Maine Policy Matters

S6E2 Behind the Ballot: Voting Integrity in Maine with Shenna Bellows

In this episode, we interview Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on election processes, election security, the importance of local municipal elections, and semi-open primaries. This episode explores the extensive systems Maine employs to protect the democratic process. Secretary Bellows provides an in-depth look at how the state ensures every vote is counted accurately, discussing the critical roles played by officials, volunteers, and election workers at both local and state levels. These dedicated teams work together to implement a secure, transparent election process that fosters trust in the system. Maine is notably #1 in the nation in voter turnout rate due to our state’s policy of same-day voter registration, underscoring the importance of removing obstacles for people to get to the polls. The conversation highlights how rigorous planning, careful oversight, and collaborative efforts are essential to maintaining voter confidence and protecting the integrity of each election in Maine.
Absentee Voting in Maine
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Transcript: Coming soon
 

S6E1 Maine Broadband Access Part 2: Digital Equity, Attitudes, and Access

This episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the status of broadband in Maine, with today’s topic focusing on digital equity, attitudes, and access. As we discussed in part one, Maine is uniquely situated for addressing the challenge of getting broadband access to every person, from urban to rural towns, both having their own distinct set of obstacles and opportunities. We highlighted the importance of putting communities “in the driver’s seat” to make decisions about funding distribution, to choose and advocate for the entities they want to provide that Internet service, and other approaches to making reliable broadband available, depending on the needs of a town’s constituents. In this episode, we discuss broadband access in Maine with Jessica Perez, Marijke Visser, and Diane Small.
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/09/03/s6e1-maine-broadband-access-part-2-digital-equity-attitudes-and-access/
 

S5E8 Maine Broadband Access Part 1: History and Infrastructure

In this episode, we discuss broadband's history and infrastructure in Maine with Heather Johnson, Nick Battista, Clara McCool, and Andrew Butcher. Heather Johnson is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, which works with statewide and local partners, private industry, and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine.
GPCOG Broadband Resources, Projects, and Programs: https://www.gpcog.org/505/Broadband
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Transcript: Coming soon

S5E7 A Conversation on Maine’s Working Waterfront: Responding to Changing Times

On this episode, Bill Zoellick, Monique Coombs, and Jeremy Garielson join us for a panel discussion on Maine’s working waterfront. The panelists discuss the waterfront’s economic and cultural significance, on-foot access, preservation, community involvement, and much more.
Scuttlebutt:
Harpswell
Brunswick 
Gouldsboro
Working Waterfront Inventory Template
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/07/30/s5e7-a-conversation-on-maines-working-waterfront-responding-to-changing-times/

S5E6 The Maine Difference: Championing the Humanities in a Rural State

On this episode, Samaa Abdurraqib and Mollie Cashwell join us for a panel discussion on the importance of the humanities in Maine. The panelists discuss community care, technology's impacts on the humanities, and much more.
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/05/30/s5e6-the-maine-difference-championing-the-humanities-in-a-rural-state/

S5E5 Maine Tourism: Trends and Sustainable Hospitality (Part 2)

This episode features a one-on-one interview with Charlene Virgilio, executive director of Four Directions. Then, you’ll hear a panel discussion with Tracy Michaud, Steve Lyons, and Rauni Kew on Maine’s tourism trends and hospitality.
Tracy Michaud's coauthored Maine Policy Review article: "The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1940&context=mpr
 Steve Lyons's Maine Policy Review article: "Coastal Tourism in Maine" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr/vol32/iss2/38/
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/03/26/s5e5-maine-tourism-trends-and-hospitality-part-2/

S5E4 Maine's Tourism Sectors: Our Economy, Traditions, and Sense of Place (Part 1)

On this episode, we interview David Vail, Caroline Paras, and Stuart Kestenbaum on Maine’s Tourism Sectors.
Article on Maine's outdoor recreation economy: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/20/commerce-report-says-maines-outdoor-recreation-economy-grew-16-5-in-2022/
Caroline Paras's coauthored Maine Policy Review article "The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1940&context=mpr
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/s5e4-maines-tourism-sectors-our-economy-traditions-and-sense-of-place/

S5E3 Policy and Environmental Impacts: Maine's Offshore Wind Advantage (Part 2)

This episode is part 2 of a two-part series on Maine’s offshore wind efforts. In this episode, we’ll be following up on our interview with Dr. Habib Dagher, Executive Director of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, by interviewing Celina Cunningham, Nicholas Lund, and Jack Shapiro on the environmental and policy implications of Maine’s offshore wind efforts. If you haven’t listened to our interview with Dr. Dagher and would like an introduction to Maine’s offshore wind efforts, make sure to listen to Season 5 Episode 2: Habib Dagher & Leading Energy: Maine’s Offshore Wind Advantage (Part 1).
Governor's Energy Office - Offshore wind:
https://www.maineoffshorewind.org/
https://www.maine.gov/energy/initiatives/offshorewind/roadmap
NRCM: https://www.nrcm.org/
Maine Audubon: https://maineaudubon.org/  
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/s5e3-policy-and-environmental-impacts-maines-offshore-wind-advantage-part-2/

S5E2 Habib Dagher & Leading Energy: Maine's Offshore Wind Advantage (Part 1)

On this episode, the first of a two-part series, we interview Habib Dagher, the founding Executive Director of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. In two weeks, we’ll be featuring a discussion with Celina Cunningham, Nicholas Lund, and Jack Shapiro on the environmental and policy implications of Maine’s offshore wind efforts. Dr. Habib Dagher is the founding Executive Director of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). 
Advanced Structures & Composites Center: https://composites.umaine.edu/why-offshore-wind-2/
Advancing Offshore Wind Energy in the United States: https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/advancing-offshore-wind-energy-highlights.pdf
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/s5e2-leading-energy-maines-offshore-wind-advantage-part-1/

S5E1 From Moose to Mainers, the State of Ticks in Maine

In this episode, we interview Lee Kantar and Griffin Dill on the impacts of ticks on Maine wildlife and communities.
Lee Kantar is a moose biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. He was awarded the Distinguished Moose Biologist Award by his peers at the 53rd North American Moose Conference.
Griffin Dill manages the Tick Lab within the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory. 
Resources:
https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/#ticks
https://www.maine.gov/ifw/
https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/from-moose-to-mainers-the-state-of-ticks-in-maine/