Running to represent the people of Lewiston
in the Maine State Senate
I get up every morning and think about the world I want to help build for future generations. Our decisions now have an enormous impact on our future. Let’s get to work for Lewiston families.
ABOUT PEGGY
I know our community well. My husband Danny and I have proudly called Lewiston home for 45 years. Our children, Nicholas and Ann, attended the Lewiston Public Schools. I continue to serve Lewiston and our state with dedication and devotion. I believe in playing an active role in our community. I have served on numerous school, community, and state boards over the years.
Most importantly, I have listened to your hopes, aspirations, and challenges over the years. I understand what is needed both now and to secure a brighter future for you and your family. I move policies forward that improve the lives of Maine people. I know this community and am known for uniting people toward our shared goals.
My 18 years of experience as a tireless and effective legislator for Lewiston families has helped our community through many challenging years, much like the last several months in our community. I continue to work hard to ensure that Lewiston receives our fair share of state funding and services. Over the last several months, as Chair of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, I’ve successfully advocated to allocate much-needed financial support and resources to our city and the families of victims in the aftermath of the October 25 shootings. I have also successfully advocated for additional mental health resources, funding for child care, affordable housing in our community, education, property tax relief and the rebuilding of infrastructure after the environmental disasters Maine experienced this past year.
I’m known for taking good ideas and making them happen. As a member of the State’s legislative budget committee for a total of 16 years, I have led negotiations that delivered balanced, bipartisan state budgets when others said it was impossible. I continue to champion legislation for greater educational opportunities for all Maine people and for a cleaner and healthier environment. I effectively advocate for better services for veterans, older Mainers, and people with disabilities.
And perhaps most important to individual community members, I am here when Lewiston people need me. Whether it’s holding state offices accountable, ensuring you are able to access health care or your prescription drugs, helping your child get the education they’re entitled to or anything else – I am here to do anything I can to help you and your family.
My heart and my home are here in Lewiston.
Our community has experienced tragedies that have shaken us to our core. We are still grieving, beginning to heal, and forging a collective path forward. My heart and my home are here in Lewiston. Each day I look forward to serving our community, and I am eager to continue working my hardest to improve the lives of Lewiston people.
And as I continue to work hard to represent Lewiston in Augusta, I know there is so much more work to do.
Lewiston needs strong, effective leadership in Augusta now more than ever. I am particularly eager to continue doing all I can to meet our community’s significant needs in the aftermath of the mass shootings, historic flooding, and the many other challenges we are facing.
Over the last several months, I’ve supported people and businesses throughout our community because I listen and I take action. I’ve always listened to you – the people I hope to again represent – and I will continue to listen and do everything I can on your behalf. Over the years you’ve shared your joys, your sorrows, the things that keep you up at night, and your hopes and dreams with me. Every day I’ve served this community, I take those stories with me. Your stories have informed every vote I’ve taken as your legislator and consistently remind me that job one is to listen to the people I represent.
I’ve always said that this work goes beyond politics and ideology – and that is more important now than it ever has been. I have worked hard in Augusta over the last two years to serve Lewiston people and our community in the Senate. I am eager and ready to continue working hard to improve the lives of Lewiston people, strengthen our businesses and economy, and help our community rebuild and grow into what we all know is possible.
I’ve always said that this work goes beyond politics and ideology – and that is more important now than it ever has been. I have worked hard in Augusta over the last two years to serve Lewiston people and our community. I am eager and ready to continue working hard to improve your lives, strengthen our businesses and economy, and help our community rebuild and grow into what we all know is possible.
Peggy’s 2022-2024 Accomplishments
For a total of 18 years, I’ve helped lead the Legislature’s budget committee, working with legislators from across the political spectrum to successfully negotiate unanimous, bipartisan state budgets that created educational opportunity, economic development, access to health care, and tax relief for Mainers.
I know how to build support for solutions to our most pressing problems and how to make sure those solutions are funded.
We can’t look away from hard problems – especially not right now. We need to make sure that people have what they need to live full lives and to provide their children with bright futures.
As the Chair of the State Budget Committee, Peggy’s work over the last two years has spanned across many critical areas of need, including funding to:
Support Lewiston-Specific Needs
✓ Ensured funding to reimburse the City of Lewiston for costs resulting from the October 25 manhunt.
✓ Provided $5 million to cover future health care costs for survivors of violent crime, including victims of the Lewiston mass shooting.
✓ Funded the establishment of a behavioral health crisis center in Lewiston.
✓ Successfully led advocacy efforts to save St Mary’s behavioral health program and the services provided by Tri County Mental Health Services.
✓ Ensured funding for Martel School apartments for Lewiston’s older residents.
