This letter was published in The Ellsworth American Oct. 8, 2026.
Since State Sen. Nicole Grohoski was elected in a special election in 2022, she has been working hard for the 21 coastal communities in District 7. She has done an excellent job of keeping us informed of what is happening in Augusta with regular Zoom calls and in-person events. She also sends out a newsletter informing us of what the Legislature is working on plus she has sponsored several bills which have helped the people of District 7, which includes most of Hancock County, including many of the islands.
In early 2023, I attended my first “Coffee with Nicole” at the Moore Community Center. About 20 people attended. Nicole discussed the likely bills and issues that were to come before various committees during the 2023 session.
Nicole has been the chair of the Taxation Committee since 2023 as well as sitting on the Engrossed Bills Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. She patiently answered questions for the better part of two hours and promised to get back to us if answers weren’t readily available. I have attended several other of her town hall meetings which are usually accompanied by one or more of the state representatives from Senate District 7.
Highlights of this year’s legislative session include the passage of a bill to allow plug-in solar of up to 1,200 watts without needing to hire an electrician. The panels are available in 400-watt units.
The Legislature also fully funded MaineCare, protecting healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of Mainers as well as several other bills to ensure continued healthcare for all.
The Democrat-controlled Legislature also provided some relief for Maine’s housing crisis and took steps to reduce the property taxes. And they passed bills investing in our youth by fully funding K-12 education and raising the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 a year.
I am confident Sen. Grohoski will continue to work hard to help all her constituents during the affordability crisis, and I am proud to vote for her.
Remember, early in-person voting started Oct. 5 in Maine.
Gary Loft
Lamoine