The primary election in Maine, set for Tuesday, June 8, is generating interest with a host of candidates vying to replace Governor John Baldacci, but some local seats for the House of Representatives and district attorney are also being contested. Profiles of the candidates follow.

GOVERNOR

Along with seven Republicans and four Democrats that voters will decide among in the primary election, a number of independents will also appear on the November ballot, with three C Eliot Cutler of Cape Elizabeth, Shawn Moody of Gorham and Kevin Scott of Andover C having qualified so far. Democratic candidate John Richardson will be listed on the primary ballot but has withdrawn from the race. Information about the Republican and Democratic candidates' positions on the economy, energy and education was obtained from their websites.

Steven Abbott

Republican candidate Steven Abbott of Portland is the former chief of staff for Senator Susan Collins. Concerning economic development, he states, "Government does not create jobs; businesses do. When government creates a tax and regulatory environment where businesses can flourish, it improves the lives of every Maine family. As governor, my first priority will be that Maine is a business-friendly state, not a hostile one."

He believes that the size of state government should be reduced by moving administrative functions and other jobs to the private sector, as much as possible. He also advocates for accountability in government. "We shouldn't be giving across-the-board increases or making across-the-board cuts. We should audit all our state government spending and use that audit to set benchmarks to evaluate government programs. Good programs get supported, failing programs get restructured or eliminated." He believes that Dirigo Health is one such program that should be eliminated, since it's too expensive. "We need to find better ways to make health insurance affordable for Maine families."

He favors solar, wind, tidal and nuclear power development and also supports the LNG proposals.

William Beardsley

Republican candidate William Beardsley of Ellsworth is the former president of Husson University. To strengthen the economy, he is advocating for a reduction in "the size of the state government's footprint in Mainer's personal lives;" legislation to reduce "the delegation of excessive policy development and interpretation to appointed state employees;" and consolidation of the state's public financing authorities and of essential state planning and economic development activities into the governor's office. He favors reducing government barriers to private sector innovation and investment. He would work for a gradual, multi-year initiative to lower the overall state tax rates below the national average.

Beardsley would shift the emphasis in education away from complex standards and assessment to simplified standards that provide more time for teachers to teach students. He says school consolidation should be modified to address the unique relationship between rural communities and their elementary schools. He supports the development of charter schools and parental choice in education.

He believes the state should become a dominant energy producer. He states, "All options, from Maine's indigenous renewable energy sources to nuclear and offshore oil exploration to imported fossil fuel, LNG and Canadian hydro, should be on Maine's energy table."

Matthew Jacobson

Republican candidate Matthew Jacobson of Cumberland is president of Maine & Company, an organization dedicated to business attraction and job creation in the state. To attract new jobs, he would seek to eliminate the state's corporate income tax, streamline state permitting and regulatory approval process and create a fund for grants or loans to attract new companies. He would seek to increase the availability of tax credits for business investment; eliminate the state's estate tax; create business incubators at the University of Maine; and recruit cruise ship lines to dock in Maine. He favors negotiating an agreement to have a new electric line built to bring power from Canada, to lower electricity costs, and streamlining the regulatory process for LNG and offshore wind projects, which he says "must not languish in regulatory purgatory."

He proposes to "radically restructure how education is organized and delivered." He proposes to pay top dollar for excellence in educators and to hold them to high standards for performance. Other details of his plan are not outlined.

Concerning energy, he states that Maine should work to develop materials and building methods to make structures more energy efficient. He would support private and public efforts for research and development of alternative energy sources, including tidal and wind.

Paul LePage

Republican candidate Paul LePage is a former mayor of Waterville. He emphasizes fiscal responsibility by state government and reform of general assistance, government regulations and taxes. As governor, he would seek to emulate Waterville's success in lowering property taxes while he was mayor by lowering the tax burden on all Maine citizens.

