On Abortion...

I have been during my past two terms and will continue to be a very strong supporter of comprehensive reproductive health care access and coverage for women. Maine has already passed first dollar (no out of pocket costs) insurance coverage for most FDA approved, and provider prescribed contraceptive products. This past session I sponsored a bill, LD 2203, which expanded contraceptive coverage to include FDA approved, without a prescription, birth control and morning after pills. The bill made it to the Governor’s desk yet arrived too late for her to sign. Still working for its passage, I have resubmitted LD 2203 for consideration during the upcoming 2025 legislative session. I invite you to be in touch if you would like to discuss, testify on, and/or support this bill.

On Affordable and Accessible Housing...

Addressing the statewide housing crisis with proven, as well as new and innovative solutions, is critically important. I am very concerned about the ever-decreasing availability of home ownership for middle- and lower-income people in Maine. I will continue to support rental housing development yet want to make sure that state housing funds are used to provide significantly more home ownership opportunity for middle- and lower-income Mainers. One path forward for lower income home ownership is through the creation of more resident owned co-operative communities. Communities where everyone owns their own home yet shares in the ownership of the land. A recent affordable housing home ownership success story, Brunswick’s Linnhaven Mobile Home Park, became a resident owned community (Blueberry Field Co-op) this fall. To learn more this historic achievement please read the Governors News coverage at https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-celebrates-purchase-linnhaven-mobile-home-park-residents-2024-10-16 

On The Climate Crisis and its implications in Maine...

As witnessed by warming land, rising ocean temperatures, and devastating winter storms, the impact of the climate crisis is very real here in coastal Maine. I am a strong supporter of our “Maine Won’t Wait” climate action plan. I favor the smart, very low carbon footprint, solar and wind power we are developing here in Maine. I also think we need to do significantly more in the energy conservation realm including incentivizing the reuse of everyday materials and cutting back or discontinuing single use items. We passed an excellent bill LD 2091 which allows for businesses to provide food in reusable containers and receive them back for sanitizing. Imagine all the plastic containers that will no longer be needed! This bill will help reduce taxpayer costs for municipal waste disposal by reducing the amount of single-use packaging that ends up in recycling or trash streams.

On Gun violence...

As a state representative, I am steadfastly committed to supporting and strengthening state policy and laws to promote gun safety and prevent firearm violence in Maine. By working together we can prevent gun assisted suicides, homicides, domestic abuse, and child endangerment. After last fall’s tragic and devastating mass murder in Lewiston, the legislature was finally able to pass much needed gun safety laws including a 72-hour purchase wait period, strengthening the background check law, and funding enhanced access to mental health evaluation and treatment services. Earlier in 2023 I had sponsored a bill, LD 1255, to ban dangerous weapons at polling places that would have been instrumental in preventing gun related voter intimidation and harm. Although it did not pass, I am committed to giving towns the laws they need to regulate firearms on town owned property and in town buildings. I will also support other common sense gun safety measures including a extreme risk protection (red flag) law, and a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns and high-capacity magazines.

If you are interested in connecting with me on these issues or any other, please call/ text me at 207-522-1997 or email poppy.arford@legislature.maine.gov

To learn more about me, my priorities and work in the legislature please visit my campaign website at https://arford.mainecandidate.com/ and State Representative website at https://legislature.maine.gov/housedems/arfordp/index.html