Elinor Goldberg, D-Hope, is seeking the seat representing House District 95, which comprises Appleton, Hope, part of Union, and Warren.

I have lived and worked in Knox County all of my adult life. I even built my house in Hope with my own two hands.  I have been a businesswoman, starting and running several small businesses.  As a social worker, I provided substance abuse counseling and other critical support to families in distress.

 Yet my proudest personal achievement is my advocacy on behalf of Maine’s children. As the founder of the Maine Children’s Alliance (MCA) I worked tirelessly for 17 years within the political sphere at the local, state, and national level to improve the lives of families and children in Maine, particularly those in rural areas and in poverty. I am especially proud of my success in expanding health insurance for many Maine children.

 During my tenure at MCA, I was honored with numerous national and statewide awards for my leadership and effective advocacy on behalf of others. Yet, my true satisfaction came from seeing the difference that good laws can have on Maine families. My experience  working with state government taught me that  Augusta can work, when elected officials of both parties and both branches of government work together.  I believe that makes me uniquely qualified to represent House District 95.

 I have also served on numerous state-wide advisory councils, including the Maine Child Care Advisory Council and the MaineCare Advisory Council and am currently on the board of the local Belfast Area Child Care Centers and the regional Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation.

What are the most pressing issues facing Maine today, and how would you like to see them resolved?

I am deeply concerned about the extent to which many of our families struggle with substance abuse, and the devastating effect it has on the lives of children living in families afflicted by addiction.

I am also very concerned about the quality of education and concerned that we place so much of the burden on our cities and towns, which means high property taxes. This needs to change.

Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy has to be a priority for all of us.

How will you protect the local (municipal) taxpayer as you help shape a state budget?    This is answered in question 9.

What policies would you create and promote to build Maine's natural resource-based economy?

We are fortunate to be a state rich in natural resources, with boundless opportunities to promote and build Maine’s natural resource-based economy.

It has taken decades to clean up our rivers and streams and  solve the problems of chemical waste that we inherited from years past.  We already have policies in place to protect Maine’s greatest asset – our clean air and water. Its time for action - we must implement those policies.

Further, Maine can, and will, increasingly be called on in the future to produce more of our own food. Support for farmers here in the NE corner of the country is essential.  Helping our farmers thrive and assisting them grow their markets is also something we can do.

What policies would you create and promote to sustain the natural resources of this state (fisheries, timber, mining)?

Preserving our land and and sustaining our natural resources for generations to come , must be non-negotiable.

In spite of recent mill closures, Maine’s forest products industry is alive and well. We need to support this industry and our workers as they continue to find new markets for their products, diversify to meet emerging demand and modernize to remain competitive.

Managing our woodlands for sustainable harvest will insure this industry has a healthy future.  Efforts to clean up the waterways and to provide passage for fish at dam sites have brought migratory fish back from the sea to our waters. Stewardship of the fisheries is of prime importance to help the fishing industry survive the pressures of annual harvests and changing water conditions, including increased acidity and rising temperature.

Mining in Maine can be successful using up-to-date best practices that protect the environment while extracting the resource.  

What is your position on alternative energy and public investment into it?

I support alternative energy and public investments in Maine to build our capacity for the future. By investing in renewable energy we can help create jobs; potentially realize lower energy costs; allow businesses to offer products and services at a more competitive rate; and stop exporting tens of millions of dollars from Maine to import fossil fuels from away. 

It is time to be smart about energy so that Mainers can have a balanced portfolio of energy choices that can drive economic development both now and in the future.

What is your position on the five citizen initiatives that are before voters Nov. 8?

If elected, it will be my responsibility to represent all of the people of Maine, those that vote for me and those who do not. Part of my job will be to implement, as best as I can, any ballot initiative the majority of Mainers approve.

Ballot Item 1:  Legalize Marijuana Initiative: 

If this initiative should pass, I would insist on significant regulation to protect public health and safety, in the same way that we regulate the sale and use of alcohol and tobacco. I would also want to preserve every community’s right to make local decisions about how and whether marijuana could be sold within their town. Lastly, I would work to protect our local growers.

Ballot Item 2:  Public Education Surcharge Tax: 

I support this ballot initiative. Funding high-quality education for our children is one of my highest priorities.

Ballot Item 3:  Background Check for Gun Sales Initiative-requires specific background checks for gun sales and transfers 

I support the 2nd Amendment and the right for all Mainers to own guns to hunt and to protect themselves and their families. I also agree with the expansion of background checks because it is important to keep our families safe by not selling firearms to felons, batterers, and those with mental illness.