LePage would support the following initiatives: working with universities and economic development groups to establish incubators for new start-up businesses, using the skills learned by new graduates; developing the creative economy into incubator business campuses; creating a world-class virtual medical school; investing in science and technology to attract sustainable jobs; reforming the state tax and regulatory codes; investing in the state's public transportation infrastructure; improving education standards to have students ready for the workforce; creating revolving low-interest loan opportunities for innovative start-up businesses; becoming the "food basket" for the northeastern U.S. by investing in agriculture infrastructure.

Concerning education, he states, "We need to eliminate teaching to national assessments and allow teachers to create a learning environment that challenges all of out students to excel to their own diverse strengths rather than a standard of mediocrity." He favors lengthening the school year and lowering the average class size.

Patrick McGowan

Democratic candidate Patrick McGowan of Hallowell is a former state representative and state conservation commissioner and previously ran for Congress in the state's 2nd District. For economic development, he would seek to expand research, development and commercialization of wood composites and wood byproducts; promote sustainable farming, fishing and aquaculture; provide small businesses with increased access to affordable capital; streamline government agencies and reduce Maine's tax burden; make higher education and workforce development a budgetary priority again; and make the state a leader and innovator in the green economy.

Concerning education, McGowan would bring together stakeholders to help the state effectively compete for Race to the Top funding and implement the Classrooms Without Wall initiative. He would aim to build more flexibility into the school consolidation process and find greater cost efficiencies through collaboration between schools, districts and policymakers. Student assessment data should be used "to improve student performance and inform educational innovation, not punish educators."

He would seek to implement the Great Maine Forest Initiative to encourage clean energy production that makes use of the state's forest products industry. Along with biomass, he would promote land-based and ocean-based wind power and continued research into tidal power.

Peter Mills

Republican candidate Peter Mills of Cornville is a state senator and runs a law firm in Skowhegan. His plan to rebuild Maine includes four points. One would be to hold government accountable by not increasing the public debt; to measure performance for human services and to pay for value rather and volume; to trim duplicate services in public works, police and fire protection; and to renovate retirement plans to give new hires portable pensions to supplement Social Security with defined benefits. Secondly, he would move education forward by raising school results through better assessments, more incentives for teachers for producing results and timely remediation for schools. He would also seek to cut school overhead through voluntary consolidations, with the state providing incentives.

Mills' third point would seek to let business grow by rebuilding the state's highway, bridge and broadband infrastructure and by provide capital for the state's entrepreneurs. "By controlling taxes and reducing regulation, we can better support Maine's traditional sources of economic strength: agriculture, fishing, tourism, forest products, manufacturing and guided sports."

To reduce electricity costs, the state should take better advantage of its natural resources and its closeness to Canada's cheap power. Finally, Mills would seek to control healthcare costs by reviving the competitive insurance market and extending public health care.

Elizabeth Mitchell

Democratic candidate Elizabeth Mitchell of Vassalboro is the president of the Maine Senate and a former Speaker of the House. She says she would work with workforce investment boards, industry and educational institutions to ensure that programs, retraining funds and educational opportunities "are not only meeting the needs of workers but of the industries that are looking for high-skilled workers." She believes the state needs to connect its educational and economic development systems into one that works for both people and the companies that employ them.

Mitchell says that, along with basics taught in schools, students should be learning about entrepreneurship and the skills it takes to run a business. She also believes that the state needs to create a lifelong learning culture and ramp up the number of people getting a post-secondary education.

She says she would make reducing the state's dependence on foreign oil the centerpiece of her economic strategy, focusing on expanding renewable power and energy efficiency. "Our energy needs are both our biggest threat and our biggest opportunity. Wind power is an important part of the equation, but there are other essential elements as well: energy efficiency, biofuels, solar and tidal/hydro."

Leslie Otten

Republican candidate Les Otten of Greenwood turned Sunday River into a successful ski resort and recently started Maine Energy Systems to support a transition to the use of renewable energy for homes and businesses. To create jobs in the state he advocates for: reducing the state's income, capital gains and inheritance taxes; changing the insurance laws to increase carrier choices and reduce costs through increased competition; and cutting government spending and bureaucratic regulations. He says that legislators and bureaucrats in Augusta "don't understand how their spending, taxes and over-regulation are killing our jobs and polluting our business climate and making it impossible for many to live here."

