Bob Kelly
Care, Experience, Action.
Running to represent Old Orchard Beach, in District 131
About Bob
What drives me is simple: I care deeply about people. I’ve always been someone who connects easily, listens, and tries to understand. That comes from how I was raised, exposed early on to people from different backgrounds, which taught me that we’re far more alike than we are different. It also comes from the realities of my work. I’ve seen trauma, loss, and the consequences of systems that don’t work the way they should. That’s why issues like healthcare, mental health, and women’s healthcare aren’t abstract to me, they’re personal and urgent.
I’ve spent 27 years working in healthcare as an X-ray technologist, in hospitals across the country, and I’ve seen firsthand where our systems are failing people. I’ve worked with patients on some of the hardest days of their lives, and those experiences stay with you. They shape how you see the world and what you’re willing to fight for.
I’m also deeply concerned about the direction of our country and the pressures people are under. Too many people are living paycheck to paycheck, and too many are one emergency away from financial disaster. At the same time, we’re dealing with a healthcare system that leaves people in debt and without the care they need. I’ve seen that up close, and I’m not willing to accept it as normal.
I’m running because I believe my life experience across healthcare, travel, and working with people, gives me a perspective that’s grounded, empathetic, and practical. I’m not doing this for status or politics. I’m doing it because I believe I can help make our community and our state a better place to live, and I’m willing to do the work to get there.
What Matters Most
Bringing Real-World Experience to Augusta
I’m not a career politician. I’m someone who has worked, traveled, and lived a full life, and I bring that perspective with me. I’ve seen how policies affect real people in real situations. I believe government works best when it includes people who understand those realities—and I’m running to bring that kind of grounded, practical experience to the table.
Healthcare
I’ve spent nearly three decades working in hospitals across the country, and I’ve seen just how broken our healthcare system is. People are buried in medical debt, care is inconsistent, and too many are falling through the cracks. That’s not acceptable. I believe healthcare should be a right, not a privilege, and I will fight for a system that actually works for everyone—not just those who can afford it.
Environment
I care deeply about the environment and protecting the places that make Maine special. We’re lucky to live in a place with natural beauty all around us, and it’s our responsibility to protect it—not just for ourselves, but for the future. I will support policies that preserve our environment while making sure our communities can thrive alongside it.
Women’s Healthcare
I am deeply concerned about the attacks on women’s healthcare happening across this country. Decisions about reproductive health should be made by women, not politicians. I will stand firmly against any effort to roll back those rights in Maine and will work to ensure that women have access to the full range of healthcare they need and deserve.
Cost of Living & Economic Pressure
Right now, too many people are living on the edge. I hear it and I see it—families just a couple paychecks away from real trouble. That’s not how things should be in this country. We need to take a hard look at the cost of living and make sure people can afford to live, work, and raise a family without constant financial stress.
Mental Health
Through my work in healthcare, I’ve seen how serious and widespread mental health challenges are—and how often people struggle to get the help they need. We need to treat mental health with the same urgency and respect as physical health. That means better access to care, more support for providers, and a system that doesn’t leave people waiting or suffering in silence.