Katrina

Ray-Saulis

Fighting for Working Maine

Running to represent the West Side of Augusta, in District 59

About Katrina

We’ve had enough corporate business owners, and folks with generational wealth, in charge. They don’t know what it’s like to have the lights shut off or struggle to pay the rent. It’s time for the workers and small business owners to be at the table and shaping the future of our state, making it stronger and keeping our communities safe. As an active union member in MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 and SOMSEA, and union organizer, I know intimately the issues facing our working district.

Growing up in poverty I could see early on that the issues we face as a state aren’t right versus left, they are top versus bottom. I have worked my way out of poverty – nobody gets out of poverty without working hard. But nobody gets out of poverty alone. Food stamps and Section 8 housing kept us going long enough for me to get to Central Maine Community College. The education I worked so hard to earn opened career opportunities that made homeownership a possibility. I was able to buy a house because of loan programs like FHA mortgages. I was still the one working multiple jobs, but those programs gave me a ladder to climb. I want our state to be able to climb even higher than we have already.

Our communities deserve fair wages for our work, a solid education, housing we can afford, and food on the table. I know firsthand how powerful our communities can be. My grandmothers both believed strongly in the power of community to help us overcome struggles. They spent their time involved in civic duties, volunteering in their churches and communities. They stepped up to help raise me and my four siblings, housing us when we were homeless and feeding us when we struggled. My great grandmother saw kids in her neighborhood were struggling with iron deficiencies because of the cost of food so she started buying ground beef and cooking spaghetti sauce for the neighborhood kids. These three women taught me to look beyond my own needs, to care for my community, and to change the things I can not accept around me.

  • Stephanie Sienkiewiczs, Augusta City Councilor says

    I have witnessed Katrina show up time and time again for her community in ways big and small. She is actively engages in local government, supporting candidates and attending meetings. She is a reliable presence at charitable drives in Augusta. She has built strong connections with neighbors through community events and her work with the union. Last year, Katrina took this community orientation into a formal role as a member of Lithgow Library's Board of Trustees. This is who Katrina is - when she loves something and benefits from it, like the library, she looks for ways to give back to it. This aspect of her character is one of the many reasons I will be casting my vote for Katrina Couch Ray-Saulis for House District 59.

  • Rita Pello - Augusta school board member says

    “I support Katrina for house district 59 because of her strong commitment to workers rights. As a union representative, Katrina fights for fair pay and treatment in the workplace. Katrina is also a fierce advocate for strong public schools and understands firsthand what strong social services can do to enliven our community”

  • I realized years ago that the people in charge didn’t know what it was like to be me. They didn’t know what it’s like to rely on food stamps or section 8 housing. They didn’t know the stress of reaching the welfare cliff, and needing to figure out how to keep from falling off it too soon. I swore I would bring a chair to any table I could find in order to be a part of the conversations that change our world.

  • The issues aren’t right versus left, they are top versus bottom.

  • It’s time for the workers to be in power to make the changes that will actually help make this state stronger, and keep our communities safe.

What Matters Most

Economic
Fairness

I’ve lived the reality of relying on food stamps, Section 8, and navigating the welfare cliff. I know how hard it is to try to get ahead only to risk losing everything too quickly. We need policies that actually support people as they move toward stability, not punish them for working hard or earning more.

Representation
for Working People

Too many decisions are made by people who have never had to worry about making ends meet. I’m running because I know what that struggle looks like and because we deserve representation. Government should reflect the lived experiences of the people it serves.

Workers’ Rights & Power

I believe the people doing the work should have a real voice in the decisions that affect their lives. That’s why I became a union organizer. For too long, power has been concentrated at the top. I’m running to make sure workers have a seat at the table, and the power to shape their own future.

Housing & Food Security

I’ve experienced homelessness and food insecurity firsthand. Everyone deserves a stable place to live and reliable access to food. I will fight for stronger housing protections, expanded access to assistance, and policies that make it possible for families to stay afloat.

Education & Opportunity

Community college changed the trajectory of my life, but too many people still face financial and systemic barriers to education. Everyone should have a real shot at building a better future through accessible, affordable education, including trade schools, apprenticeships, and more.

Community & Mutual Support

I was raised by people who stepped up when others were struggling, feeding neighbors, opening their homes, and sharing their time. That’s the kind of leadership I bring. We should be building systems that reflect those same values: showing up for each other and making sure no one falls through the cracks.

Endorsed By

AFL-CIO