Concerning education, he says the state must reduce the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate. "Our schools must produce young people who are competitive in the global marketplace." He adds, "Our schools must prepare our kids for the jobs of the future."

He believes the state needs to adopt a comprehensive energy plan that includes commercially sustainable renewable energy technologies. Government should provide incentives for people to use alternative fuels. "Government needs to stimulate consumers via private enterprise so that consumers can make the choice of alternative energy options such as wind, solar, geothermal and thermal biomass energy sources."

Bruce Poliquin

Republican candidate Bruce Poliquin of Georgetown has started or managed a number of businesses, with one of his recent businesses being an environmentally-sensitive housing development. To create jobs, he believes that developing "new opportunities around the wind power, cruise ship or wood pellet industries should be part of the mix. However, we shouldn't be fooled by the next big idea on which we can spend a lot of valuable time and money. Maine will attract long-term investments and good jobs only when it addresses the root causes of why we cannot compete with other states. We must permanently reduce the cost and complexity of doing business in Maine to ensure our long-term prosperity." He states that "the root of Maine's fiscal mess is years of mismanagement by Augusta. To attract businesses and jobs we must tax less, spend wisely, simplify regulations, lower energy and healthcare costs, complete our infrastructure and improve education."

Concerning education, he would seek to make education an economic development priority; reduce administrative costs and redirect the savings into classrooms; and institute innovative learning reforms without additional spending.

Poliquin's platform calls for upgrading the electric power grid; exploring ways to import cheap, renewable power from Canada; and aggressively supporting development of alternative energy sources.

Steven Rowe

Democratic candidate Steven Rowe of Portland is a former Speaker of the House and Maine attorney general who is now working for a private law firm. He states, "Maine's top economic development priority must be to boost the education and skill levels of our workforce and to ensure that the skills taught and learned are aligned with the needs of industries with the highest growth potential." He also favors increase the state's investment in research and development in promising industries, "from aquaculture to sustainable forestry to clean energy, as well as composites and precision manufacturing. Additionally, to increase the competitiveness of Maine businesses, we must drive down the costs of health care and energy."

Concerning education, he would encourage technological and academic innovation in the classroom and professional development. He adds, "Quality early care and education are one of the best economic investments we can make."

Rowe believes that it's critical that Maine become a leader in energy independence and create jobs in the emerging clean energy sector, other sustainable natural resource industry sectors and nature-based tourism. Greater commitment to weatherization should also be made.

Rosa Scarcelli

Democratic candidate Rosa Scarcelli of Portland built a successful affordable housing company and is a business and community leader. Her plan to create 50,000 jobs in Maine includes: creating a centralized business development office; establishing "an asset-based investment plan that fosters innovation and growth around Maine's traditional areas of strength"; reducing the costs of energy; reforming state government to measure performance and reward efficiency; investing in highway repairs and eliminating barriers to broadband and cell phone access; bringing back the family farm; and invest at least $1 billion in R&D within two years.

For energy, she would focus on energy conservation; improve efficiency in the power grid; work to make the state a world leader of onshore and offshore wind; promote alternative energy resources, including wind, tidal, solar and hydro.

Scarcelli proposes efficiency in education by bringing student-teacher ratios in line with national averages; shifting away from the punitive and unevenly applied approach to school consolidation; and freezing the hiring of new teachers and school administrators. She favors charter school legislation to help Maine qualify for federal Race to the Top funding, a free statewide pre-kindergarten grade, a longer school year and the use of technology such as virtual textbooks.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In the First Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Michael Michaud, the Democratic candidate, is running against Republican Jason Levesque of Auburn.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 29

Republican incumbent Kevin Raye of Perry and Democrat Patricia Sharp of Milbridge are running for the District 29 seat. Senate and House candidates were asked about economic development, school funding and energy initiatives.

