Maine House District 40 Candidate: Michael Ray

PenBayPilot.com has circulated questions to candidates seeking office in Midcoast Senate and House District. As candidates return their responses, we are posting them on the Pilot’s front page, and then they will reside on the Elections 2024 Voter Resource Page, which also includes letters, opinions, stories about state and local referendum questions, and more.

Michael Ray, D-Lincolnville, is seeking the House District 40 seat. The district comprises Morrill,  Montville,  Liberty, Lincolnville,  Searsmont,  Islesboro and  Appleton.

He is running against Joseph M. McLaughlin, R-Lincolnville.

Please provide a short biography of yourself, and explain why you are running for office.

I’m 68, having moved here from Ohio 35 years ago. I’ve worked a variety of jobs in the area. Right now I’m pretty much retired.

I figure I’m lucky to be in Maine and live where I do, so I’ve tried to give some back to the community. Serving on Lincolnville Town boards and committees the last 20 years or so has been both an honor and a great learning experience. Time on the Select Board, Planning Board, Land Use Commitee, Conservation Commisssion and others teach you a lot about the values, rights and needs of the people you are working for and are accountable to.

I’ve seen those same things in a slightly wider context in working with the Mid Coast Council of Governments and the Legislative Policy Committee of the Maine Municipal Association.

So I’m running to continue working for the wider community – learning what’s important to the people here, amplifying their voices in Augusta, and doing my bit to influence legislation and policy that will help my neighbors in their daily lives.

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

Affordability. This is by far the number one issue. Simply being able to live here. This covers a wide gamut: steeply rising property taxes, available housing, decent paying jobs and careers in the area, a lack of transportation options, affording health care and finding decent day care.

I’d like to see each of these worked on in a creative and bi-partisan way that follows common-sense budgeting practices.

So, for example, when it comes to property taxes you’re talking about working together and finding a way to increase state school reimbursements above 55%, increasing Municipal Revenue Sharing some, and expanding existing credits and exemptions that are geared toward the middle class.

I’d also like to have the State look at ways that encourage towns to have more frequent valuations so they can keep up with a volatile housing market, collect better cost-saving data, and allow homeowners to better budget for the sticker shock that often comes with a re-val.

The State’s ability to prepare for its future, and its environment come in 2 and 3. Protecting our environment at the State level boils down to balancing risk, cost and preservation/mitigation in changing times and pressures. In other words, finding and then funding the reasonable and responsible balance.

I’d also  like to see us continue thoughtful planning for our future. I believe the present administration and legislators in the past few sessions have down a good job starting to look ahead. But whether it’s land use and housing, EMS/Fire/Police, or infrastructure needs like roads and broadband we need to make sure we don’t slide into a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, there ought to be a strong State-County-Municipal partnership addressing these needs.

The towns I wish to represent mostly don’t have the resources to do it on their own. (We do a darn good job with what we have, though!) I see the the State’s role – again in partnership mode —  as incentivizing  and faciliating collaboration among towns.

Are there any specific issues affecting your particular district that you want to address in the Legislature?

In addition to having input on costs, the environment and planning, I’d like to concentrate on public transportation, highway maintenance and a State-County-Muncipal partnership that supports fiscally responsible use of municipally run public services.

Given the cost of health care, how would you address increasing access to affordable and high-quality health care for all?

Expanding and properly funding Mainecare, insurance company reforms, and finding affordable housing for health care providers and transportation for patients. Also, buildng a robust broadband infrastructure, and proper digital equity will let more people access healthcare via telemedicine.

Property owners throughout most of Maine are watching their property tax bills increase on an annual basis, some dramatically. What would you do, as a legislator, to help relieve the financial load on property-owning taxpayers?

Work toward increasing school reimbursement closer to 60%, making sure municipal revenue sharing is always at 5% or more, look into having the wealthier pay their fare share so vulnerable Mainers don’t have to make up the difference, and continue to increase and expand tax credits like the Property Tax Fairness Credit and the Property Tax deferral program.

