PenBayPilot.com has circulated questions to candidates seeking office in Midcoast Senate and House District. As candidates return their responses, we are posting them on the Pilot's front page, and then they will reside on the Elections 2024 Voter Resource Page, which also includes letters, opinions, stories about state and local referendum questions, and more.

Incumbent Anne H. Beebe-Center, D-Rockland, is seeking the Senate District 12 seat. The district comprises Appleton, Camden, Criehaven, Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Matinicus Isle Plantation, Muscle Ridge Islands, North Haven, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Saint George, South Thomaston, Thomaston, Union, Vinalhaven and Warren. 

She is running against W. Scott Rocknak, R-Rockport.

1) Please provide a short biography of yourself, and explain why you are running for office. 

I have been a community organizer for over 20 years. My leadership and involvement have included advancing mental health support, criminal justice reform, supporting and organizing addiction recovery  resources, securing fair education funding and starting the KnoxCounty Homeless Coalition (now known as Homeworthy).  I served 3 terms in the Maine House of Representatives and before that, 8 years as Knox County Commissioner.  I believe that my hands-on approach and empowering others make me a strong advocate for positive change and community well being.
 

2) What are the most pressing issues facing the state and how would you like to see them resolved? 

Mental health, addiction and recovery along with homelessness are top priorities I see facing every family across Maine.  We need more support centers and crisis workers in all of our communities to assist in helping those in need and their families on their path to health.

3) Are there any specific issues affecting your particular district that you want to address in the Legislature?

There is a very real concern right now over the state of ferry transportation to and from islands.  The lack of reliably scheduled and affordable ferry rides are putting enormous strain on our island communities.  Many families who are full time residents are unable to obtain healthcare appointments, get to jobs, or other necessities due to this problem. 

4) Given the cost of health care, how would you address increasing access to affordable and high-quality healthcare for all?

Expand telehealth services, invest in public transportation across the state, expand Medicaid, invest in mobile clinics across the state. 

5) Property owners throughout most of Maine are watching their property tax bills increase on an annual basis, some dramatically. What would you do, as a legislator, to help relieve the financial load on property-owning taxpayers?

Taking the property tax burden away from municipalities by having the state take on a percentage of the expense would help with lowering property taxes.  Make a more friendly path to allowing homeowners to rent rooms in their homes to help residents pay their property taxes. 

6) Do you endorse net energy billing (solar power subsidies) that are designed to help Maine move further toward renewable energy, despite the increase in power bills for Maine power customers?

I do not support the increase in any power bills for Maine residents who are not signed onto solar.  Allowing the power companies to profit off the back of Maine people who already find it difficult to stay current with their electric bills is wrong.  

We need to find a solution to stabilize the cost of electricity and increase solar availability whether by increasing rooftop solar array accessibility for all of Maine or subsidy incentives for those who are unable to have solar.  Currently only allowing those with a high credit score and no bills in default to sign on with a solar company is counterproductive.  We need this access to be available to all without discrimination. 

7) Are you in favor of developing an offshore wind port in Searsport? If so, do you want it sited on Sears Island or Mack Point, and why?

After speaking with environmental policy experts in the state it is my opinion that an offshore wind port is better suited to be located off Mack Point. 

Mack Point is the fastest option to permit and meets the 100 acre size requirement. The development costs at Mack Point are equal to or less than developing Sears Island (400-500 million).  Any dredging needed at Mack Point will be substantially lower (estimated 40% less cubic yards) then Sears Island. 

There has been no environmental impact study completed for Sears Island but we do know that there are many rare species of importance on the island.  The development of Mack Point has broad support from the surrounding communities.

8) Should abortion be a constitutional right in Maine?

Yes,  the underlying principles of liberty, dignity, equality, and bodily integrity should be protected by our state constitution and encompass a woman’s right to abortion.
 

9) Are Maine’s gun laws strict enough? If not, what do you propose? 

 The yellow flag law needs to be straightened out to address mental illness.  There needs to be more ways to stop what happened in Lewiston.  Somewhere along the way there was a failure which prevented authorities from stopping this tragedy.  

A high percentage of all gun fatalities have to do with domestic violence and  this needs to be addressed with more support centers and experts across the state hired to intervene in situations of domestic violence. 
 

10) What legislative committees would you like to serve on and why?

Criminal Justice and Public Safety. This is an area which has significance to me as I have strived to help put programs in place for those on the edges of society.   I would also like to stay on Marine Resources. The committee allows me to assist and improve the state of our fisheries. It is also of great importance to listen to our lobstermen and women and fishermen who are our greatest observers of the changes that are occurring in our waters affecting our fisheries. 

11) What is your opinion on each of the Nov. 5 statewide referendums?

Question 1: Yes I believe there should be a limit on political contributions.

Question 2: I do not support this referendum.  I have questions about the one to one basis of this grant and the extent of information technologies being developed.

Question 3: I do not support spending any extra money on historic buildings at the moment.  It is my belief that money spent should be put towards helping the citizens of our state who are struggling with housing, mental health, public transportation, childcare so parents can work, and other critical issues.

Question 4: I do not support spending on a bond for trail maintenance.

Question 5: I am not in support of changing the state flag.  I believe it is a waste of taxpayer and state funds to spend money on changing a flag.  Our resources would be much better spent on the people of this state.   

12) Is Maine doing enough to prepare and protect infrastructure for rising ocean levels and increased precipitation?

No, we need to be doing much more.

13) What issues are emerging from your conversations with the public as you go about your campaign, and what solutions do you envision?

I am hearing from many farmers and people about the rising costs of maine grown food because the farmers cannot offset their expenses.  Farm labor, fuel and fertilizer costs have quadrupled yet there is no way to increase what they are getting paid for growing.  Continuous government regulations from water regulations to PFAS where exemptions for PFAS are being given to every industry but to farmers.  Every tire on every car is putting PFAS onto roads and surrounding land and water yet farmers are being regulated to death.   PFAS is an issue which needs to be addressed quickly but we must not allow the burden of this to fall strictly on the backs of our farmers.

The state is significantly lacking in support services for addiction, recovery, mental health,  health related services, affordable housing for the elderly, increased healthcare access for those in need and public transportation.. These are areas we need to improve upon for the well being of our people.  

14) How would you define "good state government?”

A government that is less involved with people's private lives and more involved with helping its citizens.    

15) What are the qualities and attributes of Maine that you want to enhance and cultivate?

Maine has a chance to be at the forefront of climate related causes.  The Atlantic ocean off the coast of this state is warming 99 percent faster than all other bodies of water on the planet and we have a choice to make globally and locally. We should be leading the way with New England reliance by recycling, consuming less throw away goods, and preserving the environment for future generations to come. We should be leading the way for our farmers and fishermen across the state who are one of our biggest economies. We should be leading the way in affordable housing whether it be for the elderly or service workers and absolutely leading the way to get the property and house taxes down.  Finding a way to get our high energy costs down for all people in Maine needs to be a priority. 

16) Is there any other topic or issue you'd like to talk about here? Have at it!

 We should be investing and cultivating public transportation as a priority across the state.  This will help lower fossil fuel consumption as well as improve the lives of our citizens across the state.