Kevin Raye

Kevin Raye is seeking his fourth term in Maine Senate. He is co-owner/operator of Raye's Mustard Mill and former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. He is seeking re-election to help change the direction of state government in order to create a better environment for job creation and expanded opportunity for Maine people.

Concerning economic development, he says, "I have been at the forefront of an array of economic development efforts, including tidal power, ocean and land-based wind, LNG, tribal gaming, tourism, extending rail to Perry, and successfully securing funds for a bulk conveyor system to expand the Port of Eastport. I have worked to preserve existing fisheries and forestry-related jobs, and to improve Maine's business climate to encourage job creation. I have also worked to improve our roads, including routes 1 and 189, because good roads are crucial to commerce and economic development."

Raye says he was one of just 10 senators to vote against the law that established "the flawed and anti-rural" Essential Programs and Services (EPS) school funding formula. "This misguided formula has resulted in a shift of funding away from poor rural areas to affluent populous areas C a reverse Robin Hood scenario. In combination with a heavy-handed top-down school consolidation law, I believe this formula was designed to force the closure of rural schools. I support its repeal and replacement with a fair and equitable formula that recognizes the value of rural schools and restores the state's former commitment to ensuring an equal education for all Maine students."

Raye was an early and strong supporter of Ocean Renewable Power Company's (ORPC) tidal power project at Eastport and has worked to promote both land and ocean-based wind power. "I also support the LNG facilities proposed at Calais and Robbinston. The energy sector holds significant job-creation potential for Washington County."

Patricia Sharp

Democratic candidate Patricia Sharp is expected to make an announcement about the District 29 position after the primary election.

MAINE HOUSE DISTRICT 30

Republican incumbent Howard McFadden of Dennysville and Democrat Jim Alciere of East Machias are running for the House District 30 seat.

Jim Alciere

Jim Alciere believes that economic development must be twofold. "First lower the cost of living here, specifically heating costs, electrical costs and medical costs. Second, make it easier for business people to work in Washington County by educating the workforce, and expanding broad band and telecommunication services."

He believes that rising health insurance premiums have kept industries from investing in the county and kept wages stagnant. "People caring for family and loved ones do so without the support of the state, making it difficult or impossible for them to work."

Concerning heating costs, he advocates using grants from the federal economic stimulus fund and making sure people get furnace upgrades, insulated windows and storm doors. "Oil is expensive. Alternatives need to be explored."

As for electrical costs, he says alternative energy is important, but not sufficient in itself. "Conservation has its part. Energy Star ratings for electrical appliances need more stringent regulations to better reflect actual savings." He also believes that the energy grid must be modernized and computerized.

Concerning economic development, he says, "If the tribes want a casino, it's their decision."

To help educate the workforce, he favors having a program similar to the Peace Corps where students get free admission to Washington County Community College or the University of Maine at Machias if they invest three years in the community.

As for education funding, he says, "Advocate for local schools at the state level: school funding formulas that work for Bar Harbor and Blue Hill don't work for Jonesport. If students don't get the basics early on, further success is more difficult." He adds, "Expand ITV courses and have more courses available in the evening so working people can continue their education."

Alciere also favors expanding broadband service to every community in the county and continue to make it accessible for free at local libraries and schools.

Howard McFadden

Howard McFadden is a retired educator and was principal of Edmunds Consolidated School for 31 years. He is a member of Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, Lubec Lions Club, Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church and Dennysville School Committee. McFadden says, "I am running and hope to be re-elected so that the people of Washington County will continue to have a strong voice in the Maine Legislature. I, as a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, will continue to work for equitable funding for Washington County schools."

Concerning economic initiatives, McFadden is in favor of and would work for the establishment of a casino, LNG projects, and hydro and wind power for Washington County and the re-establishment of rail service to enhance the port of Eastport.

Concerning school funding, he says, "I have already been working to make the EPS funding formula more equitable statewide. EPS is an urban formula for a rural state, and it doesn't work for Maine.  The pieces of the formula which need to be fixed are the labor market, pupil/teacher ratio, property valuation, ability to pay, and distribution of funds."

