Rep. Lori A. Fowle, D-Vassalboro, is a first-term legislator who hopes her take-things-as-they-come approach can serve her constituents for another two years.
Fowle currently represents House District 53, which includes Vassalboro, Windsor, and part of Augusta, but she is running in the new House District 80, which includes Somerville, Hibberts Gore, Vassalboro, Windsor, and part of Augusta.
If elected in November, Fowle said she would be willing to work with anyone who has an issue.
“I don’t really have an agenda going down there, and I didn’t last time,” Fowle said, but some things she plans to look at are keeping the environment safe, fostering a good climate for business, and ensuring good education.
Fowle currently sits on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. The legislation she is most proud of sponsoring was a bill to expand certain property tax exemptions for veterans to include those involved in the recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For her support of veterans, Fowle was selected as one of six “Legislators of the Year” for 2014 by the American Legion in Maine, a recognition she values highly.
“I’m not a veteran, so for me it’s even more heart-warming to be recognized by those who served our country,” Fowle said.
Fowle also sponsored legislation to make it easier for for-profit entities to raise money for nonprofits if they don’t keep any of the money for themselves.
The original act was intended to help donors be certain professional solicitors were not taking the bulk of any donations for themselves, and the revisions helped streamline the process, Fowle said.
“The law was very important to Maine and protecting the citizens of Maine, but this makes it easier,” she said.
In the civic realm, Fowle served on her town’s school board for nine years – six as chair – and opted not to run again after school consolidation. Fowle did spend time researching the town’s choices for consolidation, however.
“I think we found something that fit quite well when you see how many communities in the area are voting to leave” their districts, Fowle said.
After the school board, Fowle moved on to Vassalboro’s budget committee, where she has served for about the last five or six years, she said.
Fowle was once a board member for a regional office of Child Development Services in Waterville called Project PEDS, and is currently on the board of directors for Children’s Center in Augusta, a provider for children with developmental disabilities and delays.
Professionally, Fowle is currently a stay-at-home mom. After running her own business for 10 years, she made the decision to stay home 15 years ago to be an “anchor” for her child with autism.
“I’ve really enjoyed being involved with my children,” Fowle said. She and her husband, Maine District Court Judge Evert Fowle, have three children: Evert, Hayden, and Morgan.
