Leader in Fredette

As the June primaries approach, I would like to thank Josh Tardy for his strong support, leadership and dedication to the residents he represented. It will take a strong and understanding individual to represent these towns as well as Josh did, and I believe that individual is Ken Fredette.

On June 8, I will be voting for Ken Fredette in the Republican primary to represent Corinna, Newport, Exeter, Corinth and Plymouth in the Legislature.

I have know Ken and his family for nearly 20 years and have watched him and his wife, Cyndi, raise two beautiful children. They have contributed to our communities as a teacher, a military person, a business person and as community volunteers.

I have served with Ken as a member of the Sebasticook Valley Credit Union board that voted to open a new financial banking center in Corinna when the Skowhegan Savings Bank left our community.

We need someone who will focus on jobs and our economy in our small rural communities, and I know Ken Fredette is the best person for this job.

Elaine Lister

Corinna

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No time for amateurs

Too often I’m hearing from new politicians that they’re not one of “them,” and that they’re going to Augusta to save us from “all of them.”

Their business experience has molded them into the solution for governing Maine.

Unfortunately, state government is not a business. It is an exercise in compromise, an exercise in listening, and an exercise in negotiating the best and fairest solutions for the people of Maine.

It’s not a place for amateurs looking for on-the-job training.

This year, we are fortunate to have Senate President Libby Mitchell running for governor. She is the most capable and experienced leader in the race and one who has shown repeatedly that she can deliver on K-12 education, health care and jobs programs. She understands the need for balance between business and environmental concerns.

Libby Mitchell’s leadership will bring people together to find the solutions to the social and economic issues facing Maine.

I urge you to vote for Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell for governor in the Democratic primary on June 8.

Eligius Joseph

Hampden

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No on Question 1

A no vote on Question 1 is supported by the Maine Chamber of Commerce, AARP, former Gov. Angus King, the Maine Municipal Association, Republican candidate for governor Peter Mills, all Democratic candidates for governor and numerous Maine newspapers.

Some suggest an alternative to address the recession’s devastating impact on Maine’s economy is (big surprise) budget cuts. They appear unaware that upward of $800 million in cuts have been made over the past two years under this current administration.

Let’s reiterate what no on Question 1 will bring to Maine’s people.

It lowers the income tax of middle- and working-class Maine residents, that’s 95 percent of us, from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

Upper-class Maine residents will see a reduction to 6.85 percent. Additional tax savings for middle- and working-class residents will be gained through a new credit for households and the elderly.

The property tax relief program will be added to the income tax form to remind people to take advantage of this program.

Groceries, heating fuel and prescription drugs will not be subject to this new tax.

On June 8 let’s provide the relief Maine residents need by voting no on Question 1.

Patricia Kenny

Old Town

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Maine needs LePage

Maine needs Paul LePage for governor. When we elected him as mayor, Waterville was in trouble. Our contingency fund was dangerously low, and our taxes were high and departments were poorly staffed.

Paul LePage addressed and remedied these things so our contingency fund is now at a safe level. He cut waste in the city’s employment, he kept necessary services and he lowered our taxes — twice.

Paul LePage always has returned my calls, and he is willing to listen to any resident who asks for his attention; then he does his best to address the resident’s request. I’ve never seen him play politics. He always has used a common sense approach to problems.

His long employment with Marden’s has given him great experience in financial management, doing the best thing with as little expense as possible. I believe he is the best candidate for Maine’s next governor.

Don’t be afraid to cross party lines.

Louise Marcoux Bowker

Waterville

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Jacobson passes test

A recent BDN editorial suggested whoever is elected governor should consider giving Matt Jacobson a position in his or her administration because Matt Jacobson has a “deep understanding of what businesses need — and don’t need — to be attracted to Maine” and that “his enthusiasm and common-sense approach to remaking the state’s economy would make him a good adviser or economic development commissioner.”

I would like to suggest these are exactly the qualities we should be looking for in a governor. Matt already has brought thousands of jobs to Maine, jobs that otherwise would have gone to another state, jobs in companies that he does not own or manage.