For energy initiatives, he favors wind power, hydro power and LNG for Washington County.

HOUSE DISTRICT 31

Three candidates are running for the House District 31 seat that has been held by Anne Perry of Calais, who cannot seek reelection because of term limits. They are Republicans C. Dean Ingham of Robbinston and Joyce Maker of Calais and Democrat Jeanne Guisinger of Perry.

Jeanne Guisinger

Jeanne Guisinger works as a program coordinator for international Elderhostel, which will bring 10-13 programs into the bay region this year. She is a former selectwoman for the Town of Perry. "I am running for office to talk about education, sustainable economic development, and harnessing the incredible strength of Washington County."

"To attract businesses to Washington County, we must expand our current technological infrastructure. We cannot participate in the global economy without being connected to it. We must also be a part of the race for clean energy C we have wind and we have tides, both of which can and should be utilized. Ensuring equal access to health care and education will also make us strong in any global economy and gives an enormous boost to small businesses, the backbone of Maine's economy. I would look to tribal leaders and follow their lead in matters of a tribal casino." On the question of LNG, she says that with domestic natural gas supplies at an all-time high and, with the economics of these ventures at risk, "it would seem that we would do better directing resources and time to efforts that would build on our local strengths. Our quality of place is of utmost importance. It is our most saleable commodity, and economic development should be geared to fit here."

Guisinger says the importance of railroads cannot be emphasized enough when addressing economic development.

Concerning school funding, she says, "The current assault on Maine's rural schools is unacceptable. I would raise the sales tax by 1% to bring state school funding back to a more acceptable level of support. This was proposed by the legislature but failed to gain initiative. We can't expound the importance of education on one hand and fail to support it on the other."

C. Dean Ingham

C. Dean Ingham is a 64-year-old private contractor whose specialty is stonemasonry. He served as Robbinston's constable in the early 1980s, and his duties included code enforcement, animal control and planning board activities. "I'm running because it's time the blue-collar workers of Washington County had a voice in Augusta. I'm not a professional politician, and I know what it's like to survive here on a low income. We need someone who's in touch with the people and willing to stand up for them."

Ingham says, "We need real jobs brought back, such as small manufacturing, family farms and finished wood products. The rest of the state doesn't want us to have a casino C too much Canadian money would stay here instead of heading to Bangor C but we should keep fighting for one. We should have a railroad connecting Eastport and Calais to the rest of the state again, but since they've scrapped most of the rails that would now be expensive."

Ingham states, "Education funding comprises about 40% of the state budget. We need real solutions to reduce overhead, not phony mandates like school district consolidation, which did nothing but steal our local control."

Concerning energy initiatives, he says, "We need LNG here, both in Calais and Robbinston. Access to this fuel would attract clean, modern manufacturing, including glass-works, ceramics and brick-making. An LNG power plant could also help lower our electricity costs. Of course, anything we do would require thorough regulatory oversight. This state has been overregulated into the poorhouse, and that has to change, as well."

Joyce Maker

Joyce Maker worked at Washington County Community College for 36 years, retiring as financial aid director in 2008. She is currently serving third term on Calais City Council and on executive committee of Maine Municipal Association. She served 12 years on the Calais and Union 106 school board and served 9 years on board of Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).

Concerning economic development, Maker says, "I would work to pursue any possibilities of furthering development in Washington County. I would like to see both LNG and the rail move forward. I also have been a long-time supporter of the effort to build a tribal casino or racino. In order to stimulate economic development and job creation, we need to cut taxes and streamline the state budget to cut the cost of government. Private investment is the best way to create jobs and prosperity. We can help encourage that by reducing the regulatory burden on Maine's small businesses and make Maine more prosperous by placing a value on attracting new businesses and encouraging the ones that already here.

