Vision for Maine

Make Life Affordable

Life has become too expensive for too many people. From housing and heating oil to healthcare and taxes, families are being squeezed from all directions. We need an economy that works for all Mainers – not just those who are well connected. That means creating conditions where people can afford to live, work, and retire here. Maine should be a place where hard work leads to stability and where people can plan for the future with confidence.

  • Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to live. Because of the housing shortage – and high costs of housing that is available – too many young people can’t put down roots and older Mainers can’t downsize without paying more for less. We need to double the rate of new homes being built while also streamlining the regulatory process that prioritizes efficiency and labor standards.  This will require innovation, revitalizing our factory-built housing industry, and ensuring Maine’s aging housing stock is livable.

    Click here to learn more about Rick's plan to make housing affordable.

  • Maine’s health care system is expensive, overly-complicated, and too often out of reach. We need to make coverage more affordable because every Mainer deserves access to the care they need without being buried in paperwork and medical debt. I’ll focus on prevention, primary care, mental health, addiction treatment, and protecting women’s right to reproductive healthcare – building a system that treats the whole person and supports families.  

    Click here to learn more about Rick's plan to make health care affordable.

  • Maine people work hard and deserve a fair, transparent tax system that reflects that. Our tax code should reward work, protect older Mainers from being taxed out of their homes, and ensure every dollar is used wisely. I’ll focus on eliminating unfair tax exemptions, providing targeted relief for those that need it most, and supporting policies that strengthen whole communities, not gimmicks that shift burdens from one neighbor to another.

  • Energy costs touch every part of Maine life—from home heating to small businesses to the price of goods. We need to put affordability first while moving toward true energy independence. That means investing in efficiency, reliability, and locally controlled power that keeps Maine’s energy dollars working here at home.

    Click here to learn more about Rick's plan to make energy affordable.

  • Too many families are forced to choose between working and paying for childcare they can barely afford—or leaving the workforce altogether. That hurts parents, kids, employers, and Maine’s economy. We need a childcare system that offers affordable options in every community, support for providers so they can stay open and pay a livable wage, and policies that make childcare more accessible. When parents can work and kids have safe, nurturing care, families thrive and Maine’s economy grows.  

    Click here to learn more about Rick’s plan to make childcare affordable for Maine families.

Grow Maine’s Economy

Maine’s population is aging, our workforce is tightening, and a shifting climate is reshaping the natural systems we depend on. Meeting this moment requires foresight and balance: education that prepares young people for meaningful careers, communities where people choose to stay and build their lives, and a clean, healthy environment that draws people to live, visit, and invest. Maine’s long-term prosperity depends on aligning economic growth with workforce development, environmental stewardship, and thriving communities. 

  • A strong education system is the foundation of Maine’s future and prosperity. We need to invest for the long term in our teachers and align schools, employers, universities, and colleges to prepare every single student for meaningful work. Education should open doors – to curiosity, civic participation, and the good-paying jobs and quality of life that keep young people here and inspire families to put down roots. 

  • Maine’s future depends on both growing and knitting together all of our small businesses that employ the majority of our workforce. By fostering a sustained and vibrant culture of innovation– grounded in unified actions to access immediate 21st century opportunities and bold, state leadership—we can build a functional, relevant and healthy economy where Mainers can create, grow, and stay.

  • Protecting Maine’s clean water, healthy forests, and working lands isn’t just environmental policy – it’s economic common sense. We must limit pollution and confront climate change with practical solutions that strengthen resilience, create jobs, and safeguard what makes Maine special. Environmental stewardship means meeting today’s needs while ensuring future generations can also meet theirs.

  • Maine needs 21st-century infrastructure that does more than fix what’s broken – it must also build for the future. That means reliable transportation networks, universal high-speed broadband, improved mobile communications coverage, and resilient energy, water, and waste systems that support local communities and everyday life. Progress depends on partnership – working with communities, counties, and businesses to plan smart investments, coordinate projects, and strengthen the systems that connect us all.

  • Maine’s heritage industries –  our forests, farms, working waterfronts, and world-class tourism –  are the backbone of who we are and why people choose to live here. From focused investment in skilled trades to hospitality and sustainable resource management, we can build 21st-century jobs that reflect Maine’s way of life – where hard work, natural beauty, and community pride all come together to power our economy.

Restore Trust in Government

Good government doesn’t just happen – it’s built through leadership that fosters participation by the citizenry. Maine deserves a government that protects people’s rights and freedoms, and delivers essential services with compassion and competence. The government should work for the people and by the people – not parties or special interests that seek to divide us. In today’s polarized times, it’s paramount that Maine’s next governor earns back the public’s trust by being honest, effective, and accountable.

  • Maine deserves a state government that runs efficiently, delivers better services faster and smarter, and values its employees as essential partners in innovation and problem-solving. When agencies are coordinated, decisions transparent, and public workers empowered, citizens gain trust in their government and pride in shaping Maine’s future.

  • Special interests have too much sway over our policies and elections. A healthy democracy depends on fair rules, full transparency, and accountability for anyone seeking to influence it. That also means opening the doors wider for the people we serve. I’ll strengthen disclosure laws, make decisions transparent, and ensure that dark money and hidden donors can’t steer outcomes behind the scenes. And just as importantly, I’ll create meaningful opportunities for Mainers to participate in policymaking, so the voices shaping our government reflect the public, not just the powerful.

  • The Wabanaki Nations are essential partners in Maine’s past, present, and future. It’s long past time to ensure they have the same rights as every other federally recognized tribe. Restoring trust begins with respect—listening to tribal leaders, honoring their traditions, and working together to build a more just future. 

  • The measure of good government is simple: does it make people more free, or less? Every Mainer deserves freedom of speech, press, worship, and assembly; privacy, liberty, and due process; and the responsible right to bear arms. True freedom also means making personal decisions about one’s own body, health, and life without government intrusion. Protecting these rights requires respecting and accommodating differences, ensuring fairness, and safeguarding all freedoms that define us as Mainers and Americans.