Matt Jacobson has been tested at the Naval Academy and as a pilot in the Air Force. He has been trained in disaster response and can handle any situation that is thrown at him.

He has been successfully tested in the railroad and by the unions. Matt Jacobson knows how to bring jobs to Maine; we know because Matt Jacobson has passed that test as well.

Eric Rancourt

Winslow

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No GOP extremists

I am a moderate Republican, first voting for Eisenhower, while in the Air Force, in 1956. We have a large number of really interesting people running for governor this year. This is a good thing for our state.

Right now there is a tide of extremism loose in the country, where little gets done while the combatants curry favor with groups they see as deliverance for them and their ideas. Big money plays an ever-increasing role in our elections.

One candidate wants to eliminate LURC, another implied that he’s relying on his French heritage to get him elected, another said he believes in creationism and would have it taught in the schools of Maine.

This is a little scary, I think. Peter Mills has the background and fortitude to put forth a strong program for Maine, the brand, the economy and the welfare of all residents.

One big difference between Peter and some of the others is his willingness and ability to work the center and gather bipartisan support for his programs.

If we are to move ahead here, we need his type of programs and skills.

If we Republicans put forth extremist candidates and programs, we will ensure success for the Democrats again or, even worse, gridlock in state government.

I’m voting for Mills on June 8.

Dick Brooks

Phillips

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Rosen deserves another term

I welcome the opportunity to share my praise of Rep. Kimberley Rosen.

Over the past six years of serving the citizens of Bucksport and Orrington, she has evolved into a very effective lawmaker who devotes a tremendous amount of time to learning about the topics of the day and those issues most affecting her constituents.

Rep. Rosen has been relied upon as a valuable member of the all-important Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. As such, colleagues come to her for input on issues dealing with highway and bridge construction and maintenance, railroads and all transportation policy.

Furthermore, because of her proven commitment to her legislative duties, she has become very involved with Women In Government, a national organization made up of women legislators from across the country that focuses on policy issues such as women’s health, adult education and energy.

The folks in Bucksport and Orrington are truly lucky to have her represent their interests at the State House. I urge you to vote for Rep. Kimberley Rosen on June 8. She clearly deserves another two years at the Capitol.

Joshua A. Tardy

House Republican Leader

Newport

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Reject tax scheme

Question 1 is the people’s veto of the misguided tax law pushed through by Gov. Baldacci and the legislative majority that has dominated Augusta for more than three decades.

On Tuesday, Mainers will decide if we want to repeal this scheme that changes the income tax by cutting the top rate but, at the same time eliminates the traditional mortgage interest deduction and imposes more than 100 new taxes on everything from labor on auto repairs to dog grooming and higher taxes on meals.

Fortunately, because more than 60,000 Mainers signed people’s veto petitions, the plan was prevented from going into effect. None of the changes proposed by the governor and his allies in Augusta are in law today — and they won’t be if Mainers vote yes.

Now, the special interests and the entrenched majority in Augusta running the “No on 1” campaign are airing the most blatantly misleading and disingenuous TV ad campaign ever seen in Maine. They seek to confuse voters into believing that a yes vote will increase taxes from what you’ve been paying – a completely false claim. The fact is, not a single Mainer will see a tax increase if Question 1 passes.

A yes vote will reject the latest boondoggle from Augusta and pressure the new governor and new legislature to pass common sense tax reform. On June 8, I hope Maine voters will reject both the misleading ads and the cynical shell game designed to avoid real tax relief. Please vote yes on 1.

Sen. Kevin L. Raye

Perry

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Rosa’s real world

My life has been based in Maine. I was born here, brought up here and only left when my father was unable to find work here. I returned to attend Colby College, and received my diploma on May 23. Now, much like my father in the 1990s, I am going to be forced to leave the state again, in search of a job.

I would love to have the option to stay in Maine; however, due to the policy decisions of officials in Augusta over past decades, the job opportunities here Maine are anything but promising. I can guarantee that I am not the only recent college graduate to feel this way.

