The second 2008 candidate forum hosted by The Lincoln County News took place on Oct. 22, and the remaining candidates in the county appeared and voiced their views on the issues important to Mainers going to the polls on Tues., Nov. 4.
Once again moderated by LCN Editor Sherwood Olin, candidates in attendance included Les Fossel (R-Alna) and Tim Nason (D-Dresden) vying for Rep. Peter Rines’ House District 53 seats (Rines is leaving due to term limits), House District 50 incumbent Wendy Pieh (D-Bremen) and Henry Simmons (R-Nobleboro), and Lincoln County Commissioner for District 3 incumbent Sheridan Bond (R-Jefferson) and his opponent, un-enrolled candidate Josh Pinkham of Damariscotta.
Olin asked the candidates their opinion about consolidation, whether it be jail or school consolidation.
Josh Pinkham, sitting selectman for Damariscotta, believes he can also handle another elected position, and is, “all for regionalization, only if it works for all.” He called the consolidation of the state’s jails a “great idea.”
Responding, incumbent Sheridan Bond gave a history of his service to the county; having been on the “ground level” of planning Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
“It has come in as promised,” said Bond. He chairs the jail authority and said he is proud of the operation under his guidance, and hopes “it stays in the hands of the county, and not the state… We should be left alone.”
Bond pointed to the opportunities for revenues from housing federal prisoners. “They are a low risk population and they [the federal government] pay over $100 per prisoner, and the state will go to zero,” said Bond. “We have the room and bringing in income is the key component to reducing taxes.”
Candidate Simmons said he had heard nothing [about consolidation] “but opinion.” Simmons said consolidation as a concept that, “needs to be considered on a case-by-case. I just don’t see it; Damariscotta teachers make more than Jefferson teachers, and I wonder down the road, they say there will be savings. What about next year? There’s a repeal in the works.”
Incumbent Pieh called Gov. Baldacci, “the consolidation governor,” saying the governor continues to believe consolidation works. Regarding school consolidation, Pieh said, “it seems to work in urban settings, but is more problematic for rural communities.”
In terms of consolidation, Pieh “wonders what the governor will do next,” saying the concept has not proven to save money at all. “It’s frustrating trying to work with it [as a Legislator]. It is a top down approach.”
She called the governor’s plan a secret one until he laid it out in his inaugural speech, and built the school consolidation into the budget, bypassing committee and hearings.
“No, I don’t like consolidation,” said Pieh, who then stated, “but, we’re trying to make an opportunity out of a crisis.”
Fossel said consolidation takes the power further away from home rule; and was intended to save money, but he questions what exactly would be the savings when adding in overhead and education program costs.
“What is overhead? It is the state unfounded mandates that cause overhead,” Fossel said. He also said administrators don’t teach, they just fill out forms for the state. “Pieh is right,” he said.
Tim Nason believes the goal for jail and school consolidation was an effort to equalize cost savings and education throughout the state. “We haven’t seen it work for towns; wealthier towns have more programs and more teachers. I just don’t think overall it will work.” Nason said consolidation seems to be more about punishment, rather than cooperation between the schools and the state.
Olin easily segued into his next question, asking if the candidates would “stand up to the governor?”
Though not outright answering the question, Fossel praised the two public/private high schools in the area, Lincoln and Erskine Academies, and said, “They function with savings. Those schools are scared to death where they’ll go. We need stable funding.”
“Yes,” said Olin, “but specifically, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to have to vote “no” if they want to take schools away from communities,” Fossel said.
“The governor convinced enough Legislators to pass it,” Pieh said. She then praised Union 74 Superintendent Robert Bouchard for journeying consistently to Augusta to attend every rural caucus on the matter and slowly the numbers to that caucus began increasing, “until a majority [of Legislators] started attending,” Pieh said. “There are 64 different bills about consolidation. It has already changed; there are some communities that will become an Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS). We cannot be afraid to say it is not going to work. I’d rather spend my time working for something, rather than against something.”
