Maine House of Representatives District 84 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Maine, 2022

---

On the ballot:  • U.S. House • Governor • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Local ballot measures • Municipal • Recalls

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Maine House of Representatives District 84 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Maine House of Representatives District 84

Mark Walker defeated Barry Powers in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 84 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Walker (R)	58.6	2,720
		Barry Powers (D)	41.4	1,919

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,639
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

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?

Barry Powers (D)

Lower taxes with responsible spending that fosters growth of our local economy.

Reduced energy and medical expenses to provide relief from rising costs to Maine families and Seniors.

Improvement in our education system.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Barry Powers (D)

Economic affairs, Education, Environment, Health and Education

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

Barry Powers (D)

I look up to both my parents and my in-laws. Both sets of parents started with very little and managed to bring up two happy and healthy families with more opportunity for their children than which they started their lives. I also look up to my best child-hood friend for the same reason. I want all of us to have access to greater opportunities than that of our parents.

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

Barry Powers (D)

"Profiles in Courage" by John F. Kennedy

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

Barry Powers (D)

Honesty, integrity, ethics, fact based reasoning and empathy.

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

Barry Powers (D)

Honesty, integrity, fact based reasoning for decisions and empathy.

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

Barry Powers (D)

To be the voice and representative of the voters. To uphold both the Maine and US Constitutions. To be a responsible steward of Maine's resources (taxpayers' and natural). To improve upon a legislative framework that promotes growth and protection for Maine's citizens, businesses and environment. To listen to and understand the constituents' needs wants and aspirations. To be transparent about decision making.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Barry Powers (D)

A better planet for my children and future 0grand children, more opportunity than I had growing up and an economic system that rewards ability, potential and achievement.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Barry Powers (D)

On January 27, 1973 after the signing of the Viet Nam Peace Accords, I remember standing on our porch with my mother and listening to the church bells ringing in out town and the next town over - I was eight years old at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Barry Powers (D)

My first job was as a gas station attendant at 13 years of age - it lasted for 6 months. My first job in Politics was as a Page in the US House of Representatives and it lasted 3 months at 16 years of age. My first job living independently from my parents was as a Car Salesman and it lasted approximately one year.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Barry Powers (D)

As a Mainer and horror fiction fan I still remember reading "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King in one night and jumping at every small sound in the house before the sun came up.

I loved "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt because my adopted father was a kid in Ireland at the same time. My birth mother had me read "The Girls Who Went Away" by Ann Fessler before she died to explain how she felt in putting me up for adoption.

My favorite book, though, is "9 Great Short Stories" by J. D. Salinger because of the teacher who asked us to read it and explained the sub-context to the stories. Father Leo Corcoran was my favorite teacher growing up and anything he had us read he made better as he taught us about it.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Barry Powers (D)

Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee - primarily because my daughter Carolyn told me that I was just like him. I never thought I deserved the comparison but I am always trying to earn it.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Barry Powers (D)

"Wichita Lineman" by Glenn Campbell

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

Barry Powers (D)

I have been very fortunate throughout my life and had mentors that taught me how to plan. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 (de-differentiated liposarcoma) and there was a period of time where I worried that my wife and children would be left without a husband and father. After two surgeries and seven clear CT scans my oncologist has declared me "cancer-free". I was fortunate to have great healthcare and insurance throughout and I believe this is the reason my prognosis has improved. I know too many people who do not enjoy the same care or security both from access to quality healthcare and financial security to pay for it - they struggled. While my experience was frightening, I would not want to call it a "struggle", though. I hope, in my role as a legislator, I will help others to get similar outcomes.

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

Barry Powers (D)

The Governor is elected to represent all of Maine. The Legislature is elected to represent their Maine Districts. A Governor has the ability to set a list of priorities and vision for the legislature and to implement the Maine laws; a Governor also retains the ability to veto laws. Ultimately, though, it is the Legislature that creates the laws and sets the budget. A balance of power that allows for the good of all of Maine while allowing Districts to get their needs addressed as well.