Ballot Item 4:  Minimum Wage Increase Initiative – increases minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020:

I do not believe that Maine’s current minimum wage is a livable wage for Maine families, and I support increasing Maine’s minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020 and tracking the cost of living thereafter. I am pleased that many business leaders that I have spoken with, both large and small, support increasing the minimum wage as a way to improve the state’s economy.  In addition, raising the minimum wage can play a significant role in reducing the negative aspects of poverty for many Maine children.

Ballot Item 5:  Ranked Choice Voting Initiative – establishes statewide ranked-choice voting:

 Reforming our electoral process needs to be a priority.  I am still studying this proposal and would welcome feedback.

Transportation Bond: Issues $100 million in bonds for transportation projects.

I support investing in Maine’s infrastructure, and this $100 million Transportation Bond would fund many important transportation projects. Equally important, it will create good paying jobs that could serve as an economic stimulus throughout the state of Maine. 

What issues are emerging from your conversations with the public as you go about your campaign, and what solutions do you envision?

Answer: Many of my neighbors are concerned about their property taxes, and they should be! Their town Boards of Selectmen have been handed a tough job.  Increasingly they’re being forced to consider increases in our property taxes because Augusta has reduced revenue sharing to our municipalities. This has the effect of making the rest of us subsidize income tax reductions with either increases in property taxes or reductions in local services. The wealthiest among us have enjoyed a disproportionate and unfair share of those reductions.  I think that’s unfair. 

I also believe that we need to reinstate what is referred to as the “circuit breaker,” a provision of state law that once prevented property taxes paid by people on fixed or low income from increasing beyond their means. 

Investing in our state’s infrastructure is also important. This includes making sure that all parts of Maine have access to high speed internet. This is important for our children’s education and our ability to be competitive in the marketplace.

Finally, I think we could relieve the pressure to increase property taxes by implementing sensible local, consolidation of educational resources to help increase efficiency in the delivery of quality education.

A recent Maine Dept. of Labor report indicates the work force will get even older, and more jobs will require post-secondary education.    How will you work to build a knowledge-based economy when so many of Maine high school graduates do not seek higher education?

I believe that high quality vocational education and training should be a viable higher education alternative for many of our students. There are many paths to a successful career and earning a good living, and our students need to have opportunities that match their interests and skills.  Not only will this keep many more of our students engaged in their education, but it will ensure that as a state, we are positioned to meet the future with a skilled, diverse workforce. This will also position us to engage in more vigorous business development.

Is Maine doing enough to accommodate the successful assimilation of immigrants?

This is an area where we have some work to do.  Most of us, can proudly trace our family history to grandparents or great-grandparents that immigrated to Maine from somewhere else in the world.  It is no secret that Maine has an aging population. To grow Maine’s economy, we need more workers.  At various points in Maine’ history, immigrants  have provided needed workers and could do so again today.  I believe that immigration needs to be a significant part of Maine’s future and we need policies that support and encourage the successful assimilation of immigrants.

What is the best legislative activity that has occurred in Augusta over the last six years. This does not have to mean legislative action, but can include collaboration, research, etc.

Adoption of Maine’s new comprehensive, Addiction Bill, is a wonderful example of collaboration in Augusta.  This new law, complete with a funding source, is a very significant first step in providing hope to so many Mainers and their families.

Further, support for a Bond Issue that increases infrastructure investment, which will be decided by the voters this November, was a highlight this past session. 

There are also numerous private and not-for-profit sector initiatives underway to enhance our economic climate and create jobs for the future.  The leadership and expansion of Jackson Labs, the robust energy surrounding the craft beer industry in Maine, the growing music scene in Maine, the efforts of FOCUS/MAINE to create new industries that will create 10,000 jobs by 2025 are but a few of those efforts.  The job of elected officials in Augusta is to talk with these job generators and learn how the state can help to foster their very positive efforts.

I am a candidate for the House of Representatives because I believe that if we work together, we can be even more productive!  We have a great deal that needs to be done and we need to get Maine back to work.

How would you define "good state government?"

Our state government has a responsibility first and foremost to represent the people of the state of Maine.  We need to ensure the safety and well being of our citizens, preserve our way of life, and accomplish these goals efficiently, effectively, and with accountability for results.

Is there any other topic or issue you'd like to talk about here? Have at it!

My primary objective if elected, is to go to Augusta and work on the issues that you have told me are your priorities. I have a track record of working well with others and in getting things done.  Thank you for your consideration.