Party affiliation: Democrat

Date of birth: February 16, 1933

Hometown: Brownfield

Occupation: Hospitality, bed and breakfast operator

Education: Bachelor’s in political science, Stanford University; worked on master’s in education, Stanford University; licensed in massage therapy, New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts

Community organizations: Brownfield Budget Committee; Brownfield Land Use Ordinance Committee; Saco River Corridor Commissioner; Fryeburg Area Rotary Club; Member of three area chambers of commerce; Mountain Division Rails and Trails; Route 113 Corridor Committee; reetired, Oxford County Education Association; Fryeburg Dinner Bell server; historical societies of Brownfield, Fryeburg, Hiram and Parsonsfield-Porter; Sacopee Valley Community Forum; secretary, Kezar Falls Business Association; past president, Maine League of Women Voters; Natural Resources Council of Maine; Sierra Club; League of Conservation Voters; Maine Center for Economic Policy; Mitchell Institute

Personal information (hobbies, etc.): Traveling by passenger trains (taking two Amtrak trips west each year), swimming, walking

Family status: Widowed; three sons; three grandchildren.

Years in the Legislature: None

Clean Election candidate?: Yes

1. To be an effective state representative, working with all parties. Help Maine government work more effectively for citizens, as I have worked on issues steadily since college. Leader in many town and citizen issues. After listening to thousands of citizens, I want to solve their concerns.

2. Do whatever it takes to create new good paying new jobs and maintain existing jobs. This includes helping businesses offer health insurance to attract and hold good workers. Maine is a pioneer in seeking a more efficient, more affordable health insurance system. Make it work!

3. People want tax relief! TABOR will not provide it. Citizens at town meetings would be curtailed in making needed decisions in their communities. Requiring a two-thirds vote for emergency increases would give deciding power to one third, which is not democratic.

4. While serious issues to citizens, I hear less concern at their doors than I heard in the 2004 election. Emotional issues that I hear now are: How to protect children from sexual predators and who should control our aquifers, citizens or mega corporations?

5. Dirigo Health is a brave, first attempt to cut health care costs and provide needed, affordable, efficient health insurance to Maine citizens. Need better ways to limit costs of hospitals, insurers and doctors (including limiting amounts of medical lawsuits). Better funding must be found.

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