Maine House District 92 Candidate Sonja Sleeper: Education funding, property tax relief

Mon, 10/20/2014 - 2:45pm

    Sonja Sleeper (R-South Thomaston) is seeking to represent District 92 — Owls Head, South Thomaston, St. George, Thomaston, Matinicus and Criehaven — in the Maine House of Representatives. She is running against Charles Kruger (D-Thomaston).

    Sleeper was born in Japan, graduated from high school in Africa and attended college in England and the U.S. She received two degrees, interned with a Member of Parliament and speaks French.  She works as an administrator but is a trained artist. She has been the recipient of good service awards, raises and atta girls from my previous employers. Two of her former employers are still following procedures that she set up and is proud of that. She is single, has no children but has four nephews, one niece and three great nephews. She likes to travel and explore whenever she can. She does photography and is working on a series using her cell phone’s camera function. She loves to garden and is currently experimenting with a raised row system.  She has settled permanently in South Thomaston, rebuilding her life here while looking after her mother. She is happy to finally make it home, as has been coming here all her life and has always considered this area as her true home. 

    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 are lack of opportunity, high taxes and education. How would I like to see them resolved?   We need to start the discussion on alternatives to funding education and develop new sources of revenue in order to give property owners real tax relief.   

    How will you protect the local (municipal) taxpayer as you attempt to help shape a state budget? 
    I would be against any new taxes or increases in current tax levels and would favor suspending government spending in one program or department to fund another. In the face of declining revenues it is time to have a constructive conversation on tax reform and relief.  

    How will you work to keep Maine's fisheries vital and productive? 
    As I will be representing a coastal district my focus would be on the lobster and herring fisheries and I would be supporting their decisions.  There is a lot of potential for new businesses in aquaculture and I am willing to support those activities

    How do you envision Criehaven, Cushing, Matinicus, Mussel Ridge, South Thomaston, Thomaston and St. George in 5 years?
    Most of the residents in these communities like them as they are but express concern about education, high taxes and lack of opportunity.  Many worry about the future of their communities because of this. I will do all I can to address these issues and hope to reduce taxes by starting the conversation on tax reform and alternatives to funding education. 

    Do I support building a natural gas infrastructure (pipeline) through the region? 
    No, not at this time but am willing to listen.  However, I am not sure that the big job creation projects deliver on the promises.  They take too much of a slim pocket book.  I would rather see projects on a smaller scale that are of benefit locally.  

    What is your position on alternative energy and state investment into it?
    As I stated before I am not for large projects.  Wind energy has not lived up to it's promise and solar, on a large scale, is not practical for our area.  I believe smaller projects are of greater benefit and would foster greater innovation while encouraging entrepreneurship in individuals or businesses.  Everybody seems to leave out the greatest resource for information and innovation that we have at our disposal now, the internet.  As individuals we can have a look around and see what others are doing and come up with our own solutions.  I am all for any form of energy that creates a self sustaining home, business and community.

    What is your position on the legalization of marijuana?
    I am not in favor, I think the impact of legalization will have on a community is still unknown. With recent problems in California, I urge a wait to see how it is addressed and managed in Colorado. 

    What issues are emerging from your conversations with the public as you go about your campaign, and what solutions do you envision?
    There was really nothing that stood out other than a general dislike of politics, high taxes, and locally the withdrawal vote from RSU 13 in St. George.  I see a need for greater constituent education as a lot of questions were related to local or national politics and not state.  I would like to build trust with my constituents by changing the discussion from, well we can't or we couldn't do that because of, to these are the options what do you think?  

    Is Maine a nanny state? What is your position on welfare reform? 
    I object to the terms nanny state and welfare because because it is inflammatory.  There are different government programs that provide public assistance collectively considered welfare and I would prefer to discuss any reform in terms of the program and keep the discussion to state funded public assistance programs.   

    Please feel free to expand or add any thoughts here that we have not touched upon.
    As representative, I can only advocate for my constituents, the consensus is lack of opportunity, high taxes and infrastructure. I will use that as my guide when making decisions for the district.  I see the need to work with other representatives and interest groups to get measures passed.  My preference would be for a coordinated effort.  How this is done depends on a lot of things but the important thing is to start the conversation and be willing to listen to alternatives.