Do you endorse net energy billing (solar power subsidies) that are designed to help Maine move further toward renewable energy, despite the increase in power bills for Maine power customers?

I do support net energy billing, but like many who pays an electric bill but who’s not tied into communuty solar, it hurts when I write the check. I think the system needs to be tweaked – as it has been since 2019 – to save ratepayers serious money, but maintained to get our children off of fossil fuels.

Are you in favor of developing an offshore wind port in Searsport? If so, do you want it sited on Sears Island or Mack Point, and why?

Yes to Offshore Floating Wind in our area. The good paying and long-term jobs it will directly and indirectly create make it a ”must have” in my opinion. OFW is an arrow in the quiver that will, in time and with a few other arrows, get Maine off of oil. And we need to do that in order to leave this place a decent place for our children.

The location I’m agnostic about. I’ve got to trust the process we have in place where engineers, permitting authorities and the public’s input work it out. While I don’t think watching that is going to be pretty, it’s the system we have.

Should abortion be a constitutional right in Maine?

Yes. 

 Are Maine’s gun laws strict enough? If not, what do you propose?

Not to prevent the violence and deaths like we sadly saw in Lewiston last year. And while there were many lapses making that tragedy possible, and yes, someone can always find the means to do another harm if they try hard enough, limiting acess to high powered rifles and large clips would make it more difficult.

I don’t see how its an undue  burden waiting a few days for a weapon when there’s the safety of children at stake. This simply seems a reasonable balance between the right to be safe and the right to own a firearm.

What legislative committees would you like to serve on and why?

Transportation and State and Local Government, for reasons I stated above.

What is your opinion on each of the Nov. 5 statewide referendums?

Question 1: Limiting contributions to PAC’s: Yes indeed. This is an opportunity for Mainer’s to vote for common sense, and to challenge the notion that money is speech. Unbridled and dark PAC’s are having a corrosive effect on our democracy, making the playing field far from level and transparent.

Question 2: BioTech,Foresty, Ag R+D bond:  Yes. I see this as one more tried and true example – born out repeatedly – that often the market alone is far too reactive to see society’s future needs.  Innovation seems to require a kick-start sometimes.

Question 3: Historic Building Restoration bond: I need to study this more in order to form an opinon.

Question 4: Trails bond: Yes. Maine’s rural towns benefit from trails – motorized, walking or hybrid –  to the tune of a hundreds of millions annually. This is a smart investment in keeping that going.

Question 5: Changing State Flag: Yes. But that’s an aesthetic and admittedly subjective preference on my part, and whichever flag is chosen is not something worth worring over, in my opinion. Since the seal is going to stay the same, and any change-over will be gradual and is already absorbed into the budget, however the voters feel is fine by me.

Is Maine doing enough to prepare and protect infrastructure for rising ocean levels and increased precipitation?

Time and climate will let us know if we’re doing enough, but yes,  I see the State being thoughtful and pro-active here. Consistency with federal policy and then accessing federal monies —  as well as doing the Dirigo Thing — will let us face the changes that we’re already seeing. Lincolnville spent close to a quarter millon dollars repairing damage to the beach from this year’s storms – our town and many other towns will need State and Federal help down the road.

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

As mentioned above, keeping up with higher costs.  I’ve mentioned a few possible approaches earlier, but I’d add that rising costs mean a tighter State budget directed to the impact on peoples’ lives, and paying strict attention to that. I’d do that in working toward a solution.

How would you define “good state government?”

One that is accountable to and in touch with the people it represents. And one that does the people’s work in utmost transparency.

What are the qualities and attributes of Maine that you want to enhance and cultivate?

Neighbors caring about and helping neighbors, while at the same time respecting each other’s privacy and independence. 

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

Thanks, but I think you’ve given me the opportunity to talk more than enough already.