Social media accounts: facebook.com/HasenfusforHouse/

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Winthrop High School; B.A., Philosophy, J.D. (Maine)

Community Organizations: Emeritus Board of Directors Friends of Cobbossee Watershed; board of directors, Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce; volunteer coach

Personal information (hobbies, etc.): I am a 2006 graduate of Winthrop High School, UMaine (2010) and Maine Law (2013). I live in Readfield with my wife and three children. We enjoy sports, outdoor activities, and all growing up in central Maine has to offer.

Family status: Married

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Years in the Legislature: Four

Committee assignments (if elected): I served on the Innovation Development and Economic Advancement in the 130th and currently serve on both the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and the Taxation Committee.

Q&A

1) Define what “success” would look like if you are elected to serve your district.

I sincerely believe that my success as a representative is measured by the lived experiences of the people in my community. I witnessed firsthand the impacts successful legislation can have on our community, as I saw the daily parade of children venturing to Norcross Point for school-provided lunch, talked with child care providers who are able to pay their staff a fair wage without raising tuition and I continue to watch state agencies and lake associations leave no stone unturned in their efforts to fight milfoil. But the true measure of success will be left up to our children, as their generation will be writing my report card, long after my term has ended. Success is three years from now when a Maine high school student who seized the opportunity of expanded vocational training and tuition free community college celebrates her graduation from nursing, culinary, or electrical school, debt free and begins a career that will not only give her meaningful employment, but also benefits our community by providing services desperately needed. Success is keeping nursing homes from closing, and reuniting a young man with his child after winning his battle with addiction. Success is keeping residents from having to choose between housing, or healthcare. Success is getting a homeless veteran off the streets and into a home. Success is when a young child begins her lifelong passion for education, because the state removed the barriers keeping her from starting her education early.

2) Name one issue the Legislature handled last session. Explain why you agree or disagree with the final outcome.

One issue taken up by the Legislature last session, that was of significant importance, but went relatively unnoticed, was a proposal to implement a metallic mineral mining tax. Maine’s current tax rate for metallic mineral mining is .09%, far below the national average, and not enough to cover the externalities caused by mining. As we have seen, without adequate oversight and protections a mine can leave taxpayers on the hook to cover the exorbitant cleanup costs. L.D. 2251 sought to ensure that any new lithium mine coming to Maine would be required to pay a 5% excise tax to the state; 75% of the taxes collected would be placed into a constitutionally protected fund where the revenue could only be used for environmental preservation or environmental cleanup. The remaining 25% would go to the general fund.

The bill received bipartisan support and passed both the House and Senate. I very much agreed with and was a significant part in crafting the bill. However, the bill was never acted upon by the Governor and therefore never became law. The failure to pass this bill was a setback for the state of Maine and could have devastating impacts on future generations, if mines arrive without it’s passage.

OPPONENT: Donna Piccininni, R-Winthrop

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