Maine
State of Maine: First-time candidate Milliken has lived the challenges of her district – Mount Desert Islander
Nina Milliken, a Blue Hill Democrat operating for Home District 16, is fast to confess she “is perhaps nuts.” She has three younger youngsters, one fairly teensy. It was a chat with former consultant Genevieve McDonald, a mom of dual infants when she was first elected, that satisfied Milliken to go for it.
Although she could also be a first-time candidate, there’s a lot in her background that has ready her for the Legislature ought to she be elected. She has lived the challenges she describes as most urgent in her space: youngster care, reasonably priced housing and the rising impression of rental properties on year-round housing alternatives, particularly for coastal communities.
For the reason that pandemic, she says, extra individuals have moved to the realm with the intention of staying year-round. That has a constructive impression in some ways but additionally requires adjustment by the locals. Milliken herself has lived in Blue Hill year-round for a couple of decade however has household connections and a private historical past there for for much longer. The Blue Hill village seems to be fairly prefer it did 40 years in the past however with much more vehicles.
Each Milliken and her Republican challenger, Steve Hanrahan, are conscious of the distinctions made between “locals” and “individuals from away.” It’s much less of a vibrant line than it was once, however it’s nonetheless there. Milliken feels that strengthening neighborhood is important to addressing social issues.
Milliken doesn’t simply take into consideration these neighborhood issues within the summary. She has information, numerous information, and might readily spill it out as she discusses the ageing inhabitants, training challenges and different points on the minds of residents of Castine, Sedgwick, Brooksville, Blue Hill, Surry and Trenton.
Trenton was one of many few contested modifications in final 12 months’s redistricting course of. Maine legislation requires that electoral districts be contiguous, which Trenton is, says Milliken, “if you happen to take away the water.” By land, it requires a drive by means of Ellsworth to achieve the easternmost city in District 16.
Milliken has an excellent background for legislative service. Sitting in her screened porch, child asleep and older children within the care of a neighboring teenager, the tranquil environment and Milliken’s prepared smile alternate with flashes of deep goal and willpower. She describes her work with Wholesome Acadia and the George Stevens Academy to safe a provide of Narcan for managing drug overdoses, citing 300 doses obtained and 68 individuals skilled in its use. She want to see it available all through the neighborhood for speedy response to an overdose disaster.
Milliken says public training “is my realm.” She has a instructing certificates from School of the Atlantic and works half time on the Blue Hill Harbor Faculty. She was elected to the Blue Hill Faculty Board in 2021. She describes herself as “opinionated however compassionate.” She significantly likes working with adolescents.
She was a neighborhood educator and a sufferer advocate at Downeast Sexual Assault Providers, a place by which she coordinated companies between her company and faculties in Washington and Hancock counties. She already has her eye on alternatives within the Legislature to help younger individuals, strengthen the social infrastructure and develop day care alternatives.
Her curiosity in psychological well being points facilities on making it simpler for individuals to navigate the care community, and to deal with and discover extra remedy alternatives for substance addictions. She additionally desires to see enhancements locally response to psychological well being crises and thinks that statewide, extra remedy capability should be developed. She believes that connecting individuals to acceptable companies is vital to thriving communities.
She sees herself as “socially linked” in most communities in District 16 however is getting out and about to fulfill extra voters. She hosts “Espresso with the Candidate” periodically (notices are on her Fb web page) and is completely satisfied to fulfill with individuals anyplace within the district to speak about no matter is on voters’ minds.
Milliken and her household are lively outdoor individuals who take pleasure in climbing and tenting. She has launched her youngsters to volunteering on conserved lands within the space from an early age. She has been a cook dinner at an area restaurant.
Her expertise has given her perception into Maine from a wide range of views and has developed her abilities in networking all through coastal Hancock County and past, a necessary benefit for a legislator. There shall be alternatives to see the 2 District 16 candidates in a number of boards, together with in a League of Ladies Voters Zoom dialog in mid-October. Examine the LWV web site for specifics.
This shall be an fascinating contest. The candidates have clear philosophical variations however share comparable convictions about life in rural Maine and the position a legislator ought to play in rural communities. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Get out and vote.
Jill Goldthwait labored for 25 years as a registered nurse at Mount Desert Island Hospital. She has served as a Bar Harbor city councilor and as an unbiased state senator from Hancock County.
Jill Goldthwait labored for 25 years as a registered nurse at Mount Desert Island Hospital. She has served as a Bar Harbor city councilor and as an unbiased state senator from Hancock County.
