Cape women vie for House - August 5, 2011
By David Harry
Staff Writer
For the third time since last November, Cape Elizabeth residents will cast ballots to settle a legislative race.
Voters on Aug. 16 will choose between Republican Nancy E. Thompson and Democrat Kim Monaghan-Derrig to fill the remaining year of the term for Maine House District 121.
Thompson is a political newcomer with decades of experience volunteering in local organizations. She and her husband, Tim, own an insurance agency.
“I think the timing is perfect for me right now,” she said about her run.
Monaghan-Derrig, a communications and marketing specialist, currently sits on the Cape Elizabeth Board of Education. This is her third run for office in as many years. She also has volunteered at St. Bartholomew Church, local schools and Maine State Ballet.
“This is an opportunity I just cannot pass up,” she said.
The two are running for the seat vacated after the resignation of Maine Sen. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth). Dill won a special election in May to fill the seat opened by the resignation of former Sen. Larry Bliss.
Monaghan-Derrig said she will resign from the school board if she wins the House seat.
The election date was set this month because of an upcoming special legislative session to draw new district boundaries for the two Maine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Legislators were ordered by U.S. Judge George Singal to complete redistricting by Sept. 30.
The two candidates have opposing views on how the first half of the legislative session played out.
“I was pleased with the first part of the session. It was done the smart way by getting opinions,” Thompson said of efforts to improve Maine’s business climate.
Monaghan-Derrig said the session was marked by distractions and legislation passed without enough time for deliberation.
She said LD 1274, which legislators passed in June, was a costly bill for Cape Elizabeth. The bill shifted about $6 million in Maine Department of Education Essential Programs and Services funding throughout the state.
Revisions to EPS formula calculations for fiscal year 2013 allow districts with 1,200 students or fewer more funding for school staff. The new formula will fund the statewide average cost of employee benefits without adding or deducting to account for differences between districts, and shifts additional funding to districts with high land valuations and proportions of students who receive free or reduced lunches.
Jim Rier, deputy education commissioner, said the shift could cost Cape Elizabeth schools about $200,000 in current formula calculations, but the overall increase in state funding next year add more than $300,000 in state subsidies.
“I can understand the shift, but not how it was done,” Monaghan-Derrig said.
Thompson, 53, said she is running because she wants to be part policy changes to help Maine’s business climate. She expects to draw support from networks she developed as a volunteer with the Junior League of Portland, Cape Elizabeth Educational Foundation, Center for Grieving Children and Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program.
Monaghan-Derrig said she would like to be as effective a communicator as Dill and worked hard to stay in touch with district residents.
“I knocked on about 600 to 800 doors when I ran for school board and I am reaching that level now,” she said.
Both are eager to dispel the idea they serve a district of nothing but wealthy professionals.
“I want them to realize, I am part of the working families. I know what it is like to worry about paying bills,” Monaghan-Derrig said.
Thompson said her volunteer work has made her very aware of the people living in District 121.
“There are people here struggling from paycheck to paycheck, and I will make that known,” Thompson said.
Thompson hopes for a seat on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. She said she has spent the last seven years researching and learning about depression and mental illness after her son, Tim, committed suicide.
“I think I can be logical in advocating for those who can’t advocate for themselves,” Thompson said.
Monaghan-Derrig said a seat on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee would help her advocate for Cape Elizabeth students.
“We need to think of and look out for everybody,” she said.
Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219.
Staff Writer
For the third time since last November, Cape Elizabeth residents will cast ballots to settle a legislative race.
Voters on Aug. 16 will choose between Republican Nancy E. Thompson and Democrat Kim Monaghan-Derrig to fill the remaining year of the term for Maine House District 121.
Thompson is a political newcomer with decades of experience volunteering in local organizations. She and her husband, Tim, own an insurance agency.
“I think the timing is perfect for me right now,” she said about her run.
Monaghan-Derrig, a communications and marketing specialist, currently sits on the Cape Elizabeth Board of Education. This is her third run for office in as many years. She also has volunteered at St. Bartholomew Church, local schools and Maine State Ballet.
“This is an opportunity I just cannot pass up,” she said.
The two are running for the seat vacated after the resignation of Maine Sen. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth). Dill won a special election in May to fill the seat opened by the resignation of former Sen. Larry Bliss.
Monaghan-Derrig said she will resign from the school board if she wins the House seat.
The election date was set this month because of an upcoming special legislative session to draw new district boundaries for the two Maine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Legislators were ordered by U.S. Judge George Singal to complete redistricting by Sept. 30.
The two candidates have opposing views on how the first half of the legislative session played out.
“I was pleased with the first part of the session. It was done the smart way by getting opinions,” Thompson said of efforts to improve Maine’s business climate.
Monaghan-Derrig said the session was marked by distractions and legislation passed without enough time for deliberation.
She said LD 1274, which legislators passed in June, was a costly bill for Cape Elizabeth. The bill shifted about $6 million in Maine Department of Education Essential Programs and Services funding throughout the state.
Revisions to EPS formula calculations for fiscal year 2013 allow districts with 1,200 students or fewer more funding for school staff. The new formula will fund the statewide average cost of employee benefits without adding or deducting to account for differences between districts, and shifts additional funding to districts with high land valuations and proportions of students who receive free or reduced lunches.
Jim Rier, deputy education commissioner, said the shift could cost Cape Elizabeth schools about $200,000 in current formula calculations, but the overall increase in state funding next year add more than $300,000 in state subsidies.
“I can understand the shift, but not how it was done,” Monaghan-Derrig said.
Thompson, 53, said she is running because she wants to be part policy changes to help Maine’s business climate. She expects to draw support from networks she developed as a volunteer with the Junior League of Portland, Cape Elizabeth Educational Foundation, Center for Grieving Children and Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program.
Monaghan-Derrig said she would like to be as effective a communicator as Dill and worked hard to stay in touch with district residents.
“I knocked on about 600 to 800 doors when I ran for school board and I am reaching that level now,” she said.
Both are eager to dispel the idea they serve a district of nothing but wealthy professionals.
“I want them to realize, I am part of the working families. I know what it is like to worry about paying bills,” Monaghan-Derrig said.
Thompson said her volunteer work has made her very aware of the people living in District 121.
“There are people here struggling from paycheck to paycheck, and I will make that known,” Thompson said.
Thompson hopes for a seat on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. She said she has spent the last seven years researching and learning about depression and mental illness after her son, Tim, committed suicide.
“I think I can be logical in advocating for those who can’t advocate for themselves,” Thompson said.
Monaghan-Derrig said a seat on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee would help her advocate for Cape Elizabeth students.
“We need to think of and look out for everybody,” she said.
Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219.
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