Michelle Conners

Michelle Conners was born in Bethpage, New York. She earned a bachelor's degree from Adelphi University in 2007, a graduate degree from Queens College in 2009, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Maine in 2024. Her career experience includes working as a librarian. She has been affiliated with Kennebuck Free Library.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in East Waterboro with my husband for 10 years, and we have two young children. I am a library director and active in many volunteer organizations. I earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our educators are overworked and underpaid. Substantially more needs to be done to support our educators and schools especially in a climate where they have to worry about shootings and book challenges.Middle-class families should not have to struggle to get by. They should also not have to go into debt to obtain necessities. It is imperative that healthcare is provided at a reasonable cost.Investments need to be made to draw people to Maine to cover jobs across the map including healthcare and construction.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Supporting educators and public schools; digital literacy education; access to quality and affordable higher education, apprenticeship, or trade education

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Handle difficult conversations with respect; be honest; have a sense of humor; a desire to work toward the common good and not their ego and not worry about getting reelected; be humble

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

As a library director, I lead an institution that serves all walks of life. Some of our patrons have two homes, and some have none. Some of our patrons are Democrats, and some are Republicans. Some of our patrons are Christian, others Jewish, and others Atheist. Some people bring their kids to story time, and some adults look for their own social interaction. I handle such a large variety of interactions with the above groups and more. Mostly, I am creating a place where all of these people can share the same space in harmony. There are few places left where this can still happen. When that doesn't happen, I often mediate situations, and at other times, I have to de-escalate them.

As a nonprofit, I have to handle all aspects of my organization, from building repair to budgets to HR. Still, I am included as a Town department head and have the opportunity to be included in their processes. I also coordinate with donors, local businesses, and other nonprofits.

My ability to build relationships with so many stakeholders and to serve such a wide variety of public visitors, on top of my experience running a non-profit, puts me in a great place to be a successful officeholder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To be a good listener and an advocate for their constituency.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Getting our housing needs addressed. A study recently showed we are about 80,000 homes short. In order to get this done we also need to figure out how to address the needs to build these homes, which means bringing more workers here, but they need a place to live. Also, being a state with a lot of coastline, we are especially feeling the impacts of climate change and need to be more proactive about it.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I don't believe someone needs to have prior experience serving, but I do believe they need to have a good pulse on the needs of the state and their community. It would also be helpful to have a background on how local government works, whether through their job or volunteer service, such as a Town select board. Someone may also have expertise that could lend itself well in the state house, even without prior service.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It is necessary to build relationships with other legislators, not just on your own side of the political spectrum but across the aisle as well. No one will agree 100% with someone else, but they still need to work together to accomplish things. This is something I'm particularly passionate about. We're not going to improve our current, highly polarized, political discord without building relationships.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

When knocking on doors, I hear a lot about the rising real estate taxes. The recent increases have been devastating for those on a fixed income. More and more people are unable to stay in their homes.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

To support educators and librarians from being subject to frivolous book challenges.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Maine Education Association, Maine AFL-CIO, Equality Maine, Planned Parenthood, Maine Young Democrats

What committees interest you?

Education and Cultural Affairs.