Winsor vs. St. John in District 95

Photo:

Tom Winsor

Photo:

Mary Lou St. John

OXFORD HILLS — Tom Winsor (R-Norway) is defending his seat in the House of Representatives from challenger Mary Lou St. John (D-Norway) for District 95, including Greenwood, Norway, Waterford and West Paris.

Winsor is running a sixth term in the house and served on the budget writing committee for eight years. A retired real estate broker, Winsor served in the U.S. Navy and graduated from the University of Maine.

Winsor has served on the SAD 17 board, as Register of Probate and is currently a vice president of Western Maine Transportation.

He says he is running for reelection because he believes it's important for community-minded people to serve in Augusta and work to improve the state – he wants to create government programs that are sustainable and have a long-term vision.

This is St. John's first campaign. She has lived in Norway since she was 12 and retired from Community Concepts in 2011, after working there for 30 years.

St. John serves on the Norway Planning Board and is a board member of the Lakeview Cemetery and Weary Club.

She says her concern with elder issues in the state motivated her candidacy – she believes recent cuts to MaineCare and energy assistance is hurting seniors and wants to address the issue in Augusta.

Economy

Winsor believes the legislature should continue the work it did last term by identifying areas where Maine is unique and can compete with other states for jobs.

He would like to join another legislative statewide tour to meet business owners and hear what they need to be successful.

St. John says the economic situation in Oxford Hills is concerning, but she isn't experienced in economic issues.

As a representative, she would work with other legislators to encourage job creation, what she considers the area's greatest economic challenge.

 Social programs

A long-time social worker, St. John believes that addressing fraud in Maine's social programs is more important than spending cuts. 

She thinks there should be additional oversight to prevent fraud in the system and those who witness abuse should take responsibility and report it to authorities.

Winsor says the state always has to look at social programs and make sure people who need assistance receive it in an efficient and effective way.

He thinks its important to continually examine the programs to make sure the state is doing the best it can to meet its responsibilities.

Education

Winsor says education is the most important government program – it provides an opportunity for kids to grow into productive members of the community.

To improve the state system, Winsor says the state should see how successful the new charter schools are and translate that success onto the public school system. 

St. John thinks the state should pay its promised 55 percent of school budgets and good teachers should be retained with better salaries, while more screening should weed out bad educators.

She also says that to avoid disrupting the learning of other students, children with behavioral issues don't belong in the classroom – she believes separate special education programs might be more appropriate.