By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Incumbent Walter Riseman (Independent-Harrison) is seeking re-election on Nov. 8 to Maine House District 83 (Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison). His challenger is Republican Donna Dodge of Denmark.

The News posed the following questions to the candidates. Answers are arranged alphabetically:

Q. Why did you decide to enter politics?

Dodge: I have always been active from the sidelines: testifying in Augusta, writing letters to the editor, holding workshops on Common Core curriculum, approaching school boards on key issues, and serving as chairman for the Denmark Planning Board. But these past two and a half years have been difficult to watch. I felt that our representatives were no longer representing us, but ruling us. I watched as the current administration passed legislation which violated our rights and used our tax money to do it. I watched as Augusta put big business and out-of-state corporate interests ahead of Maine people. And, I watched as our education and healthcare systems became more and more dysfunctional. I thought about our children and what kind of Maine we will leave them. Will it be one with unsustainable spending and higher taxes, or one with limited government and modest taxation? I felt I had to try to make a difference, for them.

Riseman: Thanks for that question. With 40-plus years living in the area, I have direct knowledge about the people and our communities. After retiring, it soon became obvious to me, I still had more to offer. I had a growing concern about how government interacted with the people they served. It seemed to me that responsible government was hindered by partisan politics, inefficient operations and expanding bureaucracies. Much the problem is caused by maintaining an appropriate balance between providing resources for people in need and increasing the burdens on taxpayers. It requires thoughtful work on the part of government leaders to properly address solutions. I believe we can do better. My mantra has been, “If you are going to complain about something, you should be willing to do something about it” and so I continue my quest. 

Q. What strength/skills would you bring to the position?

Dodge: Growing up in a family which often discussed politics and issues at the dinner table, I learned to keep informed so that I could participate. As a result, I enjoy debate and feel I can do so respectfully. As an adult, my job required public speaking, so I am comfortable with this aspect of the legislative position. If elected to represent the people of Bridgton, Denmark, and Harrison, I promise to be available and honest. I will always Listen to concerns, Lead in a direction to solve problems, and always be Loyal to my word. Listen. Lead. Loyal. I’m also a small business owner, who cares deeply about all small businesses and the workers they employ.

Riseman: I have just completed four years as your Independent State Representative. I have done my best to understand the complexities of important legislation and have based my vote on how my decision affects my constituency. It requires interaction with people in different capacities, regardless of political affiliation or beliefs. The ability to listen and communicate is essential to the process. Included also are the important principals of respectful conduct, accountability, transparency, honesty, and the ability to accept compromise. As an Independent, I am not beholden to a particular expectation on how to vote by organized political parties.

Q. What do you believe the role of government should be?

Dodge:Our Constitution reserves nearly all power to the people and little to the government, yet the current administration in Augusta has continually chosen government regulations and mandates over freedom — all under the guise of economic stability and safety. I believe people of Maine are fiercely independent and hard-working and they take the notion of personal responsibility seriously. The mindset I see in Augusta is contrary to these American values. The current administration has continued to grow government, increase regulations, and raise taxes. I believe long-term solutions for greater prosperity for all Mainers involve shrinking the size of government and allowing people to keep more of what they earn. 

Riseman: Such an important question! The strongest and healthiest form of governmental is democracy. It was designed by the founding fathers to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Within those words can be various interpretations of what democracy should look like and what the role of government should be. It is my belief that government must fairly represent the health, safety and welfare of all its people. It must be done in a manner which considers the needs and wants of both the society as a whole and also individual liberties. The most difficult decisions of government come when these principals are in conflict. Good government occurs when there is factual and rational evidence presented, thoughtful consideration made, and clear and understandable outcomes established based on the principals.

