On Friday, August 13, gubernatorial candidates gathered at the Strand Theatre in Rockland for the first forum since the primaries. Candidates who attended include Senator Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell (D), Eliot Cutler (I), Shawn Moody (I) and Kevin Scott (I). Mayor Paul LePage (R) was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Don Carrigan of WCSH Channel 6 moderated the forum hosted by the Maine Islands Coalition and the Island Institute. Experts presented to the candidates on four topics including alternative energy, fisheries, affordable housing and education.
The candidates unanimously agreed with many of the expert’s viewpoints including the importance of alternative energy, the need to have a leading educational system, and the difficulties and importance of developing affordable housing on islands.
One new proposal was Cutler’s goal to expand the state’s control of the water out to 20 nautical miles in order to protect Maine’s fishing fleets from out of state competition.
At another point in during the forum, when asked specifically how they would cut the state budget, Cutler focused on mandatory state car inspections, claiming that there is no evidence that they save lives. “Most states have gotten rid of it, we haven’t but we will,” said Cutler. Moody, who owns a chain of collision repair centers in Southern Maine hotly refuted the proposal saying, “Somebody who has a rusty brake line because they haven’t had their car inspected-that’s very unsafe-it’s not a practical solution.”
After agreeing about the importance of alternative energy, Cutler lamented that LaPage was not in attendance to discuss his plan to drill for oil in the Gulf of Maine.
Scott repeatedly stressed the need for the state to innovate and consider alternatives to the status quo, criticizing “career politicians.” Mitchell, who is President of the State Senate and the first woman in America to serve both as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House took issue with the comment while expressing her commitment to public service.
As the only candidate with experience in state government, Mitchell focused on bipartisan decision-making. When questioned about government spending, Mitchell stressed the need for continued state investment and the difficult decisions required to cut the budget.
At the conclusion of the forum, Cutler closed with the statement: “Island communities, coastal communities on the coast of Maine, places where so many of us live, are the soul of this state. And beyond anything else that I’ve said today, beyond anything else that I do as governor; beyond jumpstarting the economy; beyond bringing investment into our state; beyond tearing down the “wall of no”; when I leave office after four years or eight years, I want my term to be measured more than anything by whether I have done enough to maintain, in tact, the islands and coastal communities of this state. I commit that to you.”
Questions that the candidates responded to include:
Do you believe it is the state government’s, meaning the taxpayer’s role, to provide some money to help towns with community wind?
Should the state continue and maybe even expand investments to promote offshore wind power? What about other alternative energy sources as well?
If you are elected governor, would you promote lobster processing in the State of Maine? Is that something that the state should be investing money in, whether it be building buildings and equipment or creating marketing organizations?
Would you expand state circuit breakers and other programs to help with tax relief for year round island residents?
What would you do as governor to help with the affordable housing problem particularly for the islands?
What are you going to look for in an education commissioner if you were elected governor?
To view the candidate’s responses, please watch the associated video.