Rockport resident Josh Gerritsen released the following announcement Nov. 17.

My name is Josh Gerritsen and today I am launching my campaign for Maine House District 41 (Camden/Rockport). I am running because the cost of living, especially housing, healthcare, and electricity, is out of control, and I want to help change that.

I grew up in Camden and I’m proud to have gone through the whole public school system. After spending a decade away for college with a degree in environmental studies and being a photographer in New York, I moved back to Maine because I wanted to farm and contribute to the community that I love.

I lived in Lincolnville for 10 years, serving on the Select Board for six, the Waldo County Budget Committee for six (with three as chair), the Mid-coast Solid Waste Board of Directors and the Broadband Committee as chair.

During that time I started a filmmaking business and made a few movies: a thriller about a Maine island fishing community stranded and fighting for survival, and a documentary about pigs. I’m proud of the work that I did in Lincolnville, working well with my colleagues but never being afraid to be the sole dissenting voice when I saw it was in the public’s interest.

I now live in Rockport with my wife and three year old son. I was part of a small citizens group that saved the Mary E. Taylor building from demolition. I recently served on the Rockport Harbor Strategic Task Force and helped come up with an innovative solution to combat sea level rise for our coastal parks.

I also made a film, The Comeback Mill, about the Madison Paper mill and it’s transformation into the nation’s first wood fiber insulation company. I followed their journey for four years as they took an empty mill and brought it back to life, reviving the hopes and dreams of Madison, as well as creating over 100 jobs.

Why I’m Running

Let me state the obvious: the cost of everything is completely out of control. Housing is especially broken in our state. There’s not enough housing available for the people that need it, and what is available is simply too expensive for most families.

I remember trick-or-treating across Camden and Rockport 25 years ago and seeing lights on greeting children at most homes. Today, so many homes in our community sit empty for half the year. There are a lot of reasons for the housing crisis, and we need to relentlessly address every cause to make housing affordable and available.

A lack of housing that’s affordable doesn’t just affect people looking for a home, but homeowners, as well. Who will work in the schools, the hospitals, or the coffee shops if they can’t find a place to live? Who will drive you to the ER when you are in a life threatening situation?

What I Believe In

I am a progressive and believe that government, with the right legislation and decent people in office, can help make our lives better and society more equitable.

I believe that high-quality housing should be available and affordable for everyone.

I believe that health care is a human right and that Medicare For All is the only way to fix our broken system.

I believe that buying out CMP and Versant and returning our electric grid to local control is the best solution for our unreliable and outrageously expensive electric grid.

I believe that wealthy people should pay more of their fair share to pay for services that benefit all Mainers.

I believe that raising kids these days is crazy expensive, and that Universal Pre-K must be available to every family, and child care should be affordable for all.

Why You Should Consider Supporting Me

I’m always willing to have a conversation and work with anyone, even if we don’t agree on fundamental issues. I truly believe that. We all need to work together if we’re going to build a stronger Maine into the future. Housing, health care, electricity, these affect us all. We have more in common with people “from the other side” than we realize.

We need to make large structural changes if we want life in Maine to be affordable again. It’s time for big ideas, not small tweaks to a broken system.I am incredibly fortunate that my wife and I get to raise our son in my hometown. I want Camden and Rockport to be an affordable place for his generation, as well.

I have told the stories of countless Mainers as a filmmaker. Being a good documentary filmmaker demands listening to the people in front of your camera, and now I want to listen to you. Over the coming months, I will be knocking on doors all across Camden and Rockport and listening to what challenges you face in your lives. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and I need your help to understand what could make your life better.

Please reach out to me with any questions or comments at 207-230-9042 or josh.gerritsen@gmail.com

For more information, please visit:

www.joshformaine.com

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