Maine State Representative for District 116
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Samuel Lewis Zager
(Dem)
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing Maine right now?
How will you encourage greater civic engagement among your constituents?
What will you do to address the need for affordable housing?
Is there anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
The greatest global challenge is human-caused climate change, because it literally threatens life as we know it. It’s having tremendous impacts on the Gulf of Maine, including our crucial fisheries. We’ve also suffered more intense and more frequent storms throughout the world. The $60M cost to our coastal communities from just the storms in the winter and spring of 2023-2024 will not be the end of the cost of climate change in Maine. Fortunately, though Maine's contribution to the problem is relatively small, we can be an outsized part of the solution. I’ve been working hard on exportable renewable building materials (e.g. mass timber) that have tremendous environmental benefit; I also have supported renewable power efforts.
I have conducted workshops on citizen participation in the legislative process, and attend/lead as many community events as possible. There's always room to improve, but Maine does representative democracy well, especially when compared to many other states.
The housing crisis in Maine is felt in different ways by different people. I certainly supported the $170 million overall investment in housing during the 131st Maine Legislature. Specifically, through my work in the Health and Human Services Committee, I have been able to help actualize investment in the evidence-based "Housing First" model through MaineCare. Housing is a social determinant of health; conversely, (mental) health can be a major factor in determining if a person is housed.
I welcome people to check out samzager.org to find out more about me and my campaign. Thank you for the League of Women Voters for helping to nurture a healthy democracy.
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