It is for this reason (and a laundry list of others) that I am voting for Rosa Scarcelli. Rosa has real world experience with job creation, due to her experience as a business executive, and not as a politician. She has an aggressive and sensible plan to create 50,000 new jobs.

My father always told me that the definition of insanity is repeating the same action multiple times and expecting different results. That is what we will be doing if we don’t elect Rosa Scarcelli; we will be continuing to elect candidates that only promise change, and never follow through.

As a former vice president of the Maine College Democrats, I say, “People of Maine, it’s time to stop the insanity.” Please join me on June 8 and vote for Rosa Scarcelli. She will give Maine the future it deserves.

Katherine Cosgrove

Union

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Smoke and mirrors

Much has been written about tax reform and its effect on your income tax bill. Here is a simple test to see who is right. Take the total taxable income on your 2009 Maine tax return, multiply by 6.5 percent and compare it to the tax you paid under the current law. If you itemized deductions don’t forget to add the amounts you deducted for mortgage insurance, medical expenses and charitable contributions to your taxable income before multiplying as these deductions will no longer be allowed.

So far I have not heard of anyone who has done this and come out with a lower income tax bill. In the meantime there is no dispute that this bill is a massive increase in the sales tax. As just one example, based on typical labor rates of $75 per hour car repairs will cost an additional $3.75 per hour of work.

We are told the purpose of this reform is to put more tax burden on tourists but the ski industry one of the largest tourist businesses in the state is exempt. Finally the meals and lodging tax is increased by over 20 percent which will negatively affect local restraints as people will eat out less.

The bottom line is that this so called tax reform amounts to nothing more then a massive smoke and mirrors increase in both the sales and income taxes. I will vote yes on 1 and urge you to do the same.

Timothy Grant

Glenburn

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Electoral math

Bill Beardsley has some admirable qualities that have attracted a lot of conservative support in his bid for the governor’s seat. But he cannot win this election. If you have followed the polls since January, you would know that he is consistently in the bottom third of the Republican heap. There are not enough evangelicals in this state to help him capture the nomination on June 8. But there are enough to pull Paul LePage from that top spot and put Steve Abbott in the Blaine House.

LePage was well on his way to being the top GOP candidate in Maine long before Abbott and Beardsley appeared. His fiscal and conservative values are well-documented. He fought for the repeal of same-sex marriage and has vowed to veto any future effort to obtain that status. But this is America, and he recognizes that any two adults choosing to live together deserve basic civil rights, which they now have under our domestic partners law.

One can only suspect that Abbott, having grown up under Susan Collins’ wing, will mirror her more moderate positions. If you believe Abbott represents your conservative Christian values better than Paul LePage, then vote for Bill, because it will be a vote for Abbott. But if you want a man tried and true, both socially and fiscally, and already the lead contender for governor, then vote with your heart and your head and vote LePage on June 8.

Dena Worster

Palmyra

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Progressive tax answer

As a longtime Maine Democrat, I am appalled that my party would favor a regressive tax “reform” most beneficial to the state’s highest earners. Less than one percent of all taxpayers (4,456 individuals with annual incomes over $330,000) will realize 52 percent of the total tax savings under the proposed new law, according to a 2009 study by Maine Revenue Services.

Perhaps that’s why Rupert Murdoch’s editorially right-wing Wall Street Journal thinks it’s a great idea.

The only fair and equitable state tax is a progressive (graduated) income tax of exactly the sort being phased out, which makes its assessment according to the ability to pay. Under the flat-tax proposal, ordinary citizens will be levied at practically the same rate as the neighborhood millionaire. Meanwhile, the increased and expanded sales tax will fall hardest on the average person, who spends a larger portion of his or her income on essential goods and services.

Rather than institutionalizing a Bush-style tax reduction for the wealthy, Maine’s existing tax structure might be better reformed by adding more income brackets, especially at the high end, to enhance its progressiveness and spread the burden of supporting vital state programs. Shifting that burden downward under the guise of revenue-neutrality is no answer, and it’s against the best traditions of the Democratic Party.

Wayne O’Leary

Orono