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Thomas Longstaff

D

Won the General, 2016 Maine State Representative District 109

Councilor, City of Waterville (2006 - Present)

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • PhD, Literature, Columbia University, 1973
  • BA, Philosophy, University of Maine at Orono, 1964
  • MDiv, Biblical Languages & Literature, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1964

Professional Experience

  • PhD, Literature, Columbia University, 1973
  • BA, Philosophy, University of Maine at Orono, 1964
  • MDiv, Biblical Languages & Literature, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1964
  • Member, Central Maine Emergency Response Team
  • Medical Technician, Delta Ambulance
  • Member, Maine National Guard
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Sidney Fire Department
  • Member, United States Marine Corps
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Unity Fire Department
  • Chaplain, Waterville Fire Department
  • Call Firefighter, Waterville Fire Department
  • Professor, Colby College, 1969-2003
  • Student Pastor, United Methodist Church, 1960-1964
  • Assistant Store Manager, F. W. Woolworth Company, 1957-1958
  • Salesman, Brewster Wallpaper Company, 1956-1957

Political Experience

  • PhD, Literature, Columbia University, 1973
  • BA, Philosophy, University of Maine at Orono, 1964
  • MDiv, Biblical Languages & Literature, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1964
  • Member, Central Maine Emergency Response Team
  • Medical Technician, Delta Ambulance
  • Member, Maine National Guard
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Sidney Fire Department
  • Member, United States Marine Corps
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Unity Fire Department
  • Chaplain, Waterville Fire Department
  • Call Firefighter, Waterville Fire Department
  • Professor, Colby College, 1969-2003
  • Student Pastor, United Methodist Church, 1960-1964
  • Assistant Store Manager, F. W. Woolworth Company, 1957-1958
  • Salesman, Brewster Wallpaper Company, 1956-1957
  • Councilor, City of Waterville, 2006-present
  • Representative, Maine State House of Representatives, District 109, 2010-2018
  • Co-Chair, Waterville City Charter Commission, 2004-2005
  • Moderator, Town of Unity, Maine, 1963-1964

Former Committees/Caucuses

Treasurer, City of Waterville Democratic Committee

Former Member, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, Maine State House of Representatives

Former Member, Engrossed Bills Committee, Maine State House of Representatives

Former Chair, Leaves of Absence Committee, Maine State House of Representatives

Former Member, Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Maine State House of Representatives

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • PhD, Literature, Columbia University, 1973
  • BA, Philosophy, University of Maine at Orono, 1964
  • MDiv, Biblical Languages & Literature, Bangor Theological Seminary, 1964
  • Member, Central Maine Emergency Response Team
  • Medical Technician, Delta Ambulance
  • Member, Maine National Guard
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Sidney Fire Department
  • Member, United States Marine Corps
  • Volunteer Firefighter, Unity Fire Department
  • Chaplain, Waterville Fire Department
  • Call Firefighter, Waterville Fire Department
  • Professor, Colby College, 1969-2003
  • Student Pastor, United Methodist Church, 1960-1964
  • Assistant Store Manager, F. W. Woolworth Company, 1957-1958
  • Salesman, Brewster Wallpaper Company, 1956-1957
  • Councilor, City of Waterville, 2006-present
  • Representative, Maine State House of Representatives, District 109, 2010-2018
  • Co-Chair, Waterville City Charter Commission, 2004-2005
  • Moderator, Town of Unity, Maine, 1963-1964
  • Member, Board of Directors, Family Resources Council
  • Member, Board of Directors, Kennebec County Children
  • Chair, Member, Board of Directors, Mid-Maine Global Forum
  • Chair, Member, Board of Trustees, Bangor Theological Seminary
  • Volunteer, Inland Hospital
  • Volunteer, Maine General Hospital
  • President, Waterville Opera House Association
  • Member, Waterville Rotary Club

Other Info

  • 6 Grandchildren

Policy Positions

Maine State Legislative Election 2014 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
- No

3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
- No

7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
- No

8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

State Spending:

Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Education (higher)
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Greatly Increase

4. Health care
- Greatly Increase

5. Law enforcement/corrections
- Slightly Increase

6. Transportation/infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

7. Welfare
- Greatly Increase

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes:

Using the key, indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Cigarette taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase

4. Gas/Oil taxes
- Maintain Status

5. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

6. Sales taxes
- Slightly Increase

7. Income taxes (low-income families)
- Slightly Decrease

8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
- Greatly Decrease

9. Income taxes (high-income families)
- Greatly Increase

10. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Maine's budget.

1. Tapping into Maine's "rainy day" fund
- No

2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
- No

3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
- No

4. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
- No

5. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
- No

6. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. Political Action Committee
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Party
- Yes

5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
- Yes

6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
- Yes

3. Do you support legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
- Yes

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No Answer

5. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
- No Answer

6. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- The question about minor prosecution is too complex for a simple yes or no answer as are several questions in this survey.

Economic

1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
- Yes

3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
- Yes

5. Do you support government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

6. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
- No

7. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
- No

2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
- Yes

3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
- No

4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
- No

5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
- Yes

7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Maine high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
- No

3. Do you support state funding for improvements to Maine's energy infrastructure?
- Yes

4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
- Yes

5. Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
- No Answer

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Again, these questions are often ambiguous. Question c is a good example of that. I support the right of citizens to carry concealed weapons but also support the requirement for a concealed weapons permit although there are questions about who should issue such certificates and the criteria for approval. Complex questions are hard to answer with a simple yes or no.

Health

1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
- Yes

2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
- Yes

3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
- No Answer

4. Do you support Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

6. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
- Yes

7. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Maine's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Maine's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My priorities would be the revision of the tax codes to provide a more reasonable progressive system of taxation and restore funding for revenue sharing with municipalities and education. I also think that we need substantial improvement in the provision of health care for residents of our state.