Rick Mason

Maine House 56

Social media accounts:                                                    N/A

Occupation:
Small business owner.

Education:
Lisbon High School, Class of 1976.

Community Organizations:

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
I enjoy spending time with my daughter Haley, my son Garrett, and his wife Rebekah. When I’m not in the Legislature I enjoy working at my business, Rick Mason Excavation. Over the past few years I have enjoyed working on my 1964 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck and attending car shows like the annual Moxie Car Show held during the Moxie Festival.

Family status:
Widowed, two adult children.

Years in the Legislature:                                                                                            One.

Committee assignments (if elected):
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Veterans and Legal Affairs; Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.

Q&A

1) What legislation do you support, if any, to address the state’s opiate crisis?
I believe that we must take an “all of the above” approach. It isn’t enough to just appropriate money and walk away. We have to make sure that treatment is available to those who need it.

2) What legislation do you support, if any, to address failures in the state’s child abuse prevention system?
I cannot think of any group more deserving of assistance than Maine’s children. I support the independent OPEGA investigation into the shortcomings at DHHS and look forward to their recommendations.

3) Should schools continue to push forward with proficiency-based diplomas? Why or why not?
It should be up to each individual school district as to how they would like to proceed. We cannot punish schools for following a state mandate if they continue to pursue PBDs.

4) Are you in favor of some type of universal health care for Maine residents? Why, or why not?
No. I do not believe it is the proper role of government to provide universal health care coverage. I am in favor of market-based approaches to health care like PL 90, Right to Shop, and Right to Try.

5) Do you support Question 1 (the 3.8% tax to fund the home care program)? Why, or why not?
No. I do not support taxing hard-working Mainers at the highest rate in the nation and sending hundreds of millions of dollars to a non-elected board of progressive organizations for them to spend.

6) Are you frustrated by the political sniping, exaggeration and even lies between the parties and their supporters that have threatened progress usually reached through respect and reasoned compromise? If so, what will you personally do to make the situation better?                                                                                     From my first day in Augusta I have tried to meet as many people as possible from all parties. When you have a personal relationship with someone it’s hard to work against them. Two words: be kind.

7) Tell voters something about yourself that they don’t already know, and might surprise them.
I have lived on the same stretch of Route 9 in Lisbon Falls my entire life. My wife and I built our home on Ridge Road using the wood we cut off the property.

Speed Round

Should voters be required to show ID at the polls?                                               Yes.