OPPONENT: Kendil Snow-Black, R-Lewiston

Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston

Social media accounts: facebook.com/ksc74house

Occupation: Associate Director, Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Bates College

Education: M.A. in Organizational and Leadership Studies, University of Southern Maine; B.A. in Journalism, Northeastern University

Community Organizations: Current: Board of directors, Community Concepts, Inc. and board of directors, Lewiston-Auburn Railroad; Former Mayor and City Council president, Lewiston

Personal information (hobbies, etc.): My greatest joy outside of the Legislature comes from spending time with my family. I also enjoy cooking, baking, reading, binge watching various TV shows, and enjoying all that the glorious Maine seasons have to offer.

Family status: Married, with one daughter and two dogs

Years in the Legislature: Six

Committee assignments (if elected): Running for Speaker of the House; currently serving as Assistant House Majority Leader; previously served on Appropriations & Financial Affairs and Taxation.

Q&A

1) Define what “success” would look like if you are elected to serve your district.

Lewiston is my hometown – it’s where I was raised and where I am choosing to raise my daughter. In my district, I define success as enacting policies that will make life easier for the average Lewiston family and help create a community where people have more opportunities to build their lives here.

This includes continuing to make investments in our families, like expanding access to child care for working parents and helping older folks better afford out-of-pocket costs for their medication. It also includes making housing more affordable and easier to find, as well as providing more property tax relief for those that need it most – so more people can afford to stay in their homes.

Additionally, success includes initiatives that will reduce gun violence and make our community safer. As we approach the one-year anniversary of last year’s tragedy, many in Lewiston are still struggling with a difficult grieving process. The Legislature has taken important steps to invest in our mental health infrastructure, provide long-term support for victims and their families and improve gun safety. However, I believe there’s still more work to be done to truly free our city – and our state – from the epidemic of gun violence.

2) Name one issue the Legislature handled last session. Explain why you agree or disagree with the final outcome.

Last year, the Legislature made Maine the 12th state in the country to create a paid family and medical leave program – a transformational investment in our people that will support working families, reduce financial insecurity and improve the health and well-being of Mainers in Lewiston and across our state. The new program will be up and running in 2026. I was proud to be the lead sponsor of that legislation in the House.

Strengthening Maine’s care infrastructure has been a significant priority for me throughout my time in the Legislature. My family members and I were caretakers for my mom when she had Alzheimer’s, and this experience shaped a lot of my policymaking. It made me realize that we need to be doing more to support caregivers, who are so often unsung heroes.

As we were drafting the legislation, we received incredible feedback from thousands of employers and employees. The public engagement made the program better and ensured that it was truly built by Mainers, for Mainers. The process was unlike any piece of legislation that I have ever worked on or witnessed, and it was something that I am still honored to have been a part of.