✓ Successfully sponsored legislation to protect Lake Auburn.
Ensure Maine People Can Live in Safe Housing They Can Afford
✓ Ensured funding for stable housing for unhoused youth without adult family or guardians to help them find housing.
✓ Ensured funding for Martel School apartments for Lewiston’s older residents.
✓ Created a funding source to help mobile homeowners save their parks from being sold to a developer.
✓ Sponsored legislation developed in partnership with local community credit unions that will allow people to obtain mortgages that are compliant with their religious beliefs.
✓ Sponsored increased tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures to build more affordable housing.
✓ Established a rent relief fund to help Mainers on the brink of eviction remain in their homes and get back on their feet.
Protect Our Environment
✓ Ensured wind energy funding and PFAS monitoring and funding.
✓ Successfully sponsored legislation to protect Lake Auburn.
Invest in Our Infrastructure
✓ Created a stable and ongoing source of funding for Maine’s current and future needs for transportation infrastructure.
Create Safer Communities
✓ Strengthened Maine’s yellow flag law and closed loop holes for background checks for firearm purchases.
✓ Increased the waiting period for a gun purchase to 72 hours, which helps protect the purchaser from acting on a short-lived impulse – suicide or homicide – that may have inspired the purchase in the first place.
✓ Chaired the Commission to protect the public health funding for the Fund for a Healthy Maine.
Support Families
✓ Funded Maine’s Child and Dependent Tax Credit, a leading factor to reduce child poverty and a way to support Mainers with disabilities and people caring for older Mainers.
✓ Supported passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave, which gives Maine people the time, flexibility and security to manage life’s most disruptive events without jeopardizing their families’ financial stability, employment, or health insurance.
✓ Provided historic support for child care providers and young families struggling to pay for child care.
✓ Established a rent relief fund to help Mainers on the brink of eviction remain in their homes and get back on their feet.
✓ Funded increases in property tax relief to support homeowners.
Improve Education
✓ Increased salaries for critical positions in our schools, including ed techs and support staff.
✓ Ensured funding for the legally-required 55% funding of public schools, with Lewiston coming in as the highest receiver of state education funding of any community in Maine, totalling over $72 million.
✓ Increased support to fund pre K in the public schools.
✓ Provided free community college tuition for high school grads from the classes of 2024 and 2025.
✓ Increased funding for the University of Maine system.
Invest in Behavioral Health & Support for Victims of Violent Crime
✓ Oversaw enormous investments in mental health statewide, including successfully leading advocacy efforts to save St Mary’s behavioral health program and the services provided by Tri County Mental Health Services.
✓ Provided $5 million to cover future health care costs for survivors of violent crime, including victims of the Lewiston mass shooting.
✓ Funded the establishment of a behavioral health crisis center in Lewiston.
✓ Ensured additional funding for services for victims of violent crime (replaces reduction in federal VOCA funding).
✓ Ensured funding for physical and mental health services for public safety employees.
Support Older Mainers
✓ Saved the Medicare Savings Program by restoring its funding. This program helps older Mainers cover health care costs, including Medicare premiums and prescription costs.
✓ Increased tax relief for pensioners, including two new property tax breaks for older Mainers.
✓ Ensured funding for Martel School apartments for Lewiston’s older residents.
✓ Established a rent relief fund to help Mainers on the brink of eviction remain in their homes and get back on their feet.
✓ Supported the ban to prevent the termination of electricity during extreme heat.
✓ Increased funding for nursing homes (including nursing homes serving veterans).
Increase Access to Health Care
✓ Oversaw enormous investments in mental health statewide, including successfully leading advocacy efforts to save St Mary’s behavioral health program and the services provided by Tri County Mental Health Services.
✓ Funded statewide program to provide health care and mental health services to first responders.
✓ Sponsored successful legislation to clarify medical billing for patients.
✓ Funded the establishment of a behavioral health crisis center in Lewiston.
✓ Saved the Medicare Savings Program by restoring its funding. This program helps older Mainers cover health care costs, including Medicare premiums and prescription costs.
✓ Funded support for substance use prevention, treatment and recovery which is intended to help people without health insurance.
✓ Ensured funding for the Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Pilot Program which attracts and retains health care professionals in Maine by repaying outstanding student loans of selected participants who commit to living and working in Maine for at least three years.
Increase Maine’s Workforce Development Initiatives
✓ Sponsored the paid apprenticeship program expansion.
✓ Ensured funding for the Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Pilot Program which attracts and retains health care professionals in Maine by repaying outstanding student loans of selected participants who commit to living and working in Maine for at least three years.
✓ Provided free community college tuition for high school grads from the classes of 2024 and 2025.
