Stephanie Hawke is well-known in the Boothbay region as a hard working, honest and personable member of the business community.

She lives in Boothbay Harbor, with her husband Andrew and her youngest son, Andrew. She and her husband own Hawke Motors, and she also works seasonally at McSeagull’s Restaurant. Hawke also serves on the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor school committee and is active in several local non-profit organizations, including Rebuilding Together and Friends of Windjammers Days.

This is Hawke’s second bid for state representative. When she arrives for this interview at Red Cup Coffeehouse, she is dressed in a striped cotton shirt and jeans; and she seems relaxed and open in conversation.

Although running for public office, Hawke said she places more value on being true to herself than conforming to political expectations. She admitted she has been reluctant to undertake the usual activities that campaigning politicians do here, like knocking on doors, handing out fliers, and hanging out at the dump on Saturday mornings, because she feels it is an intrusion into people’s privacy. She said she has taken some heat for these choices.

“But I’m always happy to speak with anyone or to respond to emails,” she said.

Hawke said she originally chose to run for the House seat because she was asked to do so by the local Republican committee.

“This is uncharted waters for me, but if I can do something for the good, that’s my motivation,” she said.

Finding herself in a position that she hadn’t planned and making the most of it isn’t new for Hawke. After a lifetime working in the restaurant business, she and her husband, a lobsterman, bought Good ’N You service station in Boothbay Harbor. Then when Strong’s Auto was closing abruptly, they bought that business.

“Running an automobile service station or garage wasn’t one of my dreams,” Hawke said. “But when Andy heard Strong’s was closing that week, we were able to jump in so there would be no lapse in jobs. I woke up one morning with one business and the next I had two.”

Eventually, they sold the service station, but kept the former Strong’s, which is now a successful business that Hawke manages, with 10 full-time employees.

“Jobs and keeping young families here, which is related to jobs,” is her highest priority, Hawke said.

“I would support business legislation, but I do think the state government is more business friendly than it was four years ago,” Hawke said.

Hawke said she finds the state offices more receptive to working with small business owners and the small dip in unemployment taxes also helped.

“It’s all those little things that help businesses survive,” she said.

Hawke said she is also supportive of the big businesses that make a significant difference for the community, like Hodgdon Yachts and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

“All those places feed the smaller businesses in the community,” Hawke said. “People have put a lot of money and effort into this town and it shows.”

Hawke rates education as another priority.

“We need more hands on training, not everyone is going to go to college,” she said. “Schools need to focus more on job skills. We have to educate and you can’t skimp on education, but we also need to understand that not all kids learn the same way. The government standards try to force everyone to be the same and it doesn’t work.”

Hawke said she has seen first hand how local work study programs can make a huge difference in a child’s life and motivation for learning.

Regarding welfare reform, Hawke said she believes fraud should be addressed but acknowledged the continuing need for assistance for some.

“The big hot topic is welfare abuse, but there are people who need a hand,” Hawke said. “I do think people do need a hand and they should get it, but not forever.”

Hawke said she is not in favor of MaineCare expansion that was vetoed last spring. “I think employing people and getting them out there would be better and who is going to pay for it all,” she said.

As a small business owner, Hawke said they have struggled to provide healthcare insurance, and the costs of health insurance and healthcare are a concern. Regarding the recent changes at St. Andrews, Hawke said she is not certain that more government oversight is the answer to healthcare issues.

“Do you want the government to be involved? If it’s to support your cause, you do, but if it’s not, you don’t,” she said.

Hawke said she would be a good representative because she understands the community.

“I know a lot of people and I am not afraid of change,” she said. “I am willing to speak my mind and I understand you have to be willing to talk to other people to find solutions.”