Name:

Margaret (Peggy) Rotundo

Email address

peggy.rotundo@gmail.com

Party affiliation

Democrat

Legislative chamber

Maine House

Legislative district

59

Occupation or primary source of income

College administrator, Bates College Harward Center for Community Partnerships

Community organizations

Former board member of: LA Arts, Chamber of Commerce, Head Start, Maine Higher Education Compact. Founding Member of: Lewiston Education Fund, Lewiston Aspirations Partnership with LL Bean, LA Youth Lacrosse. Current member: Friends of Pettingill Park, Family Drug Court Advisory Committee, Margaret Chase Smith Public Policy Institute Advisory Committee, Frances Perkins Center Board

Personal information (hobbies, activities etc.)

Spending time with my family, traveling, and hiking.

Family status

My husband and I have two children.

Years in Legislature

14

Are you a Clean Election candidate?

Yes

Committee assignments you want

Appropriations and Financial Affairs

Would you support expanding the state’s Medicaid program, MaineCare? Why or why not?

Yes. There are 70,000 Mainers (most working, 3,000 are veterans) who can be fully covered by federal dollars through the expansion.The expansion will create health care jobs in our community and state, and will save our hospitals millions of dollars in charity care.

Should Maine follow the city of Portland’s lead and legalize the possession of limited amounts of marijuana for adults over the age of 21? Why or why not?

No. There are serious health implications for our local youth. Please see the September report to the Lewiston School Committee by the Lewiston High School substance abuse counselor.

Should the state of Maine continue to provide incentives for businesses and homeowners to convert or diversify energy sources to those considered renewable, like solar, wind and geothermal?

Yes. There should be incentives as well for municipalities that can be used for public buildings, like our public schools.

Maine’s minimum wage is $7.50 an hour. As a state lawmaker would you support increasing that minimum wage? If so, what should Maine’s minimum wage be?

Yes. I support a livable wage so that every working Mainer can live with financial security and dignity. Increasing people’s wages will pump more money into our local community, benefiting local business.

What issue is the most important to voters in your legislative district?

Their economic security and that of their families.

What about you makes you the man or woman for the job?

I have the ability to bring people together, work through differences and solve problems in a bipartisan way. Even in a highly partisan atmosphere, I was able — as chair of the budget writing committee — to negotiate unanimous, bipartisan budgets, assuring that state government would not shut down.

Describe yourself in a “Tweet”

Positive, effective leadership.