What does a freshman legislator do when she’s not in session?

“How can I best represent my district?” I’ve asked myself this repeatedly during the first year of my term.

To be able to represent the interests of each of the towns in District 133, I have to understand them. To help with this, during the time when we’re not in session in Augusta, I’ve asked for or attended meetings of all sorts, throughout the district, including the Brooklin Shellfish Committee (regarding clam flats), Hancock County Firefighters Association, Surry-Blue Hill Transfer Station Committee, town of Castine, Community Compass, Department of Marine Resources meetings (regarding lobster/whale plan), Maine Maritime Academy, Brooksville municipal solar panels, Sedgwick school survey, George Stevens Academy regarding school funding, Climate Convergence Conference and follow up meetings and activities, local and state-wide responses to the opioid crisis, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (regarding alewife restoration projects), pesticide ban, Downeast Community Partners, Northern Light Maine Coast and Blue Hill Hospital, University of Maine, and restorative justice as an alternative to traditional sentencing in our justice system.

I toured the Coastal Resources of Maine recycling plant twice, before it was operational and again when it was fully up and running. 

I’ve attended a number of school classes and chatted with a local student about a project regarding women in leadership.

I’ve attended a conference on sea level rise and its financial impact and one on entrepreneurship in Maine.

I’m also working hard to be the most effective representative so have taken advantage of trainings offered, such as MakeShift coffee house and workshops on managing multiple responsibilities, building a culture of excellence and civility, and becoming a better negotiator.

But it’s not all meetings and trainings. I’ve also eaten blueberries as part of a two-day blueberry tour in Downeast Maine, and crab rolls, barbeque, and pie for various local fundraisers, and I attended Blue Hill’s Memorial Day parade and marched in the Brooklin 4^th of July parade and Blue Hill’s Pride Day parade.  I participated in a fundraiser for a local children’s day camp (and won second prize in the chili cookoff—I’ll share the secret ingredients in exchange for a donation to Nichols Camp).  I helped to welcome more than 30 carpenters from around the world to Sedgwick as they helped build a blacksmith shop using just pre-industrial tools.

I’ve had conversations with constituents about financial concerns, roadways, robo calls, taxes, health care, economic development, the environment and the ERA legislation, among many other topics.

I attended a presentation by Sec. of State Dunlap regarding safety of elections (“Is your vote safe?” “Yes.”).

I am honored to represent this district—Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, and Surry—and will continue to work hard to represent it well in Augusta.

As Weekly Packet Publisher Nat Barrows wrote, “Democracy works best when we all participate and when voters are informed.”

You can follow the legislative process, online at http://legislature.maine.gov or in local newspapers or radio, but if you would like to get move involved or if you have questions, concerns, or ideas for bills, contact me at Sarah.Pebworth@legislature.maine.gov.

Onward!