Reduce the Cost of Living:
Regular Mainers are hurting. The state we call home keeps getting more and more unaffordable, and something needs to be done about this cost of living crisis.
Reducing the cost of living is Luke’s number one focus, and he supports a multi-faceted approach that favors working class families and our seniors.
Luke will fight for lower prescription drug prices so that individuals pay less for both their medications and their health insurance. He’ll also work to keep private equity firms from buying health facilities, and will support increasing workplace protections for healthcare workers.
Luke will fight against electricity rate increases and he will vote for a ban on data centers which drive up electricity costs for the entire region.
Luke will fight for more tax credits and funding for childcare services so that families can actually afford to send their children to daycare without having to pay a second mortgage.
Maine desperately needs new affordable housing, so Luke will fight for accelerated home construction by cutting red tape and supporting an increase in manufactured housing. He will also seek ways to allow residents of mobile home parks to purchase ownership of the park in order to prevent exploitative rent increases.
Luke will fight to make wealthy communities pay their fair share in taxes, so that Lewiston taxpayers won’t have to make up the difference. We shouldn’t have to subsidize communities that are wealthier than us. Statewide property tax reform is the only way Lewiston will get out of the financial hole that it’s in. Luke will work to make that happen.
Luke will fight for unions because when unions are strong, wages go up, and that puts more money in the pockets of all working class Mainers. Luke has been endorsed by the Maine AFL-CIO, the Maine MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, and the Maine Education Association.
Tax Reform:
Lewiston residents are paying too much in property taxes, plain and simple. The reason our local taxes are so high is mostly because of unfunded mandates from Augusta and Washington, but also because other parts of Maine push their problems into places like Lewiston and then expect us to solve those issues with local tax dollars. Wealthy communities and corporations get tax cuts at the expense of places like Lewiston, who keep seeing our taxes go up.
Luke supports changes that will lower Lewiston’s tax burden while forcing wealthy communities and corporations to start paying their fair share.
Luke will fight to make the state fully fund its mandates, taking the burden off of service center communities like Lewiston. He will also fight for a statewide property tax to fund education, which would lower property taxes in our community. Luke will push to make sure corporations and wealthy Mainers pay their fair share in taxes. He will also fight for more revenue sharing in order to combat issues like youth violence and homelessness.
Strengthen Our Schools:
Lewiston schools face challenges that are unique to the rest of the state. We have disproportionately higher numbers of students with special needs, driving up the budget, without adequate funding from Augusta. A high level of poverty makes student academic success more difficult. Our teachers need more support from the state Department of Education, but instead they have their hands tied by officials in Augusta who don’t understand the reality of teaching and learning in a district like Lewiston. Testing is prioritized over actual learning, and our students suffer as a result.
Luke will demand that the state fund its education mandates, and increase funding for cities with a high level of poverty. He will also fight to move away from testing demands and allow teachers to focus on tried-and-true teaching strategies.
Luke will push for more funding and resources for after-school activities that supplement student learning and keep kids off of the streets. He will also work to change laws that handicap school administrators from being allowed to keep their schools safe. Luke will demand more resources for alternative programming for students who are suspended/expelled and at risk of getting involved with criminal activity.
Reduce Violent Crime:
Lewiston officials have made it clear that our city needs more help from the state. Luke has been a part of those discussions and is committed to fighting for changes in Augusta.
Luke will push for more funding for the District Attorney’s Office so that law-breakers actually face consistent consequences. He will also seek changes to state laws so that minors are held more accountable for gun offenses.
Luke will work to increase revenue sharing for cities facing gun violence. This will give Lewiston more funding for recreation activities, social services, and local law enforcement initiatives. These types of things keep kids away from crime, help the homeless in our community, and empower our local authorities to make Lewiston safer and more business-friendly.
Luke’s plans to strengthen our schools will get students more engaged with their learning communities, keeping them away from getting involved in criminal activity and leading to better economic outcomes.
Loyal to Lewiston, Not A Political Party:
“I am an independent thinker who doesn’t take orders from a political party. My loyalty is to the people of my district and the city we all call home.
Quite frankly, Republican AND Democrat leaders in Maine have abandoned regular, working-class people. Both parties prioritize the wealthy and special interests, and they don’t craft laws that reflect the real world. Those of us in places like Lewiston have paid the price.
I’m dedicated to taking power from coastal elites and giving it to regular, working-class people. I won’t hesitate to challenge my party’s leaders if they aren’t acting in Lewiston’s best interests.
As a clean elections candidate, I don’t take money from political action committees. I receive funding when residents in our district contribute $5 towards my candidacy.
I work for the people of my district, and I’m not for sale.”