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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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