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

Barry Powers (D)

In the immediate future, inflation is the biggest challenge - in particular with regards to energy, food and housing. Over the next 10 years, however, we will be challenged with attracting new businesses and a younger, better trained / educated work force. We have one of the slowest population growth rates in all of the Country and the population of those under 19 is shrinking while the population of those over 65 is growing. Both of these factors will put stress on our state from a budgetary standpoint as the tax base will shrink while the cost for elder services will rise. We need to attract more businesses to Maine which in turn will create more opportunity for employment. We need to provide for all types of education in order to fill the jobs for the businesses that we create. Finally, we need the infrastructure to support the growth that we create.

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

Barry Powers (D)

The primary benefit of a unicameral legislature is that it is more efficient in lawmaking and in theory more economical. The primary drawback of a unicameral legislature that it would reduce or even eliminate restraint for the Party that has the majority.

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

Barry Powers (D)

It can be beneficial as legislation and governing is complicated and a lot like making sausage - you may like the end product but what happens to get you to it is long, arduous and often messy. Experience in government and politics can help navigate that process. That said, incumbency is a huge advantage in elections and it causes stagnation in new ideas. Maine's term limits go a long way to reducing that problem but even so, flipping a voting district from one Party to another is a heavy lift even without incumbency.

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

Barry Powers (D)

Yes, there is opportunity for bi-partisanship, growth in ideas and alliances to get things done through relationships.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Barry Powers (D)

Independently drawn fair maps - no gerrymandering.

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

Barry Powers (D)

Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services

Energy, Utilities and Technology Education and Cultural Affairs

Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business

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

Barry Powers (D)

Hard to choose just one but Margaret Chase Smith, Robert Kennedy and Father Robert Drinan, SJ would be in the list.

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

Barry Powers (D)

I am laser focused on winning the State Representative role and representing my District. I have not considered or made any decisions on any role beyond that.

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?

Barry Powers (D)

I recently met a voter who had just suffered a heart attack a week earlier. I heard their story about how difficult it was to get emergency assistance in a timely manner. I could also see that the health impact was causing uncertainty regarding their future (financial and health). I have also talked to many voters in my district who have discussed rationing their medicine and changing priorities in their budget due to medical expenses. As most of the voters I have met so far are over the age of 65 my current view might be skewed but it is clear that the access to, cost and burden of healthcare is a major issue for the elderly resident in my District.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Barry Powers (D)

I am working on a PG and PG-13 repertoire - I will get back to you on it.

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

Barry Powers (D)

Oversee - most definitely. Grant, due to the time nature and unexpectedness of an emergency, should reside with the Governor with oversight and budgeting by the Legislature.

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

Barry Powers (D)

Yes, without compromise we become more polarized. Another key to compromise is recognizing when elected officials make efforts to accommodate those with opposing views - it's important for our state to show that the opposing view is not the "enemy". We have more in common as Americans and Mainers than what partisans on either side would have us believe.

See also

More about these elections:

• Maine House of Representatives elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18District 19District 20District 21District 22District 23District 24District 25District 26District 27District 28District 29District 30District 31District 32District 33District 34District 35District 36District 37District 38District 39District 40District 41District 42District 43District 44District 45District 46District 47District 48District 49District 50District 51District 52District 53District 54District 55District 56District 57District 58District 59District 60District 61District 62District 63District 64District 65District 66District 67District 68District 69District 70District 71District 72District 73District 74District 75District 76District 77District 78District 79District 80District 81District 82District 83District 84District 85District 86District 87District 88District 89District 90District 91District 92District 93District 94District 95District 96District 97District 98District 99District 100District 101District 102District 103District 104District 105District 106District 107District 108District 109District 110District 111District 112District 113District 114District 115District 116District 117District 118District 119District 120District 121District 122District 123District 124District 125District 126District 127District 128District 129District 130District 131District 132District 133District 134District 135District 136District 137District 138District 139District 140District 141District 142District 143District 144District 145District 146District 147District 148District 149District 150District 151Submit