Karin Orenstein for Yarmouth State Representative

Campaign News

August Update

Getting ready. I've been meeting with constituents, fellow candidates and legislative staff to better understand how the legislature works, why promising bill have failed in the past, and to build support for policies I would like to champion next session. The policy areas I'm most interested in working directly on include: property tax reform, strengthening state protections for constitutional rights, common sense gun safety, a justice system that ensures counsel for indigent defendants and speedy trials for all, and campaign finance reform. Got ideas you want to discuss? I'm all ears!

Endorsements! Following a primary, candidates receive questionnaires from a variety of organizations looking to see who will represent their values in office. I'm proud to have been endorsed or received candidate distinctions from a number of groups whose work and goals are important to me. I'll add them on my endorsements page as they come in. Here are the ones I've received to date:

June Update

I'm running UNOPPOSED!

June 1st was the deadline for independents to turn in their papers to the Secretary of State and . . . crickets! So, in addition to being the only candidate for House District 103 running in any party primary on June 9th, I will be the only candidate for Yarmouth Representative on the November ballot! I like those odds!

Now what? I am in the fortunate position of not having to devote time to fundraising or to the day-to-day work of organizing a campaign. Instead, I'll be able to use my time to meet intentionally with voters, build a portfolio of legislative initiatives, and assemble coalitions of allies and potential co-sponsors of bills so I can hit the ground running. Please reach out if you have time to sit and talk -- or walk and talk to get some exercise! -- so I can learn what you'd like to see happen in Augusta next year. I can be reached at:

Email: Karin@Karin4Yarmouth.com

Call or text: (207) 383-8393

Finally, a big THANK YOU to everyone who endorsed me, put up a yard sign, hosted an event, or just said a kind word of support!

May Update

Good representation starts with listening, so I've been getting out there! I've attended some wonderful gatherings with supporters and neighbors, and walked around town knocking on doors. I’ve been grateful for the chance to meet people, answer their questions, and learn what’s on their minds.

Community support has been strong! Thank you to everyone who has requested a yard sign, endorsed me, hosted or attended a gathering, or just helped spread the word about my campaign. All of your efforts let the community know that I have strong support from real people -- not just from a strip of grass on Route 1!

If you’d still like a yard sign, would like to be added to my list of endorsers, or want to help with canvassing or outreach, go to the "Support" tab on this website and fill out the form.

Important local dates. In the next few weeks, Yarmouth voters will have several opportunities to ask questions, make their voices heard, and help shape what comes next for our town.

Monday, June 1: Local Candidates Night
Q&A with Town Council candidates moderated by the Chamber of Commerce (location TBA)

Tuesday, June 2: Town Meeting
Latchstring Award presentation, farewell to Scott LaFlamme and Dr. Dolloff, and vote on Town and School budgets at the Yarmouth High School Performing Arts Center ("YPAC")

Tuesday, June 9: Election Day
Vote for local, state, and federal candidates, ratify the school budget (assuming it passes at Town Meeting), and decide if we want to continue having a two-step process for the school budget

A word about Town Meeting: Town government works best when people participate. Don't leave budget decisions to someone else! Only about 100-150 voters out of 7,000+ typically attend Town Meeting. There are no absentee ballots or proxies allowed. So, a relatively small group of voters can have a major impact on the outcome. Please make a plan to be at the YPAC on June 2nd. Doors open at 6 pm to check in and the meeting begins at 7 pm.

March Update

The biggest news is that I'm on the primary ballot! Even better, there are no other candidates from any political party running for Yarmouth state representative. An independent could still file papers for the November election, so I will continue to knock on doors, meet people, and share my story!

And there's more good news: I qualified for Clean Election funding! Thank you to everyone who visited the Maine Clean Elections website and made a $5 contribution! I won't seek more donations unless an opponent surfaces.

Who am I? Why am I running?

Problem solving to improve people's lives is in my DNA. It led me to become a lawyer and, more recently, a Town Councilor. In whatever role I take on, I listen, do my homework, and collaborate with others to find solutions and build support to implement them. I then finish the job, achieving tangible results.

My record of getting the job done speaks for itself. When I was elected to a three-year term on the Town Council, I asked myself, What can I hope to accomplish in three years? Since then, I put the time in and achieved two goals that had been elusive for our community. First, Yarmouth approved dam removal and secured grants to remove the Bridge Street dam this summer. Second, Yarmouth approved its first workforce housing project in decades, which will deliver eco-friendly, farmhouse style homes to our Growth Area, subsidized by MaineHousing.

Earlier this year, Art Bell, our wonderful State Representative, told me he had decided not to seek re-election. When he asked if I would run for his seat with his endorsement, it just made sense as a way for me to continue to serve the community. As your State Representative, I will bring the same energy, work ethic, and coalition-building skills I used on the Town Council to representing you in Augusta.

I invite you to visit the other tabs on my website to learn more about my experience and community engagement. You can also see a list of neighbors who are endorsing me and fill out forms to share your concerns or support my campaign. Thanks for being here!

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