renewable Energy to Improve the Economy
Maine can create new jobs and lower energy costs by investing in renewable energy. Maine has an opportunity to be a leader in the production of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies that will create new jobs and will help lower energy costs for Maine families and businesses. Investing in renewable energy will improve the economy, and protect our resource into the future. We have some of the oldest housing stock in the country, and rely on oil to heat our homes more than most states. We are the 11th windiest state and the most densely wooded state in the country. Wind power and clean wood technology could be part of the solution of reducing our dependency on oil and carbon emissions.
What strengths, skills, and qualifications would you bring to the office?
I believe the greatest responsibility a Representative has is listening to their constituents and taking their concerns and ideas to Augusta to be a voice for the community. Leadership requires listening to both those who you agree and disagree with, being responsive, being assessable, building consensus, compromising when necessary, and moving initiatives forward for the greater good of the people. I believe I possess these skills and a strong work ethic that would serve the values and priorities of the residents of this district.
Other qualifications:
-President, Maine Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
-Federal liaison, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
-North Berwick Budget Committee
-Chair, North Berwick Democrats
I wanted to thank all of the residents of South Berwick and North Berwick for the conversations we have had together. I have learned so much from knocking on thousands of doors and talking to hundreds of residence in the district. I have appreciated the candid conversations which have given me a greater since of what you are concerned about and what makes you proud to live in this community. These are the conversations I will carry with me to Augusta which will inform decisions that I will make. So thank you for taking the time to share and let’s please continue the conversations.
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