Tamara Hoke Submitted photo

Party affiliation:

Democrat

Social media accounts:
facebook.com/hoke4house; HokeforHouse Instagram account; tamarahoke.com; Twitter, @ForHoke

Occupation:
Library director

Education:
University of Southern Maine, bachelor of arts in Social Work, 1999; University of South Carolina, master of Library and Information Science, 2004; University of Maine, master of Interdisciplinary Studies/Maine Studies, 2022

Community Organizations:
Franklin County Democrats; Jay Democrats; Literacy Volunteers (past); Maine Democratic Party; Maine Library Association; Maine Democratic Convention (delegate 2016 and 2022); RSU 73 School Board (past)

Personal information (hobbies, etc.):
I am the library director at Jay-Niles Memorial Library in Jay. It is a position I have held for the last 16 years. I have always loved learning and connecting people with resources that will make their lives better. I love to read, kayak, take photographs, hike, swim, camp, cross-country ski, and relax around the campfire.

Family status:
Married

Years in the Legislature:

None

Committee assignments (if elected):
Education and Cultural Affairs, Energy, Utilities, and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources, and Labor and Housing.

Q&A

Define what “success” would look like if you are elected to serve your district.
Being elected to represent House District 76 would be great honor, but success takes more than being elected. Election is the first step; it says that the people in your community trust you to represent them in Augusta and they believe in your vision to move the area and the state of Maine forward.

Success is not knowing all of the answers all of the time, but knowing where you can find the answers and responding to constituents’ questions and concerns. Success for me would also be measured by having the ability to enact legislation that will make lives better for all Mainers and will help to return opportunity to the local area and other struggling Maine towns.

Success would be helping to create a Maine that is not only beautiful to live in but one where all Mainers can afford to live. Success means helping to create a state where smart, gifted, forward-thinking young people can find opportunity here in Maine and raise a family here. Where they can contribute to the local economy in Maine, and build up communities. Keeping young people here means creating jobs of the future, not the last century. It means jobs with good pay and benefits.

We need strong schools and libraries. We need broadband access for all and access to quality health care for all. We need to provide recreational opportunities, build community centers, and create easy access to our natural environment. We need to find a way to keep young people engaged and involved in our communities. If we can do this, we will have an engaged citizenry and ensure our state moves forward and grows.

Characterize your view on public access to governmental business.
I am a librarian. I believe in access to information always. Government has to be transparent. We are the representatives of the people and entrusted with allocating public funds. There is no reason to not allow access to public records.