John Glowa Sr. is an independent candidate for Maine governor.
My name is John Glowa Sr. I’m a seventh-generation Mainer and an independent candidate for governor. I worked for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for nearly 30 years and I have a BS in economics and a master’s degree in public administration.
I know how the government is supposed to work.
Maine’s state government is not democratic. It is not broken, but is instead rigged, corrupt and dysfunctional. For example, environmental statutes are so complex as to make it almost impossible for the state to pursue an enforcement action against polluters. The legislative conflict of interest statute makes it impossible to lawfully find that a legislator is guilty of a conflict of interest.
The legal standing statute makes it impossible for citizens to challenge the state in court. Legislative rules allow for legislation to be enacted without any formal public input, and the Freedom of Access law allows it to be used to prevent the public from having access to public records.
As an independent governor, my job will be to work to bring together not only the state government, but the Maine people. I’ll hold weekly town halls across the state to listen and learn. I’ll meet with all legislators to look for common ground and compromise. This will not be possible with a governor from either major political party.
As an independent governor, I’ll establish an apolitical and completely transparent process of reviewing Maine’s constitution, laws, rules and programs for changing or eliminating them. On day one, I’ll have a team in place to begin continuous program audits of every department in the executive branch. As an independent governor, I’ll have only the people to answer to. I’ll put the people first.
I’ll turn the state’s priorities right-side up by giving those who need help the most the most help. As a mental health consumer, I’ll work to eliminate the stigma of mental illness and push for expanding our mental health care system. As someone whose family has been devastated by substance use disorder, I’ll push for expanding our drug and alcohol treatment system.
Regarding housing, I’ll propose that the state government fund/finance an initial 10,000 units of low-rent public housing to ease the housing crisis and force down rents and home prices. I’ll establish pallet shelter villages as temporary housing to get our homeless out of shelters and off the streets.
I’ll support equality by appointing at least one person of color to my cabinet and by having on my staff someone who will work directly with the LGBTQ+ community to ensure their safety and security. I’ll create a child welfare system that is the best possible and it will be my goal to not lose a single child to neglect or abuse.
I’ll work to establish a state system to end food insecurity. I’ll support Maine state employees and retirees by being an ally rather than an adversary. I’ll push for lower or no property and sales taxes for the elderly and those of low income.
I’ll work for a progressive tax structure by eliminating tax loopholes and politically driven tax exemptions for the wealthy, and by making those who can pay more, pay more. I’ll work to maximize government efficiency, effectiveness and competence to minimize the tax burden and pay for needed services.
I’ll support increasing the state’s share for public education to 75% and increasing the state’s role in assisting communities and school districts. I’ll push for a publicly funded Maine health care system and getting insurance companies out of the system.
Virtually all Maine people want change within our government and the need for that change is virtually endless. Maine needs an independent governor, now more than ever, to begin the process. That governor will put the people first and work to unite us. I want to be that governor.