Robin Upton-Sukeforth is running for Maine House District 56 (Wales, Litchfield, Monmouth). A resident of Litchfield, Robin shares this information about herself to encourage you to cast your ballot for her.
Tell us a bit about your personal history – jobs held, accomplishments, or other information about you that you’d like voters to know:
Jobs held: early 80’s teacher aide for HeadStart, accounts receivable clerk for Associated Grocers, substitute teacher, longest employment was 1992-2018 for Dept. of Health and Human Services State of Maine then 2018 to 2025 as field representative/labor organizer for Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA).
Prior to actually working for MSEA I was a member activist MSEA: political action committee member, steward, chief steward, chapter officer, Board of Director.
Volunteer for approximately 18 months Rural Community Action Ministry.
Mother of two, grandmother.
What led you to run for this office?
After years of labor activism with MSEA, including organizing members to speak to State Legislators, I have come to believe working families need Legislators who represent them, not the corporations who can hire lobbyist.
What are the most important issues that residents of Androscoggin County face? What do you propose to address those issues?
High health expenses (co-payments, inability to access affordable insurance, etc.), childcare (lack of providers and cost), energy costs. Funding for public services (local, county and state). Androscoggin County has a history of tension with an influx of immigrant populations: French Canadians attracted to work in the cotton mills, Hispanics filling farm jobs for Decoster and local orchards, and recently Somalis escaping political violence. The balance of understanding the needs of Maine’s diminishing elderly population with the need to attract a diverse immigrant population is not only a county but also a statewide issue.
What policies and legislation do you plan to advocate for?
1. Access to universal healthcare. 2. Greater access to childcare subsidies. 3. Access to in-home health care for the elderly and disabled. I am just starting research in environmental and economic impact of data centers. Additionally, my research is intertwining with how Artificial Intelligence will be impacting education and job opportunities. At this point I would support a statewide moratorium on approval for data centers and introduction of AI into educational curriculums.
What do you think the biggest challenges of this office will be? How do you plan to overcome them?
One big challenge is once in office, Representatives and Senators may – due to the intensiveness of the session – become isolated in developing the policies, etc. I am developing a citizen kitchen cabinet to maintain a relationship with the communities I will represent.
If elected, what elected official would you most like to emulate?
Fortunately there a multitudes of elected officials: Peggy Rotundo, Chellie Pingree, Sara Gideon, etc. The overall the quality of all is in my personal interaction as a citizen, they listened and asked pertinent questions. We may not have agreed on the ultimate outcome, but I felt heard.