Q. If elected, what would be your three priorities (and explain why they are a priority)?

Dodge: 1. Maine currently has the third highest tax burden in the country, behind only New York and Hawaii. (Tax burden looks at individual income, property tax, sales tax and excise tax as a share of personal income.) Maine also made first place for highest property tax as percent of personal income. (WalletHub). Our cost of living is 15% higher than the national average. These rankings don’t happen by accident, they are caused by bad policies. Our neighbor, New Hampshire, with identical weather, resources, tourists, and terrain made the top five list of states with the lowest total sales and excise tax as a percent of personal income. The people in Maine deserve leaders who understand that we cannot continue to tax and spend our way to a more prosperous state. The Property Tax Stabilization Program, designed to freeze property taxes for seniors, was passed this spring and is a great start, but we need to do more. I would support reducing or eliminating the income tax as well as reducing state tax on electricity, which is hovering around 14 percent.

2. Education. We spend more every year and yet our students’ proficiency and test scores continue to decline. We must bring back the basics — writing, science, arithmetic. We need to introduce technical and vocational education earlier than high school. We must give parents a voice in what their children are learning.

3. Energy costs. It’s no secret that Mainers are struggling. We saw an 83% increase in our electricity bills this year. More people in Maine rely on heating oil than any other state. I think of these folks as oil approaches $5 per gallon. Gas is also on the rise, up 11 cents over this past week (as of 10/10/22). But there are strategies that could help. For example, we pay 30 cents state tax per gallon of gas. I filled up with 18 gallons yesterday and paid $5.40 in tax. This is a lot of money, especially if filling up several times a week. It was suggested by voters that this tax be significantly reduced or eliminated for the winter months. I would support such a policy.

Riseman: 1. Drug Addiction and Mental Health. These crises are overwhelming our society at all age and income levels. More resources are needed to properly address harm reduction, law enforcement and family education. There is no single answer. It will take a multi-pronged and concerted effort to work through these problems. I will continue my work with various local and state-wide groups to bring more resource availability.

2. Affordable Housing and Homelessness. Inflation, lack of good jobs, an insufficient affordable housing inventory, and increased homelessness will require innovative solutions to address the problems. We need to explore additional resources and create more joint partnerships between the public and private sectors to be able fill the gaps, especially in the rural areas of the state. I will advocate for legislation to address these issues. especially in the urban areas of the state.

3. Environment. This refers to more than just natural resources. The Maine Conservation Voters endorsed me giving me a 100% score on addressing environmental issues including, water quality, stopping PFAS pollution, stopping out-of-state trash dumping, and requiring more accountability by the state’s electric utilities, among others. More work is needed on these and other important topics. I will continue my commitment to improve all areas of environmental concerns.

Q. What issues/problems do you feel the state has fallen short on and what do you propose to do to improve that situation?

Dodge: I feel our state has dropped the ball when it comes to protecting our most vulnerable populations such as the elderly and disabled. For various reasons, Maine has lost three nursing homes over the past year. One of our top priorities should be optimizing reimbursement rates at nursing homes and long-term care facilities to ensure they remain open and that there are enough qualified staff to provide care. Maine has also fallen short in implementing affordable healthcare options to the general population. I feel that we must reduce healthcare costs for everyone by incentivizing competition across state lines. As your Representative, I will promote viable solutions to our healthcare system that encourage competition and attract much needed qualified healthcare workers to Maine.

Riseman: Partisanship: Unfortunately, over the last decade the style of political leadership has changed. Dominated by extreme elements in both organized political parties, the business of legislating has been relegated to neither side wanting to jeopardize their political power, seek compromise or find resolution to deal with the issues. The role of the political moderate needs to be reestablished. I will continue to seek compromise among lawmakers when necessary.

• Budget practices: There is major disconnect between consideration of legislation and the cost of funding it. Too often policies are voted for passage without consideration of how much and where the funding will come to pay for it. There is an annual dilemma of allocating resources to pay for legislation after it is approved. Too often good legislation ultimately “dies” for lack of funding. There simply isn’t enough money. I would advocate for reforming and simplifying the roles of the Appropriations Committee and Legislature when it comes to money.

• Reform government: ??There needs to be more accountability and transparency when it comes to government operations. At times, outdated systems, inefficient bureaucracies and lack of communication has staggered our ability to function in the best interest of the people we serve. I would suggest a best practices study be conducted for each state department.