As for school funding, Maker says she would join the county delegation and the rural caucus by adding her voice, and her vote, in support "of changing the unfair EPS school funding formula that currently discriminates against rural Maine. The inequities of the formula are dreadful because it wasn't designed to fit for rural areas, and it assumes that one-size-fits-all. It doesn't consider the value of small schools in our communities, nor does it take into consideration advance placement classes."

Concerning energy initiatives, she says, "I favor tidal power, land and offshore wind power, solar, liquid natural gas and any other alternative energy source that would start us down the road from reliance on oil."

HOUSE DISTRICT 32

Republican incumbent David Burns of Whiting and Democrat Katherine Cassidy of Machias are running for the House District 32 seat.

David Burns

David Burns is retired from the State Police, director of Rapid Response Program for Children and a private investigator. Having lived and worked in Washington County most of his life, he says his experience and understanding of the issues, strengths and needs of county uniquely help him to work for the people who live here. "Good jobs, strong education for children, government that supports small business and economic development are necessities." He adds that lower tax burdens on individuals and families and a welfare system that transitions people into the work force and does not penalize them are needed. "There is no substitution for experience and education when facing tough problems. Keeping our environment clean is a priority."

Burns says he would continue working for offshore wind energy, LNG projects and a rail head for Port of Eastport. He supported the Domtar mill to bring it back on line and supports "tidal energy, offshore wind energy tidal power with ORPC, rockweed harvesting, aquaculture, lobstering, shellfish harvesting." He says there's a need for more seafood processing, which would support the marine industry. He favors pursuing businesses to occupy space in many of the towns. "Casinos are not economic development," he says, adding, "I will work with the Passamaquoddy Tribe in all of their endeavors for economic development."

Concerning school funding, Burns says that legislation is needed to change the unfair and inequitable Essential Programs and Services funding formula that has devastated much of rural Maine. He supports legislation to allow charter schools and other innovative educational programs. He says the state must pursue the Race to the Top funds. "The state must provide incentives for further collaboration and sharing of resources by school units," he says, adding that many options should be pursued "without relinquishing local governance."

Katherine Cassidy

Katherine Cassidy is a board member of the Machias School Committee, the Down East Sunrise Trail, the Eastport Arts Center and the Cobscook Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. She is active with the Machias Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Washington County Food and Fuel Alliance.

Cassidy says, "I believe in Washington County, its residents and its resources. I will work as hard in Augusta as all of you work every day in Washington County. I will make sure that our voices from the Washington County coast are heard and respected in Augusta."

Concerning economic development, she says, "By nurturing our micro-businesses, supporting our established businesses and attracting and identifying new and innovative workplaces, we can create solid opportunities for our young people. I would support measures to reduce the tax burden on citizens and employers by seeking government efficiencies and private/public partnerships."

Cassidy says she looks forward to the commissioner of education's report to the legislature, due in January 2011, that will review and hopefully revamp the state's current Essential Programs and Services formula. "We must fight for fairer funding that does not decimate our school budgets in Lubec and Eastport. Investments for our K-12 system, as well as for Washington County Community College and the University of Maine at Machias, are the foundations upon which to build a healthy Washington County economy."

Cassidy believes that smart energy policies for Maine can promote renewable energy and create green economy jobs. "I oppose any LNG projects that would harm our treasured Passamaquoddy Bay and dismantle the fishing and tourism-related jobs that the bay already provides for Washington County families."

MAINE HOUSE DISTRICT 33

Republican incumbent Dianne Tilton of Harrington and Democrat Larry Finnegan of Jonesport are running for the House District 33 seat.

Larry Finnegan

Larry Finnegan has worked for the U.S. Bureau of the Census as a computer analyst, geographer and most recently as a local enumerator. He also ran a successful landscaping and nursery business for 10 years. He believes that the lobster industry needs to be supported more aggressively with improvements in marketing and processing opportunities, which will result in higher prices to the fishermen. "We need to develop a more business friendly climate with a focus on lowering taxes and providing tax breaks for new businesses. We should develop a Maine's Finest program, highlighting Maine and locally grown foods, goods and services to develop and support existing businesses as well as encourage new small businesses."

