Roberta B. Beavers is running for Maine House of Representatives District 148 (Eliot and parts of South Berwick. If you want to know what district you are in go to Maine.gov-lookup)
Why are you running for this position?
Very simply, the needs and concerns of Eliot and South Berwick citizens are not being heard in Augusta. We need someone there who is willing to speak up and educate the legislature about our situation and problems. We need a public servant, rather than another politician representing us — and that’s exactly what I intend to be, a servant of the public.
-What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities facing House District 148?
Like most other communities in the area, energy and healthcare costs are problematic. But, I’d say that right now, property taxes are the greatest financial burden most families here face — and much of that tax goes to the education budget. Bottom line, what we are paying now is unsustainable, given the economic environment. That said, looking out longer term, we need to build a bigger base of tax revenue — and that means attracting new businesses to the area (preferably, clean, green businesses.) To this end, I think we need to develop a solid plan — one strategically targeting companies we believe would be a good fit for us, and then, aggressively courting them. Unless we take on this challenge, the property tax situation is simply not going to change ….. and that is unacceptable.
-If you are elected, what priorities will you have for your term in office?
Given the financial crises we’re currently facing, I think any responsible elected official’s first priority has to be ensuring that all of our citizens are warm and fed this winter. They should also be thinking about how to ensure easy access to weatherization tips and kits.*
Looking beyond this, if elected, I will focus on:
- Challenging the state education funding formula to insure fairness for our southern Maine communities and to help stabilize our tax burden.
- Reducing energy costs by exploring the state’s ability to offer low cost loans and tax credits to any family or business upgrading to clean, renewable energy.
- Examining what we allow to be dumped in Maine from other states and working to improve current regulations.
- Targeting and attracting high tech clean and green technologies and businesses to Maine, while preserving traditional Maine industries.
- Reducing the spending side of the budget, while preserving as much of the program budgets as possible in areas necessary to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
* Maine Housing distributes weatherization tips and kits (rope insulation, caulk, and shrink-wrap) via the York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC). Contact info: Barbara Lizotte, Energy Assistance Program Coordinator, 6 Spruce St, Sanford, ME, 1 800 965-5762. Website: http://www.yccac.org/pagesenergy/Energy.htm
What strengths, skills, and qualifications would you bring to the office?
My experience at writing a bill, selecting bipartisan legislative sponsors and getting it passed overwhelming (and without costing the state a cent) by the House and the Senate, demonstrates my ability to work with people on both sides of the aisle and to listen to all sides of an issue.
My diversified education and work experience also enable me to bring a unique and broad perspective to the issues that the legislature must handle and resolve. I have a Bachelors in Chemistry, a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Counseling. With all this schooling, I worked for over 40 years in a wide range of businesses — managing and on the frontlines of research, education, social services and non-profit companies. I was also a small business owner (computers, software and peripherals sales) for five years. So I know what it takes to manage people, keep to a budget and meet a payroll. This, I believe, is the kind of talent and experience we need representing us now — someone who can prioritize, work within a budget, and meet our communities’ needs.
-Other information:
- Endorsements: The Maine Education Association, the Maine League of Conservation Voters, Maine People’s Alliance and the Maine Council of Senior Citizens.
- As one of the Pease Greeters, the shaking of hands with the many troops going to and coming from overseas has moved me. I greatly appreciate their efforts for us.
- I was honored to receive a US Congressional award in 2007 in Washington DC, for my work, along with that of nine members of my legislative team, on the Maine human rights bill which allows Maine born adoptees to request a copy of their original birth certificates as of January 1, 2009.
- I have enjoyed participating in the historical societies, libraries and garden clubs of both Eliot and South Berwick for the last several years, as well as in the Senior Leadership Coalition and the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast. Volunteering for the Great Works Regional Land Trust for many years has been both fun and rewarding.
- My faith and my family — husband Floyd, daughter Mindy, sons Sean and Mark, daughter in-law Michele and grandchildren Matt, Ashley and Brooke — inspire me and bring much joy to my life.
Roberta Beavers’ web site
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