Laurel Libby Submitted photo

Party affiliation:

Republican

Social media accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/LaurelLibbyMEHouse

Occupation:
Interior decorator/real estate staging

Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Community Organizations:
Member of East Auburn Baptist Church

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
I love working in the garden, have been a runner for over 20 years, and am an avid reader. Our family enjoys playing card and board games, and spending time outside together, whether it be stacking wood or going for a hike.

Family status:
Married with five children

Years in the Legislature:

Two

Committee assignments (if elected):
Judiciary Committee

Q&A

Define what “success” would look like if you are elected to serve your district.
Over the past two years, I’ve seen a common theme repeated in Augusta over and over again. What theme? The idea that if there is a problem, then surely the answer will be found in legislative action. More regulations, more state employees, more taxes (or fees, as they are so often called), more bills that become new laws. Many of these new laws restrict and penalize our businesses, overtax our citizens and empty their pockets, and further impede our medical system so that it is now more about bureaucracy than health.

I will consider my time in the Legislature a success if I am able to help remove Certificate of Need regulations, thus decreasing costs and increasing access to health care. Abolishing the income tax, as well as property taxes for seniors, would be significant successes. Ending the next two years having decreased, rather than increased, the size and scope of government would be a success. Ensuring that parents have the final say in their child’s education, rather than an outdated policy that allows your address to dictate educational options, would be a success. Passing bills to remove regulations that restrict small businesses and allow free enterprise to flourish would look like success to me.

Finally, I look forward to continuing my work to bring transparency to Augusta and educating my fellow Mainers about the inner workings of our state government.

Characterize your view on public access to governmental business.
For the past two years, all committee work has been remote, with public participation taking place via Zoom. I believe this has been detrimental to the bill process, and has limited public participation. Maine citizens should be able to petition their government in person.