On the Legislative Agenda page of this website, I have outlined five critical priorities for Maine in 2006 and beyond.  Over the next five weeks, I will highlight each of these in turn.  As always, I encourage your comment and input.

 

Maine's natural heritage is a critical part of our economy, our quality of life, and our personal health.  Ironically, its very appeal is part of what threatens it.  In order to allow the continued access and use of Maine's natural heritage, we must also protect and preserve it.

 

As I go door to door, listening, I hear people who say Maine has the highest rate of childhood asthma in the nation, and must aggressively pursue its suit against the EPA for rolling back emissions standards on midwest coal-burning plants.  I hear people who want the Androscoggin cleaned up to match the successful cleanup of the Kennebec.  I hear support for Land for Maine's Future. 

 

In all three towns, I hear people who understand that most residential development raises taxes and compromises our collective quality of life.  The residents of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham and Richmond know that we are fast becoming a bedroom community, and want to respond in a considered and thoughtful manner.  (To see the trends in our region and in Maine as a whole, I strongly encourage you to visit http://www.maine.gov/spo/landuse/resources/sprawl.php and view the "Expansion of Development" slideshow.)

 

Maine's natural heritage was central to my own decision to return to Maine after living abroad, and in New York City during my 20s.  I knew that Maine was the right place to raise my family.  It was home.  My overarching goal as your legislator will be to ensure that our children, and our grandchildren, can still, someday, say the same.