Maine House of Representatives District 136 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Maine, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Maine House of Representatives District 136 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Maine House of Representatives District 136

Incumbent Heidi Sampson defeated Joseph Wagner in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 136 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Heidi Sampson (R)	55.4	2,569
		Joseph Wagner (D)	44.6	2,072

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,641
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Representation is all about going to bat for folks. When constituents have questions and concerns, it is the job of the representative to help them navigate the network of government agencies to locate the right person so that answers and services can be obtained. This is the approach I took when I served previously.

I would once again like to serve on the Utilities and Energy Committee in order to promote the transition to renewables [solar, offshore wind, tidal]. I would like to expand Efficiency Maine programs so that incentives to modernize energy systems is more available to households with low and moderate incomes.

Educational opportunities must be expanded. Consideration must be given to extending community college tuition assistance to a wider range of nontraditional students. More cooperative programs with employers to expand training in the trades should be established.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Joseph Wagner (D)

With every serve weather event throughout the world, the reality of climate change becomes more unavoidable. Action must be taken at every level of government to address our mutual obligation to protect the environment.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Joseph Wagner (D)

My uncles. Most were combat veterans of World War II. All were workingmen. They personally demonstrated that an American adult is measured by meeting his responsibilities to his country and to his family.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Check out Lee Hamilton's essay on compromise.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Integrity, empathy, patience.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Integrity, empathy, patience.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Go to bat for those you represent. Help make government less confusing and frustrating.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Joseph Wagner (D)

To paraphrase a couple of NHL payers upon their retirements, I would like to be known as a ham-and-egger, an ordinary guy, who was lucky enough to participate [Mike Gartner] and I would like to be remembered as a "gamer", always ready and prepared to perform [Dave Poulin].

What is your favorite book? Why?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Catch-22. Life is full of Catch-22s.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Joseph Wagner (D)

I am a cancer survivor who got lucky and who appreciates many are not so fortunate as I was.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Joseph Wagner (D)

There should be a healthy tension and a strong cooperative spirit in the development of policy. There should be an appreciation of the differing responsibilities of a legislature [law making] and the executive [law implementation].

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Joseph Wagner (D)

We are an aging population. We need to attract younger folks from across the country and across the globe to fill the jobs that need to be done.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Theoretically a unicameral legislature makes for more efficiency. The key is the number of seats in the single chamber. Nebraska's State legislature is too small in number. If Maine was to adopt a unicameral structure, the number should be set at the current number for the House: 151. That would keep legislators representing about 8,600 persons per district.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Yes. I have worked at the Federal, State and local levels of government. This experience highlights the phrase: where you stand depends on where you sit. Intergovernmental coordination can be achieved when all of the actors have an appreciation for perspectives of all of the other stakeholders.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Joseph Wagner (D)

Yes. All politics is not only local, but also personal [with the caveat that any perceived affront should not be taken personally].

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Joseph Wagner (D)

What we have here in Maine: a bipartisan commission. I would like to see more effort made to not split up rural towns among two or more districts.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Utilities and Energy

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Joseph Wagner (D)

My colleagues on Utilities and Energy in the past: Ken Fletcher, Stacy Allen Fitts and David Van Wie - folks who did their homework and showed respect to all.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Joseph Wagner (D)

No.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Joseph Wagner (D)

The best experience I had during my previous service was being present when high school diplomas were given to those who did not complete school because they enlisted during the Second World War and the Korean conflict. Their descendants accepted the diplomas on their behalf and were greatly appreciative.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Joseph Wagner (D)

When the situation requires it, such as a pandemic or a civil insurrection, yes.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Joseph Wagner (D)

Absolutely. I believe that politics is "the art of the possible". When I served previously, I was a member of the Moderates caucus which facilitated bipartisan discussions. Rigid ideological extremism is not the foundation for effective policy making for a demographically and geographically diverse country such as ours.

See also

More about these elections:

• Maine House of Representatives elections, 2022

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