Paul A Stearns

Republican

Office Sought: Representative – District 119
Age: 61
Occupation: retired educator
Education: CAS
Family: Married – two adult children
Hometown: Guilford

Political experience

I have served one term in the Maine House of Representatives

Why are you running for office?

I am interested in creating policies that reduce or eliminate costly government overreach, particularly in the area of education. I would like to see fundamental changes made to the school funding formula so that scarce resources are distributed on a pupil need basis rather that geographical location and historical salary scales of affluent districts. I am keenly interested in seeing rural and unorganized portions of Maine receive some type of adequate compensation for the visual blight that has been thrust upon us so that urban southern New Englanders can feel good about carbon credits.

• Income Tax: Gov. LePage would like to lower Maine’s income tax rate and eventually eliminate it, by increasing the state’s sales tax and expanding it across a broader range of goods and services. Do you support this proposal?
  • Yes

    I would like to see the income tax lowered, however, NOT at the expense of increasing property taxes

• Background Checks: Do you support background checks for privately sold firearms in Maine?
  • No

    I think that a bill should be crafted IN MAINE that would tighten up some of the background check loopholes, but do not support the wording of the current citizen’s initiative.

• Minimum Wage: In light of the ballot question facing voters this fall, do you support raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 an hour by 2020?
  • No

    As I have said in the past, a more modest increase would be acceptable, including retaining the tip credit and perhaps allowing some type of “student” wage for young, first time employees gaining experience.

• Marijuana: Do you support legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
  • No

    There is too much potential for gateway activity into other drug use, physical harm, and we currently do not have the police infrastructure to handle the increase in criminal activity.

• Addiction/Overdoses: Do you believe the state is doing enough in response to the rise in heroin/opiate addiction and overdoses? If not, what else should be done?
  • We need to use every available resource, whether state, federal or private to increase enforcement, treatment and education based on scientific best practice.

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