For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Ellie Sato, and I was recently elected to represent the parts of Gorham that are east of Route 114, and North Gorham, in the Maine House of Representatives. This is the first of many columns I will write for the Gorham Times over the course of the next two years, with the intention of sharing the work I am doing in my committee, providing updates on the progress of the bills I introduce, and offering helpful information and resources. I’m truly grateful and honored to have been sworn into office as your representative, and look forward to working alongside my colleagues, our community and the people of our state.
It is my job to make your voices heard in Augusta. Whether you are struggling with a particular state program, tax burdens or another issue, I want to uplift the voices of Gorham residents and help create visibility for you. That’s why I’ll approach my work in the Legislature with you, fellow constituents of Gorham, as my primary focus. Though we all have different jobs and responsibilities, we all want a similar thing – for state government to work for us – continuing essential services and reducing the cost of living wherever possible. From my time working in the State House as a legislative aide, I know firsthand that the public servants in the building are working overtime in a complicated system to do whatever they can to make life better for everyday Mainers – and I look forward to utilizing my experience and energy toward doing the same in this new role.
For the 132nd Legislature, I am pleased to have been appointed to serve as a member of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. This is an important policy committee of the Legislature and our work will have real impacts on Mainers’ lives. We handle issues related to the state’s court system, indigent legal services, civil and human rights, tribal sovereignty and much more.
Much of the most important work of the Legislature happens in committees, and the Judiciary Committee plays a crucial role in making sure that state government delivers for many of our most vulnerable Mainers – this includes ensuring adequate legal representation for those accused of crimes, overseeing procedural changes to civil cases such as landlord-tenant disputes, reviewing legislation addressing discrimination and working with the Maine Human Rights Commission.
The legislative session is newly underway, and over the coming months we will consider more than 1,500 bills submitted by members of both chambers from across Maine. We will also be working towards crafting, and passing, a balanced two-year budget. Gov. Janet Mills recently released her recommendations for the budget, and the Judiciary Committee will be meeting with the Appropriations Committee to ensure necessary services benefiting Mainers remain adequately funded. Our committee work outside of the budget has also already begun, taking testimony regarding new initiatives and hearing reports from commissions, including the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services and the Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston.
I am committed to fulfilling my responsibility of representing you by diving into the nuanced policy work in the Judiciary Committee and by bringing my expertise to the table, not only as a former staffer in the State House, but also as a former bartender. I am someone who empathizes with what Mainers from different walks of life are facing in these times, especially with inflation and the cost of living remaining high.
Most importantly, I encourage you to reach out to me any time with concerns on issues you care about, questions on policy or legislation, ideas to better our community or to introduce yourself. I hope to continue the conversations I began this past summer, so please do not hesitate to email me at ellie.sato@legislature.maine.gov.
Rep. Ellie Sato, D-Gorham, is serving her first term in the Maine House of Representatives.