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Affordable Housing
Maine's housing crisis is hitting working families hardest, and District 17 is no exception. Nathaniel supports practical solutions to increase housing stock without sacrificing the character of our communities.
Rents have surged across Maine while wages have stagnated, pushing long-time residents out of communities their families built. Nathaniel supports targeted investment in workforce housing, streamlining permitting for owner-occupied multi-family homes, and expanding MaineHousing programs that help first-time buyers get a foothold. He opposes one-size-fits-all mandates from Augusta that ignore local zoning needs, instead preferring incentive-based approaches that empower municipalities to grow housing supply on their own terms.
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Lower Cost of Living
From heating oil to groceries to property taxes, Mainers are being squeezed from every direction. Nathaniel will fight to ease the financial burden on working families and retirees in District 17.
Maine consistently ranks among the most expensive states in New England for everyday costs, and that burden falls disproportionately on working families and seniors on fixed incomes. Nathaniel supports expanding the Property Tax Fairness Credit, protecting the Homestead Exemption, and pushing for more transparency in utility rate-setting so Mainers aren't blindsided by winter heating bills. He will also push back against unfunded state mandates that force municipalities to raise local property taxes to balance the books.
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Supporting Local Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of District 17's economy. Nathaniel will cut red tape, oppose burdensome regulations, and make sure Augusta is working for Main Street — not against it.
Too many small business owners in District 17 spend more time navigating state paperwork than serving customers. Nathaniel will push for a small business impact review on any new regulation, advocate for faster state permitting processes, and fight to ensure that sales tax, licensing, and reporting requirements don't create compliance nightmares for sole proprietors and family-owned shops. He also supports workforce development partnerships with local trade schools and community colleges to help businesses find skilled workers right here in Maine.
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Education & Local Schools
Maine's kids deserve world-class schools, and teachers deserve to be treated as the professionals they are. Nathaniel supports fully funding public education and giving local school boards the tools they need.
State funding for K-12 education has repeatedly fallen short of the 55% mandate Maine voters approved years ago, forcing local property taxpayers to make up the difference. Nathaniel will hold Augusta accountable to that commitment. He supports competitive teacher pay, increased funding for vocational and technical programs that prepare students for Maine's job market, and giving local school boards genuine flexibility rather than unfunded mandates. He believes decisions about District 17's schools should be made by District 17's families — not bureaucrats in Augusta.
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Healthcare Access
Rural Mainers should not have to drive an hour to see a doctor. Nathaniel supports expanding access to primary and mental health care in underserved communities like ours.
Healthcare deserts are a real and growing problem in Maine's rural and semi-rural communities. Nathaniel supports strengthening the state's Federally Qualified Health Center network, expanding telehealth reimbursement, and incentivizing medical providers to set up practice in underserved areas through loan forgiveness and tax credits. He also believes Maine must take the mental health crisis seriously — particularly for young people — and will advocate for dedicated state funding for school-based counseling and community mental health services in District 17.
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Environmental Stewardship
Maine's forests, lakes, and coastline are our greatest assets — economically and culturally. Nathaniel believes we can protect the environment and support working families at the same time.
District 17 residents have a deep, practical relationship with Maine's natural environment — whether they're hunting, fishing, farming, or simply living here because of the land. Nathaniel supports protecting clean water, maintaining public access to Maine's forests and waterways, and ensuring that environmental regulations are crafted in consultation with the people who live and work on the land — not imposed top-down. He believes good stewardship and a healthy economy are not mutually exclusive, and he'll fight to keep it that way.