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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Paul A. Stearns is a Republican member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing District 119. He was first elected to the chamber in 2014.

Education

  • Certificate, Advanced Study (Educational Leadership), University of Maine, 2001
  • Masters, Education Administration, University of Maine, 1992
  • BS, Health/Physical Education/Recreation/Dance, Sociology, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1977

Professional Experience

  • Certificate, Advanced Study (Educational Leadership), University of Maine, 2001
  • Masters, Education Administration, University of Maine, 1992
  • BS, Health/Physical Education/Recreation/Dance, Sociology, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1977
  • Lead Delegate, College Board Chinese Bridges Tour
  • Former Teacher/Coach, Maine School Administrative District #4
  • Former Principal, Maine School Administrative District #68
  • Former Principal, Upper Kennebec Valley Junior/Senior High School
  • Superintendent of Schools, Maine School Administrative District #4, 2003-2013
  • President, Maine School Superintendents Association, 2013

Political Experience

  • Certificate, Advanced Study (Educational Leadership), University of Maine, 2001
  • Masters, Education Administration, University of Maine, 1992
  • BS, Health/Physical Education/Recreation/Dance, Sociology, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1977
  • Lead Delegate, College Board Chinese Bridges Tour
  • Former Teacher/Coach, Maine School Administrative District #4
  • Former Principal, Maine School Administrative District #68
  • Former Principal, Upper Kennebec Valley Junior/Senior High School
  • Superintendent of Schools, Maine School Administrative District #4, 2003-2013
  • President, Maine School Superintendents Association, 2013
  • Representative, Maine State House of Representatives, District 119, 2014-present
  • Candidate, Maine State House of Representatives, District 119, 2020

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, Maine State House of Representatives

Former Ranking Minority Member, Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Certificate, Advanced Study (Educational Leadership), University of Maine, 2001
  • Masters, Education Administration, University of Maine, 1992
  • BS, Health/Physical Education/Recreation/Dance, Sociology, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1977
  • Lead Delegate, College Board Chinese Bridges Tour
  • Former Teacher/Coach, Maine School Administrative District #4
  • Former Principal, Maine School Administrative District #68
  • Former Principal, Upper Kennebec Valley Junior/Senior High School
  • Superintendent of Schools, Maine School Administrative District #4, 2003-2013
  • President, Maine School Superintendents Association, 2013
  • Representative, Maine State House of Representatives, District 119, 2014-present
  • Candidate, Maine State House of Representatives, District 119, 2020
  • Former Member, Executive Steering Committee, Piscataquis Public Health Council
  • Former Chairman, Funding Committee, Maine School Superintendent’s Association
  • Former President, Guilford Area Kiwanis
  • Member, Penquis Regional Administrative Support System
  • Former President, Penquis Superintendents Association
  • Executive Board, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council
  • Former Member, Project Impact State Advisory Board

Other Info

— Awards:

  • 2013 Commissioner of Education Award for Service
  • 2008 Outstanding Leadership Award - Maine School Superintendents Association

Favorite Musician:

Americana!!

Favorite Sport:

Sports Teams: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Maine Black Bears

Hobbies or Special Talents:

hunting, fishing, maple syrup production, woodlot management, reading

Spouse's Occupation:

Elementary School Teacher

Policy Positions

Maine State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

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

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

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

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

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

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

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

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- I would look for an increase and broadening of the sales tax to offset the major/recent shifting from income to property tax.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Do you support prohibiting out-of-state contributions to state ballot initiative committees?
- Yes

6. Do you support repealing Maine's ranked-choice primary election system?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- photo ID shall be provided at no cost - OR a voter may use their Maine state drivers license

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- Yes

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Should the legal age for purchasing tobacco products be twenty-one years of age?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Maine?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Maine?
- No

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

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Maine high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- federal EPA regs suffice

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

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

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Maine's health care programs?
- Yes

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

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

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

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Maine's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by Maine state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, 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.
- We need to deal with the opioid crisis in a comprehensive fashion. We must continue to focus welfare on those with true need and reduce fraud both at the institutional and individual levels. We need to allow and support local citizens to be responsible for educational programming decisions.