Ellen Winchebach (R-Waldoboro) is seeking to represent Friendship, Washington, Waldoboro, and part of Union (the part of the municipality of Union north and west of a line described as follows: Beginning at the point where the Union-Appleton boundary intersects with the eastern shore of Sennebec Pond; then southwest along the shoreline of Sennebec Pond until it intersects with the Saint George River; then south along the Saint George River until it intersects with Heald Highway; then west along Heald Highway until it intersects with Clarry Hill Road; then southwest and southeast along the centerline of Clarry Hill Road until it intersects with  Clarry Hill Lane; then west along the centerline of Clarry Hill Lane until it intersects with Rabbit Farm Road; then south along the centerline of Rabbit Farm Road until it intersects with the Union-Warren boundary) in Augusta at the Maine House of Representatives.

She is running against Jeffrey Evangelos (U-Friendship).

Winchebach a Maine native and grew up in Waldoboro. She graduated from Medomak Valley High School in 1975. She has been a licensed cosmetologist for 38 years and the owner of Hair Country for 27 years.

She has been married to Craig for 37 years and they have two sons, Darren and Evan, and three grandsons.

Winchebach currently serves House District 50 and is campaigning for reelection in the new House District 91, Friendship, Waldoboro, Washington and parts of Union. She has served on the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen and on the Waldoboro Budget Committee, as well as the Lincoln County Budget Advisory Committee.

Active in the community, she is the secretary of the Waldoboro Lions Club and the Waldoboro Lions Foundation. She is a member of the Waldoboro Firefighters Auxiliary and I serve on the Friends of Waldoboro Board of Directors. Currently, she serves on two Joint Standing Committees, Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development and Marine Resources.

PBP: What are the three most pressing issues facing Maine today, and how would you like to see them resolved?
The three most pressing issues today are education, jobs and health care. These issues are all connected. The key to job growth is education and a skilled workforce. We need to prepare our students for the future with the right skills. Whether they attend a four-year college, two-year community college or enter the workforce after graduation, we need to make sure these young people can function independently in society with a strong work ethic. It is vital to our economy to keep these young people working and raising their families here in Maine.

Job creation should be a priority. Maine should make doing business here more affordable. We have a lot of work to do to lower energy costs, which has a big impact on businesses.

Everyone needs access to health care. If we could lower the cost of health care, and health care premiums for businesses and individuals, that would put more expendable money into the economy. I do support Medicaid expansion.

How will you protect the local (municipal) taxpayer as you attempt to help shape a state budget?
I support funding education at 55 percent and restoring revenue sharing to the towns which will help with property tax relief, if the municipalities budget accordingly. I would not favor passing on unfunded mandates to the towns.

How will you work to keep Maine's fisheries vital and productive?
I currently serve on the Marine Resources Committee Joint Standing Committee. I always support legislation that will keep our fishing industry sustainable for years to come. We need to be careful not to over regulate, and support the best interests of our fishermen. I did support the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative legislation and I do support the Marine Resources Bond on the ballot in November.

How do you envision Friendship, Union, Waldoboro and Washington in 5 years? What do the schools/education look like? What does the economy look
like? What does the population look like?
I live and work in my school district, School Administrative District 40. I support the public school system and will work to meet the future needs of students, teachers and administrators. My vision is to make sure we educate our children to be proficient in all subjects prior to graduation and to make sure that the educational programs are aligned to accomplish that goal. We must have good communication between parents, teachers, administrators, school board members and Legislators. We can do better as a community if we all work together. As student populations changes and economic impacts occur we must work together and deal with the issues as they arise. We must adapt to these changes.

Do you support building a natural gas infrastructure (pipeline) through the region?
I do support natural gas infrastructure. It is a cleaner form of energy.

What is your position on alternative energy and state investment into it?
We need alternative energy. We shouldn’t be dependent on one form of energy such as oil. The state of Maine should invest our money into the different types of energy producers, such as hydro power and solar.

What is your position of legalizing marijuana?
I do not support legalizing recreational marijuana. I feel it is morally wrong.

What issues are emerging from your conversations with the public as you go about your campaign, and what solutions do you envision?
Issues that come up on the campaign trail are property tax increases, people living on fixed incomes, welfare fraud, substance abuse lack of jobs, and some people just hate politics.

Maine a nanny state? What is your position on welfare reform?
Some people think Maine is a nanny state. I believe that the welfare system should be for temporary assistance when people need a helping hand. It should not be a permanent way of life. I do believe that we need to support the truly disabled and the aging population. Maine can do better in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Please feel free to expand or add any thoughts here that we have not touched upon.
If anyone has any thoughts that they would like to share about the above issues, please feel free to contact me. ellenaw12 @yahoo.com.