Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Six candidates for state offices attended City Council Monday night as part of a candidate forum, where they responded to questions posed by councilors on topics of concern to constituents.
A CANDIDATE FORUM hosted by Presque Isle City Council Oct. 1 at City Hall provided an opportunity for candidates to express their views on a number of questions posed by councilors. Among those taking part were, from left: Republican Roger Sherman, running as incumbent for the State Senate, and challenger Democrat Dan Levesque.
Participants included: State Senate, District 34 (covering Fort Fairfield, Houlton and Presque Isle) — incumbent Republican Roger Sherman and challenger Democrat Daniel Levesque; House of Representatives, District 5 (which includes part of Presque Isle) — incumbent Republican Michael Willette and challenger Democrat Robert Saucier; House of Representatives, District 7 (which includes part of Presque Isle, as well as the towns of Castle Hill, Chapman, Hammond, Littleton, Mapleton, Masardis, Monticello, Wade, Washburn and Oxbow Plantation) — incumbent Republican Alexander Willette and challenger Democrat Troy Haines.
“Given the challenging economic times, the City Council felt holding this forum was a great way to offer local residents an opportunity to hear firsthand what the candidates’ positions are. Important topics such as the state revenue sharing program, the state’s impact on local tax rates, partnerships between local and state government and public sector unionization will be discussed,” said City Manager Jim Bennett.
ROBERT SAUCIER (D), candidate for House of Representatives’ District 5, was one of six individuals taking part in a candidate forum at City Hall in Presque Isle Monday.
Bennett saw the event as a way to educate the public on where candidates stand on the various issues affecting voters.
“It is our sincere hope that this forum will raise awareness on these important topics and allow our residents to make a more informed decision when casting their votes,” Bennett said.
The session opened with candidates introducing themselves and explaining a bit about why they want to serve.
Sherman said there’d been some “big changes” the last two years and that “we’re on track to have a state that’s business friendly.” Levesque said he wants to see us “export products, not our natural resources,” and that he is “for fair trade, but very much against free trade.”
Mike Willette said there’s “nothing to keep our assets here, the most precious of which is our children.” He said he’s an “advocate for keeping big government off your back and keeping things as simple as possible.” Saucier said while the state deals with complex issues, it’s important to “focus on local businesses, not corporate profits.”
MICHAEL WILLETTE (R), incumbent for House of Representatives’ District 5, responds to a question during the candidate forum hosted by Presque Isle City Council on Oct. 1.
Alex Willette said he’s a big advocate of “helping small businesses in the state navigate through our bureaucracy.” Haines said “opportunities abound in Maine” and that we need to continue to move forward, “so small family farms benefit, not large corporations.”
Participants then discussed service communities and ways to maintain those services, while making the burden for paying for them more equitable between service and non-service communities.
Haines indicated the “need to stop the blind program of balancing everything on the backs of middleclass taxpayers.” Alex Willette suggested “continuing to have an open dialogue with local elected officials in all the communities I represent.”
Saucier said more needs to be done to “make the state fund K-12 and take it off the taxpayers’ shoulders. We need to restore revenue sharing dollars stolen from taxpayers.” Mike Willette said the problem was simply not enough revenue. “We need to grow the pie, cut back regulations and make this a place businesses want to create jobs,” he said.
Levesque said “we need to grow the budget.” Sherman noted it was “still about growing jobs.”
Candidates were then asked how they’d work with local officials to address constituent needs and the needs of the state as a whole. All agreed the monthly phone calls to Augusta, hosted by LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development, have been working well and should continue
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES’ District 7 incumbent Alex Willette (R) and challenger Troy Haines (D) took part in a candidate forum hosted by the Presque Isle City Council Oct. 1 at City Hall.
Panelists were then asked if they’d support the continued raiding of the state’s revenue sharing program. Haines said he would not support further raiding of the program and that “raiding revenue sharing disproportionately disadvantages rural Maine,” adding it was important to keep money flowing and build infrastructure. “If I hear one more time ‘why don’t you move to southern Maine,’ I’m gonna lose it,” said Haines. Alex Willette said many aren’t using the Circuit Breaker program even though they’re eligible. “This program is something that could help bring revenue back into towns,” said Alex Willette.
Saucier said he wouldn’t support either. He said communities might consider creating a local sales tax as an option. Mike Willette said the state has deficits in the budget “because revenue brought in doesn’t meet our needs” and that to grow the pot, you need to create jobs. He called a local sales tax a “Pandora’s box” that would pit communities against each other.
Levesque said he’d like to see raided funds restored. Sherman said it was a “mischaracterization where revenue sharing comes from” and that it was a matter of finding ways to increase revenue.
Participants next discussed their views on unionization and employee bargaining rights in the state.
Sherman said the state doesn’t have “mandatory unionization” and that “you don’t have to belong to a union, but they’ll assess you” for services rendered on your behalf. Levesque said although no one is required to join a union in Maine, “it makes no sense to bargain individually with 100 employees when you can do it with one representative, to benefit all employees.”
Mike Willette believed employees had a right to a “collective bargaining unit” but opposed having dues taken out when an employee didn’t agree with decisions made by union representatives. Saucier said people should be careful what they listen to and that concerns over unions “revolves around union busting and voter suppression and not the cost of union workers vs. non-union workers.”
Alex Willette said the discussion in Maine has been “whether fair share is truly fair.” He said “constituents don’t feel money should be taken out of their paycheck unless it’s approved” and that you “shouldn’t allow employees to be pressured by other employees, without allowing them to have a private ballot.” Haines said Maine has no required unionization. “When unions were created, the middleclass was created. If you look at the decline of public sector unions, it goes hand in hand with the decline in the middleclass.” As for understanding “fair share,” Haines said he was taught “when you get a service, you pay for that service” and that “there are no free rides.”
The questioning concluded with candidates asked why local taxpayers would be best served if they were elected.
Haines said voters need someone who will be “good and loud in Augusta.” “We need people who don’t give a damn about party line and will be good and loud. You need to elect people with common experiences to represent you. I employ 20 people. Elect someone with common experiences to represent you,” said Haines. Alex Willette said the reason he was best suited for job is he’s “been one of the most effective in Maine,” noting his success at raising the speed limit to 75 mph on I-95 as one of his top achievements.
Saucier said he was asked a very pointed question, ‘If I support you, will you switch parties?’ “My answer was ‘no.’ Voters want a candidate they can trust. I don’t want a stipend to support my income. With me, you’ll see a citizen who really wants to represent the citizens of Presque Isle. It’s time to bring trust and integrity to District 5,” Saucier said. Mike Willette said he’d be positive and wouldn’t attack. Willette said he’d “continue to do the work I’ve been doing the past four years for the citizens of Presque Isle. I’ve brought business to Presque Isle, lured a company here and they employ people. I got changes made at the airport, introduced a paramedicine program. He continued saying, “That’s what I do in Augusta, look for solutions to grow the pie.”
Levesque said he doesn’t consider himself a politician but rather a businessman “who’s had to make tough decisions.” He said he became involved in local politics several years ago, working to make improvements to Route 11 so the road could remain open year-round. “We came up with $16 million to rebuild Route 11. I worked to get the Industrial Park in Ashland created, which now is full.” Levesque said “We need more businesspeople in Augusta to take a commonsense look at issues and address them — promote funding for schools, issues for the poor. We need more facilities in Maine, both processing and manufacturing.” Sherman said he wanted to do this two more years and be done. “We finally got a governor who’s business friendly. Aroostook Partnership for Progress is bringing natural gas to northern Maine. We’re working cross-border with Quebec Hydro. We’re halfway there.”
