I am currently serving my second term in the Maine Legislature as the State Representative for State House District 101. During my second term in the Maine Legislature I have worked hard to address the challenges we face as a community and state. It is very important to me that you trust I will continue to work hard for you in Augusta and serve you here at home.

Brunswick is my forever home - I have lived here for almost forty years, thirty of which with my husband Loren. Our family includes three adult children and our beloved dog "Happy". My years of caring deeply about our community and local government include serving on school committees, two past terms on the Brunswick Town Council, and recent membership on the Brunswick Sustainability Committee.

I am a lifelong Maine resident who grew up not far from Brunswick in Auburn, ME. I have a diverse work resume including being an Outward Bounds Instructor, licensed (Maine) Substance Abuse Counselor, owner-operator of Greenfields recycling consulting service, and founder-director of Sharecenter a recycling & material reuse program for educators. Most recently I served for over 12 years as a patient and affordable healthcare advocate.

I am happy to share my 98.9% voting record with you as this means I was present and voted for all but two of the roll call votes taken during my four years in the legislature. The two votes were missed this past April when I left the State House at 4 pm on a Friday afternoon to drive to Boston and catch the last non stop flight to Denver. I did this to say good bye to my beloved mother in law; Laverne Sanderson West, who died in the early hours of Sunday morning. Please join me in recognizing an amazing woman who cared deeply for her family and served as a beacon of unconditional love for all of us.

Then, four of my roll call votes were for bills I sponsored that became law including LD 653 Act To Provide Maine Residents Losing Employer-based Health Coverage with Information about Other Coverage (picture below is of Governor Mills signing the bill), LD 1856 Resolve, to Study the Establishment of a MaineCare Public Health Plan, LD 654 An Act To Create a 24-hour Shelter Capital Project Funding Program, and LD 1740 An Act to Support an Insured Patient's Access to Affordable Health Care with Timely Access to Health Care Prices which goes into effect this coming January. To see all the bills and how I voted on them please copy & paste "130th Legislature Roll Call - Maine House of Representatives" and "131st Legislature Roll Call - Maine House of Representatives" online.

To learn more about my work as a State Representative please give me a call or text me at 207-522-1997. I would love to have a conversation with you.

To view a map of District 101 please see the "Contact Poppy" section below.

My commitment to serving our Brunswick community and advocacy for affordable healthcare and housing were the drivers behind my run for a first and second term. In running for a third term, I am committed to working on these and other critical issues as well including the firearm safety and violence prevention along with other public safety concerns, property tax relief, access to less costly carbon free energy, and very importantly here in Brunswick - protecting our environment and the people who live here from harmful chemical contamination, along with excellent education and job training programs that meet the needs of a diverse student body and workforce.

What are the biggest challenges or concerns facing my district (101) in the coming term?

The lack of housing is a primary challenge and barrier to filling the jobs that remain open in our schools, businesses, healthcare, and service industry sectors. I have always believed that a community is strongest when its most vulnerable members are valued. I see adequate, safe housing for our neighbors with disabilities or experiencing homelessness as a must-provide challenge. I am also very concerned about the ever-rising cost and complexity of healthcare, coupled with the rising cost of everyday essentials including food, transportation, heat, and utilities. I will continue work hard in the legislature and to connect people with the State and local resources needed to address these challenges.

What are my top priorities if elected?

My priorities are 1) working to ensure that the housing needed to provide affordable home ownership, as well as rentals, to all who live - work, are raising a family or retiring, here in Brunswick and statewide, 2) legislating real world pathways to affordable healthcare including a publicly administered health plan for all who choose it and implementation of system wide access to price information before services are delivered to patients. Firearm safety and violence prevention embraces common sense solutions which we must find a way to pass in the legislature. You can count on this being a priority for me.

As a legislator, I have learned that you, the people I represent, want more than anything to know I have your back, that you can trust me, and that I will be there to do my best to help when you reach out and ask for it. I know I have not done this perfectly over the past four years- there are emails I have been too busy to respond to and calls I have not returned, yet these have been the exception not the rule. I want you to know how much I value you and take pride in doing my best to deliver first class constituent services to you. Please keep writing, calling, and asking for help - you are the foundation on which I will build an excellent third term. Thank you!