Maine House 50

Social media accounts

Occupation:
Maine District Court Judge, retired

Education:
Hobart College, Bachelor of Arts, 1969; UMaine School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1974.

Community Organizations:
Brunswick School Board, 1994-1999, chair for two years; Brunswick Town Council, 2005; Operation Game Thief, Board of Directors

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
Trap Committee, Scarborough Fish & Game Association, Amateur Trapshooting Association

Family status:
Married to Nancy Eaton Tucker 47 years; children Ben, Abe and Ruth, all BHS grads; 2 granddaughters 8 and 11

Years in the Legislature: 4

Committee assignments (if elected):
Insurance and Financial Services, Environment and Natural Resources, Environment and Natural Resources

Q&A

1) What legislation do you support, if any, to address the state’s opiate crisis?
Expansion of Medicaid to cover 70,000 low-income persons, some of whom need treatment for opiate addiction. Expansion of Medicaid will bring in over $1 million per day resources for medical treatment.

2) What legislation do you support, if any, to address failures in the state’s child abuse prevention system?
As a retired judge, I see failure of the child welfare system is not due to the basic statutory framework, but lack of funding, personnel, training and leadership during eight years of executive neglect.

3) Should schools continue to push forward with proficiency-based diplomas? Why or why not?
Proficiency-based diplomas should only be mandatory after the state supplies far more funds, resources and leadership than currently has been dedicated. I favor committing these resources.

4) Are you in favor of some type of universal health care for Maine residents? Why, or why not?
Yes. Universal coverage will allow economies of scale, spreading of costs, and the negotiating clout to drive down medical costs and, if private insurance is used, lower insurance premiums.

5) Do you support Question 1 (the 3.8% tax to fund the home care program)? Why, or why not?
My support is ambiguous. Good goal, but use of the initiative process for complex legislation is chaotic. Better to vote in a favorable governor and Legislature rather than bypass legislative process.

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?

Incivility and rudeness shown by Gov. LePage and President Trump has infected politics around the edges. Patient, calm bi-partisan leadership on the Environment Committee has been good and will continue.

7) Tell voters something about yourself that they don’t already know, and might surprise them.
My first job out of law school was funded by Richard Nixon. Watergate lawsuit against the Nixon Campaign led to settlement with Maine Dems, and my hire as a full-time campaign worker in fall of 1974.

Speed Round

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

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