Dems add 7 more Town Halls to Opportunity Agenda tour

Posted: April 28, 2017 | Senator Bellows, Senator Carson, Senator Chenette, Senator Jackson, Senator Miramant, Senator Vitelli

New additions bring total numbers of open forums to 21, held from Presque Isle to Kittery

AUGUSTA — After enthusiastic welcomes in 10 communities throughout the state, legislative Democrats are adding Town Hall meetings in five additional communities as part of their Opportunity Agenda tour, including stops in Rumford, Thomaston, West Gardiner, Kittery, Brunswick, Waterville and Damariscotta.

Democrats have spent the past two weeks touring the state and holding open, unfiltered Town Halls to discuss the Opportunity Agenda —their budget proposal for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. The plan calls for the largest property tax cut in Maine history; invests in jobs and the economy; fully funds public schools; makes college degrees more affordable and attainable; supports families, seniors, children and veterans; and provides meaningful student debt relief.

And it does it all without unnecessary cuts to current services and without raising new taxes.

Town Halls have featured members of Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, including Speaker Sara Gideon and Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson, as well as local legislative delegations. So far, they have been held in in Presque Isle, Bangor, Scarborough, South Portland, Millinocket, Old Town, Hallowell, Biddeford, Lewiston and Belfast.

The remaining tour stops are listed below, with new additions marked with an asterisk (*). All members of the public and media are invited to attend the Town Halls, which include a brief presentation by the legislative delegation and an extended Q&A with constituents. Questions are not screened in advance.

SACO TOWN HALL — 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30
WHO: Sen. Justin Chenette and Reps. Maggie O’Neil and Donna Bailey; joined by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson.
WHERE: Saco City Hall, 300 Main St.

BATH TOWN HALL — 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 1
WHO: Sen. Eloise Vitelli and Reps. Jennifer DeChant and Jay McCreight; joined by Sen. Cathy Breen, the lead Senate Democrat on the budget committee.
WHERE: Cafeteria, Bath Middle School, 6 Old Brunswick Rd.

* RUMFORD TOWN HALL — 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
WHO: Reps. Tina Riley and John Madigan; joined by Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson, House Majority Leader Erin Herbig, Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby, and Assistant Majority Leader Jared Golden.
WHERE: Rumford Falls Auditorium, 145 Congress St, Rumford, ME

* THOMASTON TOWN HALL — 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 3
WHO: Sen. Dave Miramant and Reps. John Spear and Pinny Beebe-Center; joined by Speaker of the House Sara Gideon, Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson, House Majority Leader Erin Herbig, Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby, and Assistant Majority Leader Jared Golden.
WHERE: Watts Hall, 174 Main St., Thomaston, ME.

* WEST GARDINER TOWN HALL — 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4
WHO: Sen. Shenna Bellows, Rep. Charlotte Warren; joined by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson, Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby and Assistant House Majority Leader Jared Golden.

TOPSHAM TOWN HALL — 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6
WHO: Sen. Eloise Vitelli and Reps. Denise Tepler and Seth Berry; joined by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson.
WHERE: Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Rd.

* KITTERY TOWN HALL — 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6
WHO: Reps. Mark Lawrence, Jennifer Parker, Patty Hymanson, Deane Rykerson and Lydia Blume.
WHERE: Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Rd.

* BRUNSWICK TOWN HALL — 6 p.m. Monday, May 8
WHO: Sen. Brownie Carson, Reps. Mattie Daughtry, Ralph Tucker and Jay McCreight; joined by Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson.
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle St.

* WATERVILLE TOWN HALL — 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 8
WHO: Reps. Colleen Madigan, Tom Longstaff and Cathy Nedeau; joined by Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Nate Libby and Assistant House Majority Leader Jared Golden
WHERE: Auditorium, Waterville Senior High School, 1 Brooklyn Ave.

* DAMARISCOTTA TOWN HALL — 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11
WHO: Rep. Mick Devin.
WHERE: Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St.

WOOLWICH TOWN HALL — 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11
WHO: Sen. Eloise Vitelli
WHERE: Woolwich Town Office, 13 Nequasset Rd.

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