Repeated Results for Children

“If there was ever the case that one person can make a huge difference, you are living proof,” in thanks to Sean Faircloth from President Jan Fraser of the Maine Association of Community Service Providers (MACSP). Faircloth twice successful led opposition to cuts to children’s mental health programs.¹

Faircloth spearheaded increased pay and the number of teachers for blind and visually impaired children, as well as paid for new equipment for education for the blind.² 

Sean Faircloth founded and led to completion the multi-million dollar Maine Discovery Museum, which sparked Bangor’s Downtown revitalization  and has provided memories for a generation of children. (citations in Downtown Revitalization tab.) 

Faircloth spearheaded the DeadBeat Dad Child Support law, saving taxpayers millions and putting food on the table for hungry children. (Citations in Women’s Issues tab).

More Faircloth results for children:

–The Healthy Start child abuse prevention program was the result of a task force sponsored and spearheaded by Sean Faircloth, resulting in the only new social program funded in the first budget of Governor Angus King.³

–Faircloth initiated the first law making possession of child pornography a crime in Maine.³

–Faircloth successfully initiated a first-in-the-nation policy improving school nutrition standards 24/7 in Maine K-12 schools, preventing sale of soda from school vending machines. For his work on child obesity policy, Faircloth was invited to speak at conferences at Harvard Medical School, Yale University, and the Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Kelly Brownell, listed in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people said, “The legislative actions Rep. Faircloth has proposed are among the most innovative in the country. I fully expect legislators to follow Sean Faircloth’s lead.” Because of these successes, Faircloth was named Legislator of the Year by the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.⁴

–Faircloth was House Chair of a Sex Crime Commission to Improve Sex Offender Accountability, successfully enhancing penalties on fixated pedophiles while advocating moderation of sex crime registries.⁵ 

–Faircloth was House Chair of the Commission to Establish a Strategic Priorities Plan for Maine’s Young Children, which created a prioritized plan regarding children’s policy, and resulted in creation of the Maine Children’s Growth Council. This Council, later designated Maine’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, makes children’s issues a top priority in law, emphasizing economic return on investment in early childhood.⁶ 

1. Maine Association of Community Service Providers, Faircloth the Outstanding Advocacy Award, September 10, 2003.
2. An Act To Enhance Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children, (Bangor Daily News, April 4, 2007).
3. Bangor Daily News, February 5, 1995, February 4, 1995 “For his legislative accomplishments in the prevention of child sex abuse, and the healthy start child abuse prevention initiative, and for spearheading the deadbeat dad child support law,” Faircloth was named Legislator of the Year by the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and Legislator of the Year by the Maine Psychological Association, Lewiston Sun Journal, August 8, 1993. 
4. New York Times, November 9, 2003; Bangor Daily News, November 19, 2003
5. Kennebec Journal, February 19, 2004
6. Lewiston Sun Journal, September 7, 2007, Brunswick Times Record, August 8, 2008  

Discussing the downtown revitalization value of the Maine Discovery Museum.

Here is a continued list of Faircloth’s results for children:

• 2007 An Act To Set Standards for Interviewing Children Who Are Subjects of a Child Protective Intervention
• 2005 a law creating enhanced and more prominent lead poisoning warning in Maine home sales
• 2005 a law creating a presumption that a child sex abuser will constitute jeopardy if given access to another child
• 2005 improved statewide school nutrition standards including limits on super-sizing (e.g. giant whoopee pies)
• 2005 lead restoration funds cut in budget for Community Intervention Programs (child abuse investigation)
• 2005 compromise amendment regarding statute of limitations involving DNA evidence and juvenile offenders
• 2004 enhancement of penalties against pedophiles based on distinct danger to the community
• 2004 led restoration of funding cut in budget to children’s mental health grants
• 2003 led restoration of funding cut in budget to children’s mental health grants
• 2003 first in the nation policy (effective Sept 05) improving school vending nutrition standards 24/7 K-12
• 2003 requiring collection of DNA evidence for major crimes by minors, protects future victims of rape and other crimes
• 1995 led revision of Maine Adoption law
• 1993 First in the nation deadbeat dad child support law, saving Maine taxpayers of $170 million
• 1993 creation of Healthy Start Task Force child abuse prevention initiative (only social program added in first King budget)
• 1993 legislation, killed in an earlier legislature, making it a felony for older adults to sexually abuse teens
• 1993 legislation, killed in an earlier legislature, to save taxpayers money by tracking deadbeat dads through SNNs
• 1993 legislation, killed in earlier legislature, making possession of child pornography illegal

Saving Mainers Money

For his EnergySmart program as Bangor Mayor, Faircloth received an Environment Maine Gold Medal. The program received an Innovation Award from the Efficiency Maine Trust. Statewide in the fiscal year ending 2017, participation rates in Efficiency Maine increased less than 1% statewide—in Bangor, participation increased over 50%.

