Why I'm Running

Image of Katie wearing a blue blazer and smiling lightly at the camera.

Bangor is home. It’s where I’m raising my family, where I’ve built my career, and where I’ve dedicated my time — serving on committees, supporting local organizations, and volunteering in our schools.

For the past 20 years, I’ve worked in education and community leadership, helping families navigate complex systems and building programs that make a real difference. I care deeply about how state decisions affect our schools, our environment, and our local economy — because those decisions affect my family, too.

I’m running for the State House because I want Bangor to have thoughtful, steady leadership that understands both the policy and the people it impacts. I believe in practical solutions, responsible investment, and making sure our region has the resources it needs to thrive.

This isn’t about politics for me. It’s about community.

Why I’m Ready to Lead

I Listen First.
Good policy starts with listening. I’ve built my career by bringing people together, understanding different perspectives, and turning ideas into workable solutions. In Augusta, I will make sure Bangor’s voice is heard clearly and consistently.

Accessibility Isn’t an Afterthought.
With a background in disability rights and curriculum design, I look at every issue through the lens of access and fairness. Whether it’s education funding, environmental policy, or economic development, I will ask: Who is left out? And how do we fix that?

I Know How to Deliver Results.
I’ve managed budgets, launched new programs, and led community initiatives from start to finish. I understand accountability. I’m not running just to introduce legislation — I’m running to make sure it works.

Community Comes First.
I’m not a career politician. I’m a parent, educator, and nonprofit leader who has spent two decades building relationships in Bangor. The best solutions don’t come from Augusta alone — they come from the people who live here.

Priorities

Fair Funding for our Schools and Community

Accessible and Inclusive Policy

Environmental Responsibility and Waste Reduction

Bangor deserves its fair share of state resources. I will fight to modernize school funding formulas, ensure special education and high-need programs are fully supported, and stop our tax dollars from being sent disproportionately to southern Maine.

I believe accessibility should be built into policy from the beginning. That means fully accessible public spaces, stronger disability protections, language access in state services, and education systems that meet the needs of all learners.

From recycling to composting and smart waste management, I will push for policies that protect our environment and create cleaner, healthier communities for all residents.

Community-Driven Solutions

Strong Local Leadership at the State House

I believe the best solutions come from listening. I’ll continue building partnerships, engaging residents, and making sure the people of Bangor have input in the decisions that affect their lives.

I’ll bring practical experience, accountability, and results-oriented leadership to Augusta. Bangor’s needs will be heard, represented, and acted on.

What's Important to You?

The best policy starts with listening.

Your experiences — whether in our schools, local businesses, neighborhoods, or public services — matter. If something isn’t working, I want to understand why. If something is working well, I want to protect it. I’m running to be a legislator who listens, learns, and stays connected to the people I represent. Community comes first, and your priorities will help guide my work in Augusta.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Email me to share your thoughts at katie@brydonforbangor.com.

Open Doors with Us!

Volunteer Your Time

Join me in knocking on doors and talking with neighbors about what matters most. Make phone calls from home. Put up a yard sign. Write a letter to the editor. Share our message on social media.

Want to do more? Host a small house party and invite friends and neighbors to learn about the campaign. I’d love to join you.

Every conversation makes a difference.

Make a Contribution

I’m running as a Clean Election candidate, which means people - not corporate PACs - power this campaign.

To qualify for public funding, I need 60 registered voters in our district to contribute exactly $5.

If you’re a registered voter in District 23, your $5 helps unlock public funds and keeps this campaign community-focused.

Donate

Spread the Word

Talk with your friends and family about why this race matters.

Follow the campaign on social media and share our posts to help us reach more voters. Invite others to learn more and get involved.

Strong communities grow through conversation.

Katie, wearing a pink dress, standing with her three children and her husband on a dock next to the Penobscot River.

I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Bangor School Committee, where I focus on strong public schools, responsible budgeting, and thoughtful decision-making. I also chair Bangor’s Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Human Rights, serve as President of the PTO at my kid's school, and sit on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club and United Technologies Center (Southern Penobscot County's (Region 4) Career and Technical Education program).

These roles reflect where I spend my time and energy — working alongside families, educators, and community leaders to strengthen Bangor.

At home, I share life in Bangor with my husband, a fellow educator, and our three school-aged children. When we’re not at a school event or community meeting, you’ll likely find us hiking local trails or exploring the Maine coast with my sisters (and my brother when we can convince him!).

I live, work, and raise my family on the unceded territory of the Wabanaki people. I recognize that our community’s future is tied to how we care for this land and how we honor the Mi'kmaq, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet nations who have stewarded it for generations.

I’m running for the State House because I believe Bangor deserves steady, practical leadership — someone who understands policy, listens carefully, and stays focused on outcomes. I’m ready to do that work.

Katie wearing a gray hat that says 'Maine State Parks' in a selfie taken at the top of Mt. Katahdin, with green hills in the background.

About me.

Hi, I'm Katie.

I’m a proud Mainer who chose to return to Bangor after working in disability advocacy and education in Washington, D.C. I came home to raise my family and put my experience to work in the community that shaped me.

Bangor is where my children go to school, where I volunteer, and where I’ve dedicated my professional life to public service. I believe leadership should be rooted in the place you serve.

For more than 20 years, I’ve worked in education and nonprofit leadership, helping families navigate complex systems and building programs that create real, measurable impact. My work has focused on accessibility, accountability, and making sure public systems work for the people they are meant to serve.

Katie is leaning on a wooden boat on a boat slip with Boothbay Harbor ocean and coastline trees in the background, talking to a group about marine history.

Join Us

This campaign is about building a Bangor that works for everyone. Your time, energy, and ideas make that possible.