MY WORK IN LEWISTON
I have served the people of this community with hard work and devotion for over 45 years. I have served on many boards, including the Lewiston School Committee, the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce, Headstart, and LA Arts.
Throughout my public service, I’ve pushed for and delivered state funding to support the community institutions that make our city unique, including the Lewiston Public Library, Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary, the Franco American Heritage Center, L/A College, Central Maine Community College, and more. I have led efforts to provide support for the services our neighbors who are older or experience disabilities need.
Education is a central part of my public service. In addition to serving on Lewiston’s School Committee for 8 years, I was a founding member and Chair of the Lewiston Aspirations Partnership with L.L. Bean and helped start the Lewiston Education Fund, which raises private funds to enhance learning opportunities in our K-12 classrooms. I served on the steering committee to establish Lewiston’s Pettengill School Park and the steering committee for the Lewiston-Auburn Youth Lacrosse Program, which evolved into the lacrosse program in our schools.
I currently serve on the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence Board of Directors and Lewiston’s Promise (Headstart) Advisory Board.
In my professional life, I helped found the Center for Service Learning at Bates College, a nationally recognized program that connects Bates students to the community through volunteer service. I recently retired from my job at the Bates College Harward Center for Community Partnerships. In that position I helped send hundreds of students into the community every year to volunteer in the schools and local nonprofits.
MY EXPERIENCE
Previous to my most recent term, my Legislative experience includes the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, the Government Oversight Committee, the Senate Ethics Committee, the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, and the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading. I was appointed to statewide commissions on tax reform, state budget reform, freedom of information issues, increasing access to post-secondary education, and more.
I represented the State of Maine as a Commissioner on the Education Commission of the States and served as the Chair of the Lewiston School Committee for 4 of my 8 years on the Committee.
My extensive experience as Lewiston’s voice at the State House is what prepares me for the challenges ahead. My 18 years in the Maine Legislature, first as Lewiston’s State Senator, then as a State Representative, and again as your Senator mean I am ready to get to Augusta and get to work.
I have served as both the Senate and House Chair of the Appropriations Committee, which oversees the state budget, the Senate Chair of the State and Local Government Committee, and the Senate and House Chair of the Citizen Trade Policy Commission.
LEWISTON VOICES
FOR PEGGY ROTUNDO
SELECT AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Public Service Awards
Deborah Morton Society: Elected by the University of New England Board of Trustees in recognition of “high distinction” in a career for public service.
Maine Equal Justice Partners Award: In recognition of a legislative career dedicated to working for the economic and social well-being of all Maine families.
Policy Maker of the Year Award: From the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
Honorary Franco-American Award. Made an Honorary Franco by the Franco-American community of Lewiston in recognition of legislative work done to preserve Franco-American heritage.
D’Youville Community Award: From the Sisters of Charity Health Care System for demonstrating respect for others in public service.
Frances Perkins Award: From the Western Maine Labor Council, “given yearly to an individual who has improved the lives of workers through public service and public policy.”
Leadership Awards:
Elizabeth H. Mitchell Award: Awarded by the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition and “given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing Maine’s affordable housing problems.”
The President’s Award: Awarded by the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director to an individual in the community for outstanding achievement and recognizable contribution to Lewiston-Auburn.
Maryann Hartman Award: University of Maine’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies award recognizing legendary Maine women in arts, politics, business, education and community service.
Courage Award: Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
Maine Sunshine Award: From the Freedom of Information Coalition in recognition of “leadership in the area of open government.”
Lee Young Leadership Award: From the YWCA of Central Maine “in honor of diverse and immense contributions to Lewiston and Auburn throughout 30 years of work in the community.”
Strength and Leadership Recognition Award: From the L&A Veteran Council “for hard work and dedication in helping our Veterans in many areas.”
Education Awards:
Champion of Head Start Children Award: Awarded by the New England Head Start Association in recognition of service to Head Start and advocacy for early childhood education.
College for ME Androscoggin Advocate Award: In recognition of “tireless advocacy on behalf of others who aspire to and attain higher education in Androscoggin County.”
Education Leadership Award: From the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education, for “commitment, courage, and vision in support of Maine students.”
Champion for Children Award: From the Maine Children’s Alliance for going above and beyond and investing precious time, energy, and talent into Maine children.
Environmental Advocacy Awards:
Bonnie Lounsbury Environmental Award: Awarded by the Androscoggin Land Trust “to the individual or organization that best exemplifies the spirit and accomplishment of Bonnie Lounsbury in advancing environmental efforts in the central Androscoggin River region.”
Maine League of Conservation Voters Award: For “undaunted courage, brains, and heart in defense of clean water for the people of Lewiston.”
Conservation Champion Award: From the Maine Audubon Society.
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