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Capitol Weekly
Joann Austin taking on Beverly Daggett in Senate District
15
by John Hale
CHINA — After years of activism on the local level, Republican
Joann Clark Austin of China feels ready to make a contribution
on the state level.
Austin is running for the State Senate in District 15 which
includes Augusta, China, Vassalboro and most of Winslow. Her
Democratic opponent is veteran Sen. Beverly Daggett of Augusta.
I think I've hit a point in my life where I really feel able
to contribute to Maine," said the 60-year-old Austin.
"I know a lot about how the law affects things. I have
a people perspective. It felt like the time for me to be practicing,
and speaking the things I feel are important."
Austin runs a single-lawyer practice in China. It's a job
she compares to being a country doctor with long hours and
house calls. Most of her work is in real-estate law, estate
planning and tax matters.
Austin is a native of Baltimore, Md., who spent every summer
in Maine before moving here in the 1970s. She's the fifth
generation of her family to live at least part of the year
in China.
Austin was raised as a Quaker and attended Earlham College
in Indiana, where she majored in biology. Later, she earned
a master of arts in teaching of mathematics degree from Johns
Hopkins University. She taught in Baltimore before moving
into computer programming. Working for MIT, she helped program
the Lunar Module for its successful trip to the moon in 1969.
She was married briefly and had a son. Then she earned a
law degree from the University of Maryland Law School and
she's been practicing law in China since 1979.
In 1982, Austin ran for the House and came within 70 votes
of winning.
She describes herself as a liberal Republican and said her
Quaker background makes her a consensus-builder. "That's
terribly much what I'm committed to," she said.
On some issues, Austin said she would break with the Republican
Party "after listening very well."
"The reason I'm a Republican is that I've been a small
businessperson all the time," said Austin. "I'm
concerned that we not spend every dime that we can get our
hands on. Budgets need to be balanced the same way people's
budgets are."
Austin thinks the Maine Clean Election Act needs to be refined.
She points out that her opponent, Daggett, is running for
Senate president, gaining more exposure for herself, in a
campaign that's not regulated by the Clean Election law.
Austin opposed the law requiring fingerprinting of every
Maine school employee. She said she'd vote to repeal the law
if given the opportunity, feeling it's a violation of civil
liberties.
On the new prescription drug bill, Austin said, "I think
the direction they're trying to head is wonderful, though
it may need some refining."
Austin is concerned about heath-care issues in general.
"The health system is fragmented," she said. "The
consumer has no leverage. People need education desperately."
Austin supports the effort to use $50 million on computer
technology for school children.
"I support computers for children," she said. "What's
the next 100 years going to look like? Kids need vision as
much as they need training."
Austin said she would push for funding for a new Cony High
School. And she's concerned about the future of Togus veterans
hospital. "I know how valuable it's been to people in
the area," she said.
Austin thinks the three most important issues in the next
session of the Legislature will be business development, education
and health.
She's an alternate member of the board of First-Park, the
new super-park for business in Oakland. "I hope very,
very much that it works out," she said.
For about 10 years, Austin raised sheep in China. She's president
of the Oak Grove School Foundation. And she's president of
TownLine Inc., which puts out a nonprofit weekly newspaper.
Austin was instrumental in saving the weekly last year when
she found money for the paper to buy equipment it needed.
Reprinted by permission of Capitol Weekly
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