This program was available to all Bangor homeowners and especially made energy efficiency measures more affordable for moderate- and low-income Bangor homeowners. Not only did Bangor’s participation shoot up dramatically compared to the state average, but homeowners could often recoup their weatherization investment in in the first year, thus saving money that year and thereafter.  (See the Environment tab for citations).

As State Senator, Faircloth cut taxes for businesses that engaged in research and development. This is especially important because Maine’s R&D rate was lower than the New England average and the national average. R&D can spur growth and development.¹

As a State Representative, Faircloth spearheaded the so-called “Deadbeat Dad” child support law. This measure not only put food on the table for low-income single parents and their children, it also saved taxpayers many millions on welfare reimbursement.²

1. Maine Sunday Telegram, July 9, 1995  “Sound Approach to Job Growth”; Kennebec Journal, April 21, 1995
2. Bangor Daily News, July 20, 1994.

LGBTQ+ Equality: Early Consistent Strong Ally

“In 1994 I helped organize Bangor’s first Gay Pride parade. We invited all the elected officials in the region to attend. Only one elected official showed: Sean Faircloth. That took guts. Long before it was politically fashionable, Sean came through for LGBTQ equality, voting for justice early, speaking boldly. Sean has proven integrity.”   – Jim Martin, former Maine State Representative, and Advocate for Equality.

In Sean Faircloth’s ten years in the legislature and as Mayor of Bangor, he was a rock solid vocal advocate for equality. Faircloth didn’t “evolve” on this issue. He was always a 100% ally.

Lifelong strong LGBTQ ally.

(90’s video, 70s production value!)

Sean Faircloth’s Proven Results for Women

Sean voted with the Maine Women’s Lobby 100% for ten years in a row while serving as a legislator. Sean didn’t need to “evolve” on women’s rights. Sean was a 100% ally from day one, but it goes beyond that. Sean initiated important women’s rights legislation — and got it passed.

“In his first term Sean Faircloth had a major impact on national public policy.” – National Organization for Women, Maine Chapter, regarding the deadbeat dad child support law. This measure put food on the table for low-income women and children.

This measure saved taxpayers millions of dollars in Maine and later saved hundreds of millions nationally after Maine’s law was incorporated into federal policy by making sure many thousands of responsible parents who had the ability to pay child support did so.¹ 

Laura Fortman, then Maine Women’s Lobby Executive Director, said of this law, “Sean took the lead in proposing his revised amendment to members of the Appropriations Committee, in disagreement with some members of his own party on the Judiciary Committee, demonstrating tenacity and leadership. This legislation provided essential economic support for low-income women and children.”

Congressman Michaud confirms it was Sean Faircloth who presented a redrafted version of the bill, successfully advocating to Rep. Charlene Rydell and Rep. Michaud that the amendment be placed in the budget.

1. Bangor Daily News, July 20, 1994

Unlike many politicians, Sean Faircloth was rock solid from the get-go supporting a woman’s right to choose – and still is.

Women’s rights groups supported Faircloth’s many initiatives to improve the lives of children.

Environmental Leadership

Mayor Faircloth’s EnergySmart program had a big impact:

Efficiency Maine saw a statewide increase in usage of .7% contrasting with a 55.95% increase resulting from Bangor’s EnergySmart program.

This program particularly benefited moderate and low income citizens: 69% of participants owned homes with a value of less than $150,000. (July 2016 – June 2017)

Bangor Mayor Faircloth conceived of and initiated the EnergySmart program – which saved Bangor homeowners money when investing in weatherization and energy efficiency. Environment Maine awarded Mayor Faircloth a Gold Medal for excellence in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, and combating climate change. EnergySmart also received the Efficiency Maine Trust Innovation Award. This program was designed so people of all incomes, including low- and moderate-income citizens, can recoup their energy-saving investment, often in a year.

Sean Faircloth’s first community work in Bangor in his twenties was “Bangor Renewal”, a volunteer program in which street captains did recycling pickup, back when there was no curbside recycling. Because of widespread participation, environmentalists pointed to the “Bangor Renewal” volunteer program as supporting community demand for curbside recycling.

Sean Faircloth received consistently high scores with the Maine League of Conservation Voters, including scoring 100% a number of times during his ten years in the legislature. 

Rep. Faircloth successfully initiated LD242, requiring state government to craft with Maine Audubon and others how to measure and address cumulative impact of development on wetlands and other natural resources.  This analysis resulted in a new protocol for analysis of cumulative impact.

Environmental Organizing Twentysomething

Early Supporter of Katahdin Woods & Waters

Bangor Mayor Faircloth successfully initiated Energy Smart, reducing energy use by homeowners and reducing power bills.