Concerning school funding, he says, "We need to ensure adequate funding for schools in our communities, to ensure that our children have the best possible foundation to grow and succeed. We can do this through increasing efficiency across state government to ensure that we have adequate funding for our schools. In addition, my focus on economic development and job growth will also help to ensure we have the state revenue base to adequately fund our schools. As I representative, I will also work hard to ensure that rural school districts are fairly funded in relation to the rest of the state."

Finnegan supports development of wind power with the approval of voters in the area affected and supports development of offshore wind, with the cooperation of the fishing industry. He also supports the development of the power corridor from Canada to southern New England so long as it brings jobs and cheaper, cleaner power to Downeast Maine. "We also need to do more to support energy conservation in our homes and buildings and to support local energy sources such as pellets, wood, wind, and solar for homes and businesses."

Dianne Tilton

Dianne Tilton has served one term in the Maine House and previously was the executive director of Sunrise County Economic Council. Concerning economic development, she says, "The nearest term opportunity we have are the two proposed LNG terminals. These developments take advantage of our natural attributes, our proximity to the existing gas pipeline, and a qualified and underemployed workforce. These facilities will provide investment, jobs and needed property tax revenue. We lead the state in our degree of specialization in micro businesses, and small manufacturing facilities with high end specialty markets continue to be an opportunity for export revenue, and we should find a way to grow that sector. The state needs to be more proactive in helping the Domtar mill remain competitive and expand production and helping the Port of Eastport attract shippers and new investment. In my district, the state must reclaim its sovereignty of state waters to enable lobster fishing to continue to thrive and continue to explore ways to increase value added processing of lobster and other seafood in the region.

As for school funding, she notes that a study of the EPS funding formula, due in January 2011, "will hopefully provide a foundation for some meaningful changes to the EPS funding formula, in a way that recognizes that property value does not measure a town's ability to pay."

For energy initiatives, she says, "A major strategy to reach the goal of energy independence is to make electricity from renewables and other generation more affordable, so people can switch to electric heat and automobiles. There are other more practical ways to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, such as using wood pellets for heat. Whether it's contributing clean power to the regional grid through wind and tidal energy, or producing wood pellets and other biomass fuels, Washington County is uniquely positioned to play a major role in the production of alternative power."

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Three candidates are running for the position of district attorney for Washington and Hancock counties, which has been held by Michael Povich, who is not seeking reelection. They are Democrat Carletta Bassano of Ellsworth and Republicans Donald Brown of Bucksport and Matthew Foster of Ellsworth.

Carletta Bassano

Carletta Bassano has been in private practice in Machias and has 20 years of experience as assistant and deputy district attorney in Washington and Hancock counties. Her priorities in prosecuting criminal cases would be cases involving violence and felony charges, particularly crimes of domestic violence and elder abuse. "Crimes against children would remain a priority. The DA's office would continue to treat arsons, sex crimes, vehicular homicides, burglaries, financial crimes and OUIs seriously. As DA, I'd make resources available to support enforcement in areas of inland fisheries, marine resources and forest service."

She says the DA's office under her leadership would recognize the importance of education in the fight against drugs. "The first response to reduce drug addiction is to prevent drug addiction. Working with parents, families, in the homes, churches and schools in our counties to prevent the spread of addiction is a priority. I believe it's important in the administration of justice to start with treatment alternatives when an addict commits crime. It costs over $30,000 to house a prisoner annually. If education and treatment don't work to keep that addict from crime, prison is necessary to protect the public. If education and treatment do work, drug addiction has been reduced."

Concerning other solutions to reduce the level of crime, she says, "There are limited resources to combat serious crimes. I've prosecuted many complicated felony cases that have ended with guilty verdicts. I'll bring trial skills to the office that will benefit officers in their investigations and prosecutors in achieving the right results. I'll vigorously prosecute all cases to deter new criminal episodes."

