No on Question 1
The timing couldn’t be worse. As China’s growth cools, the chill already is being felt across the global economy. The last thing Maine needs right now is to permanently eliminate $6 million in business tax incentives. Yet, that’s what Question 1 would do in the name of “cleaner” elections.
Maine’s clean election laws are working fine and have been for nearly 20 years. Maine, however, is struggling very hard to compete with larger, richer states to attract new businesses and more capital investment. So why take away a valuable tool to retain and create jobs that we need so much, especially in rural Maine? Those incentives, though modest, are valuable to businesses of all sizes across the state. If anything, they should be increased, not reduced.
That’s why the Maine Forest Products Council urges you to vote against Question 1 on Nov. 3. It makes no sense to increase funding for candidates by cutting back Maine’s investment in attracting and supporting businesses that are the backbone of our state’s economy. Competing in the global economy is hard enough. Please don’t make it any harder. Vote no on Question 1.
Richard Robertson
President of the board
Maine Forest Products Council
Augusta
Etna road debacle
In June 2014, the town of Etna conducted its yearly town meeting. During that meeting the town residents voted to accept Pine Grove Lane as a town-owned roadway. As with all town-owned roadways in Etna, the residents can expect the same rights and privileges for services and maintenance as any other town roadway.
Those town services include but are not limited to trash pickup; recycled material pickup; road maintenance, including winter sanding and plowing; and a safe public road passage for police, fire and ambulance responders.
The selectmen have chosen to ignore the vote of its residents for 16 months. During that time no services have been provided on Pine Grove Lane. Our town form of government is run on a principle of the voters voting on what is presented to them by the selectmen, and the selectmen implement the vote of the majority. To date, the town of Etna continues to ignore the 2014 vote of the people.
The residents of the town deserve better. The town does not have the right to ignore the vote of the people. It is a very dangerous precedent to selectively choose which vote to implement and which vote to ignore.
If the town of Etna refuses for the second winter in a row to plow or sand Pine Grove Lane, a very legally risky and dangerous situation will once again exist.
Rick Noblet
Etna
Support Ellsworth library
On Tuesday, voters in Ellsworth will vote on a bond question to preserve the Tisdale House, the historic home of the Ellsworth Public Library.
The Tisdale House was built in 1817. George Nixon Black remodeled the house and gave it to the city with the condition that “the premises conveyed shall always be used for a public library.”
But as is the case with buildings that are nearly 200 years old, the Tisdale House is in need of work. A new concrete foundation, new heating and cooling systems and upgrades to meet Americans with Disability Act codes and accessibility are all a part of the plan to preserve the Tisdale House. Because of its place on the National Register of Historic Places and its physical place on the banks of the Union River, the price tag — $5 million — is a little higher than a typical building needing similar work.
As anyone with an older house will attest, if we let the work sit without attention, the costs will only grow. There is no question the work needs to be done and should be sooner rather than later.
I have spent countless hours in the Ellsworth Public Library over the years — often times with kids my age doing research for projects in school. It’s a safe and special place. We need to make this investment to keep it that way. I encourage the people of Ellsworth to vote yes on local Question 1 to ensure the preservation of the Tisdale House and the library.
Rep. Louis Luchini
Ellsworth
No ‘welfare’ for politicians
If you want a good definition of hypocrisy, just look at who is behind Question 1. The TV ads promoting a “yes” on Question 1 are largely funded by groups outside of Maine. This is not clean. These out-of-state donors, mainly from New York and Massachusetts, make their donations, all neatly bundled and laundered, through tax-exempt nonprofits. They have a war chest of dirty money.
I urge Mainers to vote no on Question 1 on Nov. 3. Are you in favor of “welfare” for politicians? According to the Maine Clean Election Act, state tax dollars will go to candidates you do not support or would never vote for. Our tax dollars instead should be used for improving education, funding much-needed nursing home care and other legitimate needs here in Maine.
Politicians should raise money from their supporters and not from your taxes. Vote no on Question 1.
Elizabeth Printy
Damariscotta
Support transportation bond
I am concerned about the prospect of a low voter turnout on Election Day. Because of the off year, there are no statewide candidates running for office to turn people out. I hope people don’t forget to vote on Question 3, the transportation bond, a critically important issue that voters will have the opportunity to pass.
The transportation bond has $85 million slated for all modes of transportation, with the bulk going to roads and bridges. I hope every voter takes this seriously and insures that the transportation bond passes. That way, Maine gets back some of the federal tax dollars we all work hard to produce. This is a good deal for Maine. Let’s make it happen.
Eric Ritchie
Hampden
Election notice
The BDN will stop accepting letters and OpEds related to the Nov. 3 election on Wednesday, Oct. 28.