Local businesswoman and former state representative Stephanie Hawke is running to reclaim the House 89 seat representing Westport Island, Southport, Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, Edgecomb and part of South Bristol.

Hawke is a graduate of Boothbay Region High School, has served on the Community School District School Committee for 12 years and serves as chair of the board. She has also been a volunteer for over 10 years with local nonprofit Rebuilding Together, spent two years on the Boothbay Region Health Center board, has been a member of the Windjammer Days committee for several years and is a volunteer with American Legion Post 36.

Hawke has owned and operated Hawke Motors since 2008 while her husband, Andy, is a full-time lobsterman. She has also worked in many local restaurants and founded the Carriage House Restaurant in 1988.

Hawke said she is running because it is time for the House and Senate to get back into session and work on budget shortfalls created by one person making all of the spending decisions.

“The Maine economy is built on the back of small business owners and these businesses will need to thrive in order for the state to dig itself out of the current fiscal mess. I will use my House seat to do everything possible to ease the burden on small businesses, fight for the health of our fishing economy and keep federal regulators away from our lobster lines, stop the runaway spending and replenish and protect the rainy day fund account.”

Hawke said entrepreneurs, small businesses and the self-employed are the most important facets of Maine’s economy and creating a competitive environment where all can thrive is one of the more important ways for Maine to bounce back from woes created in reaction to COVID-19. Equally as important, Maine also needs to better support the elderly and low-income people because many are being priced out of state and it will become worse, said Hawke.

Hawke said she looks forward to working with her legislative colleagues and constituents to find creative solutions to current fiscal challenges while also advocating for business owners and finding ways of making business easier for Mainers. She said her perspective has changed since she now has a granddaughter and she nearly lost her son to acute symptoms of Lyme Disease.

“I am deeply concerned about the type of future that awaits (my granddaughter) given the current course of our state. The need for change has never been greater … watching friends lose businesses and everything they have worked to build over a very short period of time.”

As a businessperson, Hawke said she understands how difficult it is to navigate the rules and regulations imposed on small businesses and for the need of a voice in the legislature to champion meaningful change. Hawke asks that every constituent go out to vote so, she said, she can get back to giving that support.

“I am blessed to have a wonderful circle of family, friends and supporters whom I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart … There are lots of resources to support early and absentee voting and if you need any assistance navigating these, please call me at 1-207-380-6803.”