PAID POLITICAL AD: Scott Cyrway: It has been an honor to serve you

Now that the second Special Session of the 128th Legislature has adjourned, I would like to take this opportunity to say it has been a tremendous honor to serve you in Augusta.
In my time as a member of the Senate, I have been very encouraged to see the significant progress that has occurred under Republican leadership.

The State of Maine closed the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2018, with a budget surplus of more than $175 million and financial reserves totaling more than $316 million. Following years of budget shortfalls and high spending, the significance of these economic achievements cannot be overstated.

Maine’s unemployment is at an all-time low. The state’s jobless rate has been below four percent for a record 31 consecutive months.
Working across the aisle, we were able to overturn the three percent surtax that would have been devastating to Maine’s small businesses. At the same time, we made the largest one-time investment in education in Maine’s history and enacted reforms to target additional funding directly to where it counts — into the classroom.
We also directed more funds towards career and technical education programs (CTE) and made CTE available to students at a younger age. Maine is facing a workforce shortage in trade sectors, so it makes good sense to expose more students to these good-paying careers so that we can train the plumbers, electricians and welders of tomorrow.
We have also made important strides to protect vulnerable Maine children, passing a number of sweeping reform bills to make child protective services stronger and more responsive. Under these reforms, those who work on the frontlines, our caseworkers, will now be paid a more competitive wage and have access to more support and training than before. There will also be more caseworkers and in-field supervisors to lighten the load and ensure that no cases fall through the cracks.
I am particularly proud of this work because protecting the welfare of our children should be a top priority for everyone.
As a legislature, we were also able to put our differences aside to do right by those who have honorably served our country, passing a number of bills to cut red tape for veterans entering the civilian workforce and we made continuing education more attainable.
As the current DARE Training Coordinator, I am particularly proud of a new law that I presented to hold those peddling dangerous drugs accountable. Before the passage of LD 1546, fentanyl was not listed on the Schedule W list of drugs, a list of dangerous and addictive drugs. Because of this loophole, it was difficult to prosecute those caught furnishing and trafficking fentanyl within our communities.
After receiving unanimous support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, law enforcement can now hold these bad actors accountable for the damage they inflict.
Thank you again for sending me to Augusta to represent Senate District 16. Together, we made real progress that we should all be very proud of.

Paid for and authorized by Cyrway for Senate * 463 Benton Road, Albion, ME 04910 * Allan E. Rowe Jr., treasurer