SPRINGVALE, Maine — Two Republicans vying for the chance to run against Democrat Chellie Pingree for the 1st Congressional District in November traded barbs and talked about the issues in a debate Tuesday, one week ahead of the Republican primary.
Pingree is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The candidates — psychologist Mark Holbrook and Ande Smith, an attorney who owns a cybersecurity consulting firm — both say they’re conservative. But they disagree on some hallmark conservative issues.
The debate at Nasson Little Theater was moderated by Paul Merrill of WMTW Channel 8, who said it would be streamed on the company’s website. The event was sponsored by Sanford and York County Republican committees. Most seats in the theater were full.
In his opening statement, Holbrook spoke of tyrannical federal regulation “forced on us,” and of “boys saying they’re little girls, and girls saying they’re little boys” in reference to transgender bathroom policies.
“That kind of craziness propelled me into this race,” said Holbrook. “We cannot let the country we love deteriorate any further.”
Smith said he has the Maine values, core conservative principles, the temperament and “plain-spoken common sense” required to lead.
Smith said he would deport illegal immigrants, but believes there is room for immigration, and said the U.S. should make room for those who want to come here and spend their money.
He said there is a process for illegal immigrants to enter the country legally, adding that illegal aliens should not be “at the head of the line” for re-entry.
Holbrook said he would halt illegal immigration, but believes illegal immigrants without felony convictions who haven’t received welfare benefits should be “at the head of the line” to apply for legal admission.
He said he favors a wall from the gulf of California to the gulf of Mexico, “not just to keep South American families out,” but to block ISIS terrorists.
Neither candidate supports creation of a National Monument in Maine’s north woods. Holbrook said he would like to see the Roxanne Quimby family, which has proposed the monument, donate the land to Baxter State Park.
Smith said the country doesn’t need more land under federal control, and that making the land part of Baxter State Park would keep it off the tax rolls and preclude harvesting.
Both men believe that life begins at conception. Holbrook said he’s against abortion; Smith said he is as well, but that it is the law of the land.
Neither candidate supports federally funded abortions — Holbrook said he favors defunding Planned Parenthood. Smith said a congressional investigation is required to look into videos that purportedly showed Planned Parenthood executives talking about aborted “body parts” and then make the case for defunding the agency based on the outcome.
Holbrook said he’d look at privatizing veterans’ health care but retain some parts of the Veterans Administration within government control, such as mental health services.
Smith said he favors offering veterans the same health care that current members of the military receive and make the VA smaller, concentrating on special care for brain-injured veterans and amputees.
The two also touched on a number of other subjects, ranging from their take on Gov. Paul LePage to gun rights.
Neither candidate supports Maine’s recreational marijuana referendum.
Regarding the opioid epidemic, Holbrook said he favors more research into the effects of opioids on mental health, and Smith said he favors more treatment, funded through savings that could ensue by diverting federal money from programs that aren’t working to treatment.