Patrick Corey Announces Independent Candidacy for Maine House District 107

I’m running for Maine House District 107 in 2024 as an independent candidate to put my experience, knowledge, and dedication to service to work for you.

After serving eight years—term limited for the 2022 cycle—in the Maine House of Representatives, I became unaffiliated with a political party. I timed this switch in my voter registration with the same day the new Legislature was sworn in. My constituents were served by the candidate they elected until I was no longer in office and people who worked on my campaigns would be OK with my change in status. Becoming independent was a personal decision and one I grew into based on my service and seeing how Maine’s people were left underserved by our two-party system.

Over the last decade, partisanship at the Maine State House has grown out of control. At the beginning of my service, in 2014 it paled in comparison to what we witnessed nationally. Sadly, Augusta now mirrors Washington. Being a moderate through my legislative service, I thought I could sway members of my party to the center. Over time, I became aware this was an impossible task…a realization echoed by moderate members on both sides of the aisle.

Our two-party system has resulted in bad governance, the inability to be self-reflective and act appropriately, policy objectives that are often rooted in the values of political extremes rather than the moderate views held by most Mainers, along with only offering binary and often miserable choices. When one party controls all the levers of government, they adopt a “winner-take-all” viewpoint and exclude others from the governing process. When they share power, rather than striving to find common ground they obstruct one another.

I want to be clear. Those that serve in government and choose to serve as a member of a party are differently motivated than your typical registered voter. Up until this upcoming primary in Maine, people needed to be registered in a party to participate. Due to this past requirement, registered voters sought out those they ideologically aligned with and had the opportunity to pick that party’s candidate for the general election. This was by design. The parties have worked hard over the years to convince the electorate that there are only two ways voters should define themselves and that the only viable options for representation are members of their parties.

I’m running to make government work for the people once more. To introduce and endeavor to advance “good governance” legislation that enhances accountability, integrity, responsiveness, inclusivity, and transparency. My interest is in promoting positive policy based on its merit, not where or who it comes from. To hold politicians accountable for their transgressions regardless of who they are politically aligned with and within the law. My promise is that I will always be receptive to not only hearing my constituent’s views but trying to understand where they come from.

I took great pride in my work with the Windham Legislative Delegation (i.e., Bill Diamond and Mark Bryant). Whenever an issue was important for our community, we managed to put partisanship aside, working together to achieve on behalf of our constituents. This wasn’t only recognized and appreciated by the people we represented, but by our colleagues in the State House as well. I will work to foster that type of collaboration and goodwill in the next Legislature.

In the coming weeks I will let you know how you can help. Thanks for your past and future support!