If elected, Nason said he would build flexibility into the school consolidation plan and work with voters and the actual people affected by consolidation.
Switching the topic to state economic development, Pinkham was the first to respond and said as a Damariscotta Selectman, he works on land development issues, “taking a proactive approach.” He advocates seeking out new business, and encouraging local business expansion. “We need to find a niche in Lincoln County,” Pinkham said.
Olin asked if enticing “green” business was that niche?
“We [Damariscotta] are thinking of switching to geothermal for heat,” Pinkham said.
Bond praised and encouraged the economic development components and services already available in Lincoln County Planner Bob Faunce, and Amy Winston of the Economic Development office. “Prock Marine is putting a new wharf on Monhegan, and Amy helped get a $300,000 grant to fund it. Also, “green” is Amy’s pet project,” Bond said. Bond and Pieh spoke of the school program whereby small farms supply vegetables.
Simmons would like to see easing of regulations and taxes that are business prohibitive. “New businesses might have to wait years to get into the state because of regulations, and we have to streamline the process,” he said. “We need good paying jobs, and technical jobs.”
Pieh acknowledged Maine state has a tendency to over regulate, but did say a culinary school is being considered for the old AD Gray school in Waldoboro closed just months ago. About manufacturing she said, “We can’t compete with Asia, but we can invest in entrepreneurs and small outfits and businesses can be encouraged with low interest loans. Farming for the future is very important,” Pieh said.
Nason’s “top priority” is economic development. He has a two-page platform outlining his views for keeping young people in the state they love. He advocates affecting the education system to encourage students in courses of study that match the available jobs. “What jobs are available speaks to Maine’s future.”
Nason said there’s an opportunity for Maine to have a “green brand,” but he also advocated supporting tourism. “We have a beautiful seacoast; we need better hospitality workers.”
However, Nason was challenged when it was pointed out tourism and “hospitality” jobs are some of the lowest paying jobs currently in Maine, and generally lack benefits, and many times the industry is contingent on the national economy, fuel prices, or the weather.
Nason conceded the point, but said tourism business owners, “are doing well, and need to pay better.”
As a small business owner, Fossel lamented how difficult it is to supply benefits to employees, and he’s overwhelmed by worker’s compensation insurance costs, citing the disparity between Maine and New Hampshire in business friendliness.
“I can’t do both; fill out forms and run a business,” he said. “We will never retire; there will never be enough money to retire. I tell people to bring money here, because you won’t make it here. We have simultaneously, the highest per capita taxes and the lowest wages.”
The entire panel said growing business technology is also a key, with the state needing low cost, high speed DSL.
“Why should the voters vote for you?” asked Olin.
Nason asked for voter support, vowing to be a “listener and one who will seek out answers.” He’ll make the system accessible and receptive to voters because of his feeling of deep responsibility to his constituents.
Fossel is proud to have knocked on every single door in his district, and will “represent all the people” if elected. “I have the depth of experience to take on Augusta,” he said.
With all good humor, Pieh said, “Well, I’m different from my opponent, in that my signs do better in the rain than Henry’s.” Seriously, Pieh recounted her non-partisan record and said she, “loves the job and works hard on behalf of my constituents and all Mainers. I don’t quit,” she said.
“Why should they vote for me?” asked Simmons. “I have no idea, but I’ll bring an objective look to Augusta. We need to have a critical look at spending priorities and I’m willing to do that.”
Bond expounded his broad based experience, and dedication to the county through public office. He has served more than 35 years in town and county government, is a small business owner and Jefferson Fire Chief. “I want to continue to serve the public and hopefully the voters will choose to elect me for another term.”
Pinkham acknowledged and praised Bond’s dedication, but believes, “I have a new approach and new ideas of what to do for the county. I want to be a leader. Choose me.”
Voters head to the polls in their respective towns on Tues., Nov. 4.