Don Brown

Don Brown was born and raised in Washington County. Before attending law school in Rhode Island, he graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and worked as a police officer. He says, "I care about the people of Downeast Maine. I can make a difference. I can make a difference to the victims of crimes, to the taxpayers paying for the criminal justice system, and in some cases, to the people charged with criminal acts, simply by prosecuting crimes aggressively, equally and fairly."

His priorities as district attorney would be "to protect the most vulnerable in our communities, the elderly and children."

He would also develop a strategy for investigating and prosecuting serious drug crimes. The strategy would a include a request for agencies like law enforcement, schools, medical facilities and others to become actively involved in a Downeast team effort understand and combat drug crimes. He would also give consideration to the high cost of incarceration and work, in collaboration with the sheriff and others, to seek alternatives which may be less costly.

As district attorney, he would "intervene with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system to identify and solve problems before they grow out of hand. That intervention should involve not just the offender, but also the family, along with the community, treatment providers, schools, churches and other resources that can help put our at risk youth back on track."

Concerning other solutions to reduce crime, he says, "Educating our students and citizens about the dangers of drug use can reduce crime. Asking medical experts in our communities to help with that education can be very effective. Employing aggressive, fair and effective prosecutors who prosecute cases showing results can reduce crime."

Matthew Foster

Matthew Foster runs a law office in Ellsworth that focuses on criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. He is running for district attorney because he wants to continue to serve the public as he did in the past as an enlisted Army soldier, as an Ellsworth city councillor and as the tax collector for Bar Harbor. "There needs to be a change because the current system just isn't working," he says.

Concerning his priorities in prosecuting criminal cases, he says, "Drug prosecutions would be at the top of the list. Cases involving domestic violence and other violent crimes would also be high priority."

As for what actions the DA's office should take to reduce drug addiction, he says, "Putting someone with a drug addiction who commits a crime in jail or fining them is only addressing the symptoms of the problem. The district attorney needs to utilize creative sentencing alternatives that encourage criminals to get treatment for drug addiction and which not only punish but give people hope that they can change and be useful members of society."

Concerning other solutions to reduce the level of crime, he says, "I believe that encouraging the police to focus their efforts in areas that will have the biggest impact on crime will play a major role in the reduction of crime. Although underage drinking is an issue and a significant problem in our counties, utilizing police resources for things like an underage drinking task force seems wasteful when there are people committing violent crimes, trafficking drugs and burglarizing our homes, who should be the priority for any police task force. There just needs to be a better focus of our limited resources to where the problems are the worst to get the best results for our time, energy and money."

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF

Incumbent Sheriff Donnie Smith of Lubec is an independent and will appear on the November ballot, but not the primary ballot. He is being opposed by Republican Dale Earle of Calais,

Dale Earle

Dale Earle previously has worked as a fire safety officer with the Calais Fire Department, a patrolman in Eastport, a state trooper and as a lieutenant with the Washington County Sheriff's Department. He says, "I pledge to protect and serve without selective enforcement. I will strive to work criminal cases to a satisfactory end if at all possible. There will be face-to-face contact with complainants. Evidence will be processed properly. All leads will be followed up with diligence. If manpower is a problem, I will personally handle complaints as needed."

Earle says, "People should be confident that when they call the sheriff's department that their complaint will be handled in a professional and prompt manner. People should get the feeling that when they call someone will be there to hear and respond to their problems. All citizens, let alone our elderly citizens, should not be afraid to leave or return to their homes."

He believes that is the duty of the sheriff's department to handle criminal complaints and civil process. "I do not feel that it is a priority to be out there running radar and working traffic." He says he would like to see more involvement with young people's lives. He says illegal drugs are a major problem and are the root of a large majority of thefts and burglaries. "This area too can be worked on with more diligence."

Concerning funding, Earle states, "I have looked at the budget for the patrol division. It has gone up over 42% in the last three years. But coverage and the level of protection has not increased. I feel that there are several areas that can be improved upon. One of the main objectives is to reinstate the part-time patrol deputies. They were the backbone of the sheriff's department. They lived in the communities and were the source of information to solve crime."