Democratic incumbent Dave Farrington of Gorham is seeking a second term as the legislative representative from House District 130.
The district covers parts of both Buxton and Gorham.
His opponent is Republican Ryan Harnden.
Farrington, 39, teaches history and government at Yarmouth High School. His first term in the Legislature was educational, and, he said, it takes time to learn. He’s seeking ree-lection to build on it.
“I have a grasp of the process,” he said.
He enjoys communicating with his constituents and offering information.
He’s proposing to wrap a state property tax rebate program, called the circuit breaker, into the state income tax form so more could benefit. Farrington said some don’t realize they could be eligible, while others don’t apply, thinking it’s a handout.
“It’s a refund,” Farrington said. “It’s money going back to people who need help.”
Farrington is opposed to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
“It would tie hands of all levels of government to provide the services people want,” he said.
However, Farrington said, he understands the frustrations of people who support TABOR. He said retired people on fixed incomes are struggling to pay property taxes.
He said people are looking to Augusta to address tax issues, but don’t want state control of local government. L D 1, with its spending caps, is definitely a step in the right direction, according to Farrington. “But we certainly haven’t resolved the problems,” he said about property tax relief.
Dirigo Choice, according to Farrington, has been a victim, to some degree, of over optimism. He said it is providing a valuable product to people enrolled. But he said premiums are higher than ought to be. “I continue to be a supporter,” he said.
Farrington, who serves on the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee, is big believer in funding research and development, and Maine needs to invest more in it. “What we have put in has paid off,” he said. “We have a lot of small successes,” Farrington said.
Phasing out the business equipment tax should be an incentive for business, he said. “We are doing things to attract business,” he said.
He would like to explore alternative energy possibilities, especially wind power.
The importance of education scores high to Farrington. He wants every child in Maine to have the opportunity for a top-quality education. Farrington has a bachelor of arts degree from Messiah College and a master’s from the University of Southern Maine.
He said he approves of the recent switch in 11th-grade assessments from the Maine Educational Assessment to the Scholastic Aptitute Test, but he wished that the process had included more dialogue before the change.
Farrington and his wife, Stacey, have two children, Stefanie, 12, and Greg, 9. They live on Cold Spring Lane.
He’s been part of the Gorham community for more than 10 years. “It’s where he live and worship,” he said.
He said he doesn’t have grand ambitions for a higher office, that he is trying to make a positive difference in Augusta and that he is responsive to residents he’s serving.
“I want to continue to represent neighbors in Gorham and Buxton,” Farrington said.
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