In case you missed the column I wrote for the Weekly Packet last week, I'm including it here.
I am honored to be the newly elected State Representative to
Maine’s 129th Legislature and I’m proud to represent this
district—Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, and Surry.
Penobscot Bay Press has offered House Representatives and
Senators in this area an opportunity to share their experiences in Augusta. As
Publisher Nat Barrows writes, “Democracy works best when we all participate and
when voters are informed.” It is my hope that the interest shown by the large
voter turn out during the general election is sustained.
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| Gov.-Elect Janet Mills, Rep. Grohowski from Ellsworth/Trenton and | me |
As a freshman legislator, my goal with this column is to let
you know how you can stay up-to-date about legislative issues and get involved.
I’ll also let you know what’s happening in Augusta, in the House of
Representatives and generally, from a beginner’s point of view.
Since elected, I’ve been called to Augusta three times—once
for a general orientation, which included seminars such as “Basics on Bills:
Filing Legislation and Deadlines,” a 101 on the very basics of my new job. Legislators
are able to introduce bills for the next few weeks, with the exact deadline to
be announced shortly. Do you have a problem that you think might be helped
through legislation? Do you have concerns you would like to discuss with me? My
contact information is below.
On that first day we also voted for party leadership for the
House, where we elected Sara Gideon, to serve another term as Speaker of the
House, Matt Moonen, as House Majority Leader, and Ryan Fecteau, as Assistant
Majority Leader.
I was in Augusta last week for a coastal caucus (a meeting
of Maine legislators in coastal districts) to discuss ocean acidification. This
week my four days in Augusta will include mandatory seminars on ethics, the
Freedom of Information Act, and harassment, as well as the swearing in
ceremony. Soon Ralph Chapman will be retired from the seat he has held for four
terms and I will no longer be the “Representative-elect.” We will also be voting
for constitutional officers in a joint caucus of the House and Senate: Attorney
General, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer. Maine is the only state that elects officers in this way—as
we have done since the late 1800s.
Looking ahead, committee assignments will direct the
majority of the upcoming work but won’t be announced until later this month.
Please join me in congratulating Ralph Chapman and thanking
him for his many years of service.
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!
