Karin Orenstein for Yarmouth State Representative

An Experienced & Dedicated Public Servant

Public service, in any form, is an act of optimism that says, I believe this place and these people are worth investing in. For me, public service – whether as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Town Councilor, or, with your support, State Representative – is an opportunity. It's a chance to support our community so we can be more resilient to environmental and economic impacts, and ensure that our town can be a safe space for all of our residents to call home. Call it FOMO, but I don't like missing out on an opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives. So I take this work seriously and treat it like the job it is.

Working hard for Yarmouth

I've been a hands-on Town Councilor – holding office hours, making videos to explain important topics, and even painting the rainbow crosswalk on Main Street.

Royal River Restoration. When I was elected, I took lead in the Royal River restoration project so that we could make a decision as a community. For over a decade, Yarmouth was unable to reach consensus on what to do with two aging dams that interrupt the Royal River's natural flow and block fish passage. In late 2021, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) started a study to recommend a path forward, but by the time I was elected in 2023, the project had stagnated. Once I joined the Council, I made sure the community was informed and ready to make a decision by:

meeting with the USACE project manager on a biweekly basis along with the Town Manager to ask questions, keep the project moving, and share community concerns

hosting community meetings, meeting with abutters and other stakeholders and tabling at the farmer's market to reach a broader audience

drafting an FAQ for the Town's website and recording explainer videos with the Town Manager

convening a task force of residents with expertise in reading technical and scientific documents to critically analyze USACE's report and advise the Town Council on how to proceed

drafting a comprehensive resolution that took into account not only the task force's advice, but the many concerns I'd heard from community members both here and in North Yarmouth.

The Town Council passed my resolution unanimously, endorsing a solution that benefits the environment and fisheries while not adding to our property taxes. Since then, I’ve continued to work on grants, permitting, project design and community updates as the project moves forward. This work led to the Town receiving funding for design, permitting and removal of the first dam as early as July 2026!

Property tax reform. Yarmouth taxpayers had a rude awakening when our revaluation was completed in 2025. Starting during the pandemic, residential values rose much faster than commercial property values, and our new assessments reflected that market trend. Some of the tax burden that businesses had been paying was shifted to residents, and many residents were surprised by the increases in their tax bills. Unable to fix anything for this fiscal year, I looked to the future. At my urging, the Town hired GPCOG's economic team to advise the Town Council on the cost to expand the STAY program and offer rebates to more residents. I followed the work of the legislature’s Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force and worked with leaders in our region to identify ways in which the system is working poorly and develop ideas for reforming it. I joined the Greater Portland Council of Government (GPCOG) Property Tax Policy Committee so that Yarmouth would have a voice in advocating for change with the state task force. And I joined the Cumberland County Finance Committee so I could review the county's budget and advise the Commissioners on ways to keep the county budget -- which we pay for through property taxes –- fair for Yarmouth.

Communication. As a member, and now Chair of the Town Council, I've been responsive to questions and concerns raised by residents, connecting them with information and resources and advocating for solutions. Whether it's traffic concerns on Spring Street, the need for affordable workforce housing, reasonable exceptions from the building moratorium, or just better understanding how local government works – or could work better! – I've been one email, call or coffee away. When the same questions keep coming up, I work with Town Hall to create FAQs, articles and short videos.

Bottom line: My track record as a Town Councilor tells you how I will serve in the State House. I will work hard to build consensus around challenging issues and follow through on initiatives I champion. I will ask questions and adapt to new information. I will be responsive to anyone who reaches out to me and I will be proactive in keeping the community informed.

Representing our Country

Like many former Assistant U.S. Attorneys, I took great pride in standing up in court and saying "Karin Orenstein for the United States." I started in my office's criminal division, prosecuting a range of crimes, including fraud, narcotics, and money laundering. By the time I moved to the civil division, I had become a national expert in the prosecution, forfeiture and return of stolen and looted art and antiquities. My work earned me an award for Excellence as a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney from the U.S. Department of Justice. I also received a Stimson Medal from the City Bar Association of New York for demonstrating integrity, fair play and superior commitment to the public good.

Posing with an Alioramus dinosaur skull from one of my cultural property cases. The skull was forfeited and returned to Mongolia after being smuggled out of the country. In my career, I also litigated cases that resulted in the repatriation of art and artifacts to Egypt, France, Italy and Iraq.

Bottom line: There are plenty of lawyers in the halls of the State House, and any lawyer could claim the ability to draft effective laws. In this political moment, however, we have a particular need for state legislators who understand and will stand up for civil rights to protect the most vulnerable among us. I understand these rights because it was my sworn responsibility to uphold the constitution, not to win at any cost. As a state representative, I will use my legal background and advocacy skills to build coalitions and pass laws that protect the rights of all Mainers.

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