Fri, 10/07/2022 - 01:30 pm

Les Fossel. Courtesy photo

Occupation: Building Contractor

Education: BA, Sociology & Anthropology, Lake Forest College

Political History (Board, Committees, other): Maine Legislative service: Moderate Caucus Chair. Became the largest caucus in the 115th Maine Legislature; Judiciary Compromise legislation on takings of land by government; Government Oversight, reformed of the Maine Turnpike Authority. Insurance & Financial Services, created the Joint Select Committee on Healthcare Reform. Health & Human Services, authored the Electronic Health Records law. Congressional Reapportionment, authored the law. Lincoln County Service. Regional school board. Alna Selectman. Alna Assistant Fire Chief. County Planning Commission Treasurer. County Budget Committee

Clubs/Organizations: LincolnHealth: Board, Performance Improvement, Governance Comms. (Consumer’s Report: America’s safest hospital). Wiscasset & Quebec Railroad: Treasurer (a founder), 2' Narrow Gauge Railroad. Maine AllCare: Executive Committee. Promotes universal affordable health care. Lincoln County Dental: Board. Serves low income dental patients. Eldercare Network of Lincoln County: Chairman. Serves low income elderly. Maine Preservation: Advisory Board (past vice-chair)

Considering the seat you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less):

Stopping the partisan blame games that dominate the Maine Legislature and start focusing on solving Maine’s real problems, including: 1. Help get housing costs under control by: Instituting performance-based building codes – sprinkler systems, for instance, are unaffordable and unworkable for single family homes. Emphasizing heat pumps, solar panels, storm windows and a cap of insulation to both lower heating costs and improve the environment. Train and support moderate income homeowners so they can improve their own houses using sweat equity. Broaden historic preservation tax credits to apply to elderly, low income, and long time home owners. Require training for insurance company inspectors so they can't threaten cancellation if you don’t do unnecessary work on your house. Lower property taxes on resident homeowners by increasing the taxes on non-resident homeowners.

2. Protect Mainers’ health by: Standardize all healthcare insurance claims forms, applications, coverages, and definitions so we spend money on health, not overhead. Redirect excise taxes for alcohol tobacco products and other addictive substances towards improving community health. Introduce a Maine constitutional amendment to guarantee access to healthcare services for all Mainers. Always treating addiction as a disease, not a crime. Provide the same benefits for Mainecare as we do for Medicare and reflect the actual cost of the services provided. Introduce a Maine constitutional amendment that protects Mainers’ right to choose; To address medical bankruptcies, require worker’s comp and unemployment insurance for everyone who works for a living. Find answers to why we have the highest healthcare costs worldwide, yet have a shorter average lifespan than many other countries. Learn the lesson of COVID that we cannot protect anyone’s health unless we protect everyone’s health.

3. Increase Mainers’ incomes by: Rewarding employers who provide more jobs in the off season.Encouraging more affordable daycare. Rewarding employers who pay all their employees a living wage. Make state bonding money counter cyclical so will provide jobs when our economy is in a downturn.

Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the seat? (150 words or less):

Every single one of the issues I mention above I have been a leader successfully working towards solving these problems long before I decided to run for office as an Independent. I'm a proven: Problem Solver – As shown in my business, non-profit leadership and government service. Local Government ChampionServed on Selectboards, School Boards and as Asst. Fire Chief. Social Moderate – Pro-choice; endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Fiscal Conservative – Rated in the top 5 in my previous legislative service. Environmentalist – My business (recycling buildings) has a zero carbon footprint with solar panels & heat pumps. Political Moderate - I chaired the Moderate Caucus in my last term in the Legislature. Tireless Advocate – I currently serve on six boards (Chair of one and treasurer of 2). I teach four adult ed courses every year. I run one of the larger businesses in the district.