Maine Senate 21

Social media accounts:
Facebook: SenNateLibby; Twitter: Nate_Libby; Instagram: Nate.Libby; Web: www.NateLibby.org

Occupation:
Consultant.

Education:
Skowhegan High School, 2003; Bates College, BA history, economics, 2007; USM, MBA, current part-time student.

Community Organizations:
Chair, Lewiston’s Universally Accessible Playground Committee; past board member, Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council; past board member, Androscoggin Head Start; past board member, Tri-County Mental Health Services; past advisor, Lewiston Youth Advisory Council.

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
I don’t have a ton of time for hobbies these days, but I used to enjoy carpentry, gardening, travel.

Family status:
Married with one son.

Years in the Legislature:                                                                                            6

Committee assignments (if elected):
Government Oversight Committee, and a new special committee on workforce development.

Q&A

1) What legislation do you support, if any, to address the state’s opiate crisis?
We need more providers to offer addiction treatment services, and we need to help close the gap in services for Mainers without insurance or with catastrophic-only coverage.

2) What legislation do you support, if any, to address failures in the state’s child abuse prevention system?
DHHS is impossibly difficult to work with on these issues. A special legislative committee needs to spend the next year doing a deep-dive into the system as a whole and recommend changes.

3) Should schools continue to push forward with proficiency-based diplomas? Why or why not?
I helped pass legislation this year to make proficiency-based diplomas optional for districts. Teachers and students need to focus more on the basics and less on standardized tests and state mandates.

4) Are you in favor of some type of universal health care for Maine residents? Why, or why not?
Most industrialized nations cover everyone and deliver care more cost effectively than we do. Maine alone can’t offer universal coverage; but banding with other states could make the numbers work.

5) Do you support Question 1 (the 3.8% tax to fund the home care program)? Why, or why not?
No. I’m concerned with enacting the next two-year budget and fully funding the commitments already passed by voters (55% public education and Medicaid expansion) before adding another big program.

6) Are you frustrated by the political sniping, exaggeration and even lies between the parties and their supporters that have threatened progress usually reached through respect and reasoned compromise? If so, what will you personally do to make the situation better?                                                                                  Forging relationships between lawmakers of all parties is the best way to cut through the divisiveness of outside pressures, controversy stirred by the media, and the insults of bombastic politicians.

7) Tell voters something about yourself that they don’t already know, and might surprise them.
My dad’s a Republican and I’m his favorite Democrat. Having a politically-split family is helpful training for being an effective legislator, because you must be able to work with all sides.

Speed Round

Should voters be required to show ID at the polls?                                                No.