Party affiliation: Republican

Date of birth:

Hometown: Durham

Occupation: Semi-retired, associate retail

Education: Kearney State Teachers College

Community organizations: Maine Patriot Guard Riders

Personal information (hobbies, etc.): Lantern craftsman, piano, antique motorcycles, Victorian houses

Family status: Married

Years in the Legislature: Four

Clean Election candidate?: Yes

Committee assignments: Joint Standing Committee on Insurance and Financial Services

1. The state of Maine is known as one of the best places to raise children; unfortunately, they must move away to get the good jobs they deserve. Maine has the highest tax burden in the U.S., the second highest health insurance, and is the 48th least friendly to business/jobs.

2. Continuing efforts to reduce the cost of health insurance for the working middle class. For the first time in recent history, our reform bill passed in the House, only to be killed by the Senate. We had additional success with the introduction of health savings accounts, which need additional work.

3. I’ve seen the bureaucrats’ arrogant and abusive attitude toward taxpayers, and the fact that “salaries and benefits” are their top priority, not roads and public safety. Working people are not being well-served by the expensive welfare state being foisted upon them for 32 years by the Democrats.

4. Not much at all, especially with the opinion that at this unsustainable rate of wasteful spending and misplaced priorities, Maine has about four years before going bankrupt…despite high taxes. I believe in equal rights and responsibilities, abortion is a federal decision, not even the governor can affect this issue.

5. Negative! DirigoChoice just applied for a 20 percent increase. It failed to insure the 51,000 (then revised to 31,000) first-year uninsured and reduce costs. Democrats forced it through and stopped any attempts to actually lower premiums for working people. We have a complete and tested plan, previously covered in this newspaper.

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