Joseph Campbell
Running to represent Windham, in District 107
About Joseph
Growing up in rural Vermont, there was a lot to do just to get through the winters. My mom died when I was ten, and my dad and I got by on Social Security most of the time. He had broken his back years before, and we went without running water and at times relied on wood from the forest to keep warm in winter. Our neighbors, friends, and family helped us get through, but without the safety net of Social Security, and the leg up of the Pell Grant that helped me get through college, we would have been up the creek without a paddle. Without a safety net, like social security, Medicare, Pell grants, or the VA, I would have never had a chance to make a life for myself. Now I’m married, working an amazing job as a full-time substitute teacher, and ready to give my time, energy, and gratitude to my neighbors as a State Rep.
Windham has such a unique mix of farm, forest, and commerce, and shows a model of how other Maine towns could thrive. However, it also highlights some of the same struggles showing up all over the state: How to build new without losing what’s great about the existing town character. Housing prices are strangling young people’s ability to build a life and older people’s ability to stay part of the community they helped build. And it can’t all fall on the mill rate! If you’re willing to work hard and make good choices, every Mainer should be able to build a life and build a family.
I am not a lawyer, or a doctor, and I am not wealthy. I got a lot of support to get where I am, and I want to pay it forward. I’m also running because the working families of Windham need a representative who understands what it takes to build a life in today’s world, and will support workers, fair taxes, and basic personal rights. We shouldn’t be spending our time trying to go back to plastic bags at the grocery store, we need to move forward to build a better life for all Windham residents.
What Matters Most
Workers’ Rights & Wages
We need to stand up for fair wages and workers’ rights so that if you’re working hard, you can actually build a stable life. I’m tired of seeing working people fall behind while costs keep rising.
Community & Social Safety Nets
I wouldn’t be where I am today without programs like Social Security, Pell Grants, and community support. I believe we owe it to each other to make sure those systems are strong, so everyone has a real chance to survive and thrive. Right now so many of us are walking the tightrope, figuring out how to balance everything our paychecks need to cover. Augusta shouldn’t be cutting holes in our safety nets! We need to be able to catch people when that tightrope trips them up, and help them stand back up on their feet without crashing to the ground first.
Cost of Living & Housing
Housing costs in our community are out of control. I’ve felt it myself as a renter, and I hear it from seniors and families who are being squeezed out. We need to ease the burden by shifting away from over-reliance on property taxes and making sure people can actually afford to stay in their homes.
Infrastructure & Growth Management
Windham is growing, which is such a great thing in a state that’s struggling to hold onto residents. But with that exciting growth comes strain on our infrastructure: sewage, water, roads, schools, they all have to keep up with that growth. Town planning can only go so far if the state isn’t backing us up to make sure growth doesn’t cause traffic jams on our roads, pipes, and school hallways.
Fair Taxes
Right now our tax system is way out of wack. Whether you’re making $63,450 or $1,000,000, you’re taxed at the same rate. That’s ridiculous. Carefully mapping out more nuance in that range could open up a lot of doors and add a lot of security to all of our budgets. Doing that would allow for more state funding going to schools and towns, so less has to be covered by property taxes, making seniors and low income families less at risk of losing their housing.
Education & Support for Schools
I work in our schools, and I see firsthand how hard teachers are working under tough conditions. We need to properly fund education, support teachers, and rebuild trust in our schools so students can succeed.
Workers’ Rights & Wages
I’m tired of seeing working people fall behind while costs keep rising. We need to stand up for fair wages and workers’ rights so that if you’re working hard, you can actually build a stable life.