Election 2024 preview: House District 84 Dove vs. Walker
D-Baldwin
About the Candidate: Cassie Dove first entered a life of service at the age of 17 and joined the U.S. Coast Guard. She served all over the East Coast, coordinating search and rescue, as well as on a few Coast Guard cutters. She was highly decorated and retired in 1999.
After service, she became a software engineer in D.C., and then moved to Maine as a new mother, and became a teacher.
She raised her daughter on a horse farm, obtained her teaching degrees, and completed her master’s degree in Education from St. Joseph College in Standish, as well as her Doctorate in Education with a focus on Online Education Technologies from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minn. All along, starting a community band in Hiram, helping the school music programs with fundraising and other needs.
Cassie now teaches at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, as well as helping the Southern Maine Community College with their English courses.
By Wayne E. Rivet
Staff Writer
Incumbent Mark Walker (R-Naples) is seeking re-election to the Maine House of Representatives to represent House District 84, which includes Sebago, Naples, Baldwin and part of Standish.
Walker is facing a challenge on Nov. 5 from Dr. Cassie Dove (D) of Baldwin.
The News posed the following questions to the candidates. Their responses are arranged alphabetically:
Q. How did you become interested in political office?
Dove: Years ago, I was blessed to talk to President Jimmy Carter while stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While I was too young to remember his presidency, I followed and became a HUGE fan of his work during and after his time in politics. He inspired me to volunteer heavily in my community and continue to find ways to help others. My time in politics will just be that. Listening, doing the right thing for Mainers, and giving back.
Walker: A better question might be, “How did political office become interested in me?” Until two years ago, I had never even run for dog-catcher. It was our previous State Representative, Rich Cebra, who first asked me to think about it. Then, other Republicans started piling on. Initially, I thought, “That’s crazy.” Then I thought, “Well, I wouldn’t want a left-winger to have the seat.” By then, my fate was sealed.
I’m really less interested in political office per se than in just helping people. In contrast to politicians, as Thomas Sowell puts it, “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”
Q. What characteristics do you possess that you feel will serve the best interest of your constituents?
Dove: As I wrote above, I have been active in volunteering and serving my community for many years. Often being called to organize a fundraiser, help with grant writing, proposals for library funding and so many other things. I am a professional Technical Writer that teaches how to write proposals and other documents. I am also a public speaker, and can passionately deliver a message that will resonate with my audience, to help my constituents. I love visiting my constituents and listening to their stories and requirements. I have lived in Maine for 20 plus years, was a single mom the entire time, and I just understand many issues that many may not.
Walker: Well, I listen pretty well. My career in business management required me to understand lots of new technologies and different ideas. I’ve learned a few things over the years about human nature. I’m sort of stubborn on certain principals like equality under the law, citizenship, and balancing personal liberty with responsibility. And especially, I despise the ceaseless bombardment of deception in our public discourse.
Q. Name three issues that concern you the most, and explain why and what can be done?
Dove: We need to ensure all women have the right to choose what to do with their own body. Period. In addition, we need to ensure that our LGBTQ population has access to the medical care they require as well, safely and without any discrimination.
Our schools are suffering with retaining great teachers, especially in the rural areas of Maine. We need to ensure that our teachers are paid equally and stay in schools after they complete their student teaching. Creating a program that will help our young teachers pay for their college tuition, help them through student teaching and keeping them in their district is very important for our teachers and our students.
(R-Naples)
About the Candidate: I moved here from the Midwest 17 years ago, from flatlands surrounded by cornfields under a big sky to the rugged, forested beauty of Maine. Surprisingly though, I feel more at home now than if I had stayed put. The people of Maine are a lot like the down-to-earth folks among whom I grew up.
Some today might call my family background “disadvantaged.” But we didn’t think of it that way. We certainly knew we weren’t “well to do.” Sure, our clothes were from thrift stores or hand-me-downs; our dish rags and wash rags really were rags not “cloths”; we never ate out; our milk was mixed from powder, but I don’t think we felt deprived.
I was first in my family to go to college, earning a B.S. in Industrial Materials and Processes in 1979. Eventually, I earned an MBA in 2006. In a lengthy professional career, I have been a meat cutter, carpenter, and shop teacher. My main profession for almost 40 years, however, was in sales and general management of small businesses.
We need to ensure that our Maine State Crime Lab has all the funding they need in order to obtain, protect and study evidence so we can ensure our Maine people are safe and not in danger. In addition, we need to help our local police departments obtain funding so they are not overstretched, overworked, and burning out.
Walker: Election Integrity. The list of registered voters in Maine grows by the day. But its number is greater than the number of citizens of voting age! Anyone voting in Maine should show a photo ID.
Outrageous Cost of Energy and Fuel. Manipulating energy markets in Maine for special interests — on top of our already crippling inflation — must end!
Rent and Home Ownership. Municipalities that want affordable housing must examine their own policies, fees, and ordinances, not violate local authority of smaller communities and drive up their costs.
Q. We presently live in a very divided country when it comes to politics. What would be your approach to working both sides of the aisle to achieve needed change?
Dove: I was a Republican for most of my years in the USCG. Many of my friends are Republicans and Independents, and many are in politics. A lot of my views are rooted in the middle of the political spectrum, and thus able to listen and work across the aisle.
Walker: My first term in the Maine Legislature, I observed a fair amount of working both sides of the aisle. Frankly though, all those attempts were by Republicans. For years, Democrats have been uncompromising with their bare majority, unbending in order to make state government big and Maine citizens small. Consequently, what would be my approach? The first step of my approach to restore a balanced legislative culture of true goodwill and common respect — one where we actually do work across the aisle — is to make Democrats the minority party.
Q. Finally, if elected, how will you remain connected with the people you serve?
Dove: I seriously love having dinners hosted at the town libraries, and opening the doors to everyone, so we can sit down and talk. I intend to keep that tradition and continue to go out and meet people throughout my towns and let them know I am there for them. People can reach me 24/7 through my website and will stay involved in issues that are happening around my towns. Walker: I live here and nowhere else. I shop here, have friends here, go out to eat here. I attend church here. I meet with citizens or spend time with them in their homes or at the town hall or anywhere we see each other. I’ll be remaining connected just by being who I am and doing what I’ve always done.
