By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

The battle for Maine House District 84 (Baldwin, Naples, Sebago, Standish, Steep Falls) features Democrat Barry Powers and Republican Mark Walker. The News posed the following questions to the candidates, whose answers are arranged alphabetically.

Q. Why did you decide to enter politics?

Powers: I didn’t decide to enter “politics,” but instead decided to enter public service. In 2019, I was diagnosed with cancer and learned that the survival rate for my type of cancer is only 40% out to five years. My diagnosis made me re-think my priorities. Supporting my family has always been and will always be my number one priority, but a close second is service to the community and I felt that I could do a better job in that area. I ran for Sebago Budget Committee and won (though very few people seem to want to be on Budget). I joined our local snowmobile club to help maintain the trails as our outdoors are what my family uses the most. I joined the Sebago Lions as they have the biggest impact as a group in our town. Earlier this year, I was asked by some friends to run for State Representative as there was only one candidate in the race and there was little time left before the filing deadline. I thought serving as State Representative could be another good way to assist our community even if winning might be a long shot. With seven clear CT scans since my cancer diagnosis, my health outlook is much better now. Win or lose, when I do pass, I hope never to be remembered as a “politician” but instead as someone who wanted to help and made a difference.

Walker: Actually, I’m not sure I’m interested in entering politics. As the man said, “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.” So, I’ll probably stay out of that game and just try to represent the people of Naples, Sebago, Baldwin, Steep Falls and Standish in trying to get some good government in Maine — government that’s driven from the bottom up, by the people, not by a few at the top.

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

Powers: I am a good listener, make decisions based on facts and supporting evidence, and can put myself in other people’s shoes. I am open, truthful and accessible. I can balance big budgets and can think strategically. We may not agree on everything, but you will always be able to talk with me and you will always know what I am thinking and why. Our last Representative only appeared in Augusta for a shockingly small 41% of the votes in this last term. I might not be perfect, but promise, that if elected, I will be here to meet with you, I will listen to you and I will show up in Augusta when it comes time to represent you.

Walker: Well, I try to be a good listener. I’m pretty good at dealing with new ideas. I understand organization operations and finance. I’ve learned a few things over the years about human nature. And, I sort of stubbornly believe in certain principals — like Citizenship, Equality under the Law, and the Balance of personal Liberty with Responsibility. (Plus — I really despise outright deception shrouded in crafty or subtle political “spin.”)

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

Powers: The great thing about our democracy is that our government is us. We elect our government. Every two to four years, we can make big changes in Augusta and Washington if we feel those that we elected aren’t representing us or, like our last Representative, are barely doing the job at all. Even better, every year, we can create needed change through activism and ballot initiatives that reflect what we want and need. Our government should only do as much as we want and need it to do and no more. Our government should only do what we cannot do on our own as individuals. Protecting our rights, our fiscal resources and natural environment are minimum requirements to the job – building a better future for ourselves and our families is the goal.

Walker: The first duty of all governments is to restrain outright evildoers. People under any government on earth that doesn’t do that are in supreme trouble. In our Western tradition, protecting the weak from being taken advantage of by the strong, regardless of status, is a pretty high priority. In a constitutional republic like ours, the duty of government is to preserve order and protect liberty, and to do that through the exercise of the law. Under lawful constitutional government, no person, regardless of their position, may exercise power apart from the authority of the law. Furthermore, in keeping with “government by the consent of the governed,” we hold that law is legitimate exclusively because it is of the peoples’ will exercised through their chosen legislative representatives.

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

Powers: 1. An economy that works for all of Maine. We need lower taxes with responsible spending; continued, low unemployment; reduced energy and medical expenses to provide relief from rising costs to Maine families and Seniors; access to healthcare; and affordable housing are all key components to building a thriving economy that works for everyone. Doing these things will grow our state and local economy.

2. Improvement in our education system. Fully fund our schools including trade schools, continue two years free community college, computer science education in all high schools, improve Internet connectivity and bandwidth across all of the district. In our district, lack of broadband is a key differentiator for the education available to our children. I have heard from too many parents that they would have to drive their cars to the library and use their WiFi so their children could complete their lessons. 

3. Protect women’s rights and access to reproductive healthcare. The recent Supreme Court Dobbs decision and the subsequent rising tide of abortion bans and restrictions across the country coupled with the Maine Republican Party’s official platform to place more restrictions on abortion makes one thing crystal clear: Women’s reproductive rights are under assault. There are no laws on any book in the nation or here in Maine that force me as a man to do anything with my body that I don’t want. I will make sure women enjoy the same freedoms and rights as men. I believe that we are all created equal and that men and women deserve the same rights as one another. As such, I would support an amendment to Maine’s Constitution to protect women’s rights regardless of which political party is in the State Legislature.

Walker: Urgent and immediate priorities — 1. The cost of living, of housing, food, heat, and power—because, for some of our neighbors, it’s a matter of survival. 

2. Our young people deserve a first-rate public education and technical training for the trades — because they are growing up fast and we care about their futures. 

3. We must protect Maine’s quality of life from outside special interests of all kinds by exposing them and rallying resistance — because our quality of life is fundamental to our existence.

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

Powers: Our primary problem in District 84 is that we had virtually no representation in Augusta and in the 41% of time that our representative showed up, he was ineffectual. In addition, our representative was not meeting with his constituents and fell out of touch with what we needed in Baldwin, Naples and Sebago (and now Steep Falls and Standish). If elected I would hold regular “meet and greets” in each town in the district, my phone lines will be open and I will promptly return your e-mails and calls. I would keep a regular on-line presence and mail presence to describe what I am doing for our towns and solicit ideas from allpolitical stripes. Finally, no one political party can have a monopoly on good ideas. I would bring bi-partisanship back to our district and would work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do what is right and good for our community. My experience in business is that you focus on doing what helps promote growth and not focus on what divides one another.

Our state is like our country’s symbol, the eagle; we won’t fly without the left and the right wings and the larger body in the center.

Walker: Of all prime responsibilities of state government, the basic education of children through our public schools, is where we most fall short. It is in some ways unclear to me why this is and what the underlying problems are. But, this much I do know. There are few schools in America where the majority of kids excel, and where the kids are from the very disadvantaged backgrounds, while at the same time, teachers are happier and well paid, and the overall school budgets are surprisingly modest. All I can say is, "Let's find out what they are doing differently and do the same."