CHINA — Jennifer Tuminaro — a mother, wife and small businesswoman — announced Friday she is running for a seat in the Maine State House representing what will be known as District 62 in the 131st Legislature that convenes after the November 2022 elections.

The district will include China, Palermo, Somerville, Hibberts Gore, and Windsor.

Tuminaro was encouraged, per a news release, to seek office by current Representative Tim Theriault (R-China), who is term-limited. 

A longtime resident of China, she is concerned with the long-term health of Maine and the need for greater citizen input in decisions that affect their everyday life and local control, the release noted. 

“Maine needs to ensure that everyday citizens already overburdened by high fuel, food and energy costs, are not required to foot the bill when the federal money runs out,” said Tuminaro. “The billions of dollars in pandemic relief that Maine has received will not be there in future years. So it’s important that we focus of making Maine more affordable for the average family rather than creating new programs that require additional taxes. As for our children, it is essential that financial literacy become a staple in their education, that greater parental involvement in the classroom is promoted, and that our children are well-equipped to achieve rather than just survive, to become leaders rather than victims.”                

Tuminaro has extensive experience in the field of banking and bookkeeping, and is currently a finance manager for the Maine Center for Disease Control. She and her husband, Michael, manage two small, family-owned businesses, and are raising four children. Her experience includes work as a home educator and substitute teacher at Erskine Academy.

She earned a bachelor’s from the University of Delaware and a master’s in business administration from the University of Maine.