AUGUSTA - Reps. Poppy Arford, D-Brunswick, Joyce "Jay" McCreight, D-Harpswell, Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport and Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, each received a 100% rating on votes to support Maine's education professionals and schools, according to a recent scorecard released by the Maine Education Association (MEA).
"I was proud to vote for initiatives that support student success, enrichment and well-being," said Hepler. "As an educator, I am honored to watch my students discover the world and learn new things. Creating a safe and healthy learning environment is critical to the success of our younger generations and our communities."
MEA scored legislators' votes this year on key bills related to Maine's schools, educators and students, including the two-year state budget. The budget fulfilled the states commitment to fund 55% of local education costs, set aside funds to keep school meals free for all students and increased funding for higher education. Among several other pieces of legislation that the organization scored, MEA included bills to keep students and staff healthy by updating school air quality and ventilation standards, ensure schools drinking water is clean and safe, invest federal aid in our education system and require fair wages for school support staff.
Arford is serving her first term in the Maine House. She represents District 49, part of Brunswick, and serves on the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.
McCreight, House chair of the Legislature's Marine Resources Committee and a member of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents Harpswell, West Bath and northeastern Brunswick.
Hepler is serving her second term in the Maine House and sits on both the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and Marine Resources Committee. She represents the towns of Arrowsic, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Woolwich and part of Richmond.
Sachs, a first-term member in the Maine House of Representatives and a licensed clinical social worker of over 25 years, serves as a member of the Legislatures Taxation Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Sachs represents Freeport and part of Pownal.
Tepler is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents the town of Topsham. She serves as the House chair of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Arford, McCreight, Hepler, Sachs, Tepler], c. 812-1111