More Environmental Results:

• LD1234, requiring Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to craft criteria to identify high and moderate value wading bird and waterfowl habitats from among 8000 eligible wetlands so that “cream of the crop” wetlands would at least be afforded a 250 foot buffer protection as warranted by scientific standards. That bill led to a further study of significant habitats which met with the support of the League of Conservation Voters and Maine Audubon.

• LD 946, calling for a plan to encourage a Bird Trail & Wildlife Tourism Infrastructure including: highway signage; environmentally sensitive boardwalks for wetlands; viewing blinds; promotion of birding and wildlife trails; and creation of birding and wildlife festivals.  In response, the Maine Tourism Commission was charged with the creation of a wildlife viewing plan.  In Fall 2005 the State of Maine announced a plan that includes these elements.

Mental Health & Recovery Leadership

Policy Results: “If there was ever the case that one person can make a huge difference, you are living proof,” President Jan Fraser, Maine Association of Community Service Providers (MACSP). Faircloth received the Outstanding Advocacy Award from MACSP in 2003, in part because Faircloth twice successfully opposed cuts to children’s mental health programs.

Administrative Results: Sean Faircloth is executive director of Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center, a mental health agency the philosophy of which is to increase civil rights for mental health consumers. Faircloth wrote and secured a $50,000 grant from the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation to renovate Together Place’s 1886 building and create two large outdoor artistic murals celebrating Maine artists, athletes, and leaders. Faircloth created a list, with board approval, of people to be honored on the mural and also designed a Maine-literary themed interior to the facility.  Together Place offers intentional peer support to those in mental health and/or substance use recovery.  The agency also provides management for low-income housing for people living with mental illness, provides job opportunities for people living with mental illness. 

Faircloth, while in the legislature, had the idea for and sponsored a bill to change of the name of Bangor Mental Health Institute to the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center.  Faircloth argued that Dorothea Dix’s contribution to mental health civil rights worldwide makes her the most important woman Maine has produced.  Dorothea Dix was from Hampden outside Bangor.

• Together Place telling ‘Stories of Maine’ (PDF)
• Creative writing paves path to recovery (PDF)
• Together Place, UWEM organize cleanup of Bangor neighborhood (PDF)

Economic Justice

Faircloth is one of a handful of Legislators to earn the Maine People’s Alliance Rising Tide Award for his strong record on economic justice issues. This recognition was because of his long-time consistent support of Maine People’s Alliance issue stands during his ten years as a State Senator, House Member, Appropriations Member, and Majority Whip, but more specifically for his initiating and leading to success over thirty pieces of legislation with progressive values.  

Faircloth Obama Bangor Welcome

Diversity Leadership

Before the George Floyd protests, before the Trump presidency, Sean Faircloth was a strong advocate for diversity. As Bangor Mayor Faircloth knew a key challenge was Maine’s aging population. Immigrants and diverse people, Faircloth said, was a central economic development strategy, particularly given that immigrants are more entrepreneurial on average than native born Americans. Faircloth successfully initiated the Maine Multi-Cultural Center — before the rise of candidate Trump.

Results for Diversity and Inclusion:

• Maine MultiCultural Center
• (June 11, 2017) Why a multicultural center in Bangor is good for business (Bangor Daily News)

Cultural Leadership

Stories of Maine exhibit
Faircloth designed the 68-piece Stories of Maine exhibit, Maine’s only museum-style exhibit of Maine Arts and Humanities, an overview from writers, poets, film directors, and other creators. Faircloth selected the images and drafted the text, the images and text were then professionally combined by Bill Dwyer, photographic and graphic designer.

The exhibit is housed at the Together Place in Bangor. As the exhibit demonstrates, Maine has one of the richest per capita literary histories in America. As Faircloth says, “No small population state has as many connected works of impact as does Maine.” Some of the images in the exhibit are paired with murals outside Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center featuring Maine cultural and historical figures, such as Stephen King, facing the Bangor Historical Society on one side, and featuring Maine Athletes (such as first woman Olympian Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson) on the other side facing the YMCA.

A New Recovery & Cultural Space for Bangor

Pandemic Strolls Bangor

“There’s beauty here, yes, but there’s also struggle.” The photos offer “an honest perspective on the city” and “a representation of our city’s determination.” It’s “about conveying a feeling, the spirit of the time. In that respect, [the book] definitely succeeds.”

Proceeds benefit Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center, an organization whose important work has been significantly impacted – financially and otherwise by the pandemic.” — The Maine Edge, 11-25-20.

Buying this book “will help someone, and now more than ever, we should all be looking to help.” Donate, get photo books: https://togetherplace.org/pandemic-strolls-bangor/

Ukraine Refugee Volunteer

Faircloth Says Volunteering for Ukraine Helps American Democracy

I volunteered to support fleeing Ukrainians. For the sake of democracy, more Americans should do so.

Former Bangor Mayor, Senator describes experience in Poland helping Ukrainian refugees (PDF)