BA
in government at Colby College, Masters in
Business Administration from University of Maine
16.
Previous/current elected or
appointed governmental
positions.
None
17.
Previous/current private-sector
experience.
Radio
station manager and announcer - 31 years. Board
member: Brewer Economic Development Corporation
7 years. Board member: Maine Association of
Broadcasters: 6 years (President: 1 year.) Many
others...
18.
Reason for seeking office.
I
have the time, the experience, the education,
and thus: the obligation.
2.
Issue Questions
19.
What do you think is the ONE (1)
most important issue facing the
state of Maine?
Taxation:
Too much; too regressive.
20.
The 2000 Federal Census shows
that 22 % of Maine’s youth
between the ages of 20-34 have
left the state since 1990 to
seek opportunity elsewhere. The
national average out-migration
for this age group is only 5%.
If elected, what do you think
state government can do to help
keep our youth and prime
workforce here in Maine?
The
question is slightly misguided. Youth have
always outmigrated. Joshua Chamberlain
complained about it. The problem is: no other
state's youth are outmigrating to Maine to make
up for it. We lack jobs that promise reasonable
pay and advancement. I don't believe state
government can do much to keep our native youth
and prime workforce. It can only recognize and
support the need to support business and job
creation. It also needs to recognize that
"quality of life" is equally important
to "career development" as a job force
marketing tool...and requires environmental
awareness and a recognition that jobs,
development, and the environment go
hand-in-hand.
21.
The constitution of Maine
requires a balanced budget. If
the state faces a budget
shortfall, what do you think the
Legislature should do?
Obtain 100% of
shortfall by cutting programs/services
22.
If the state of Maine has a
budget surplus, what would be
your top two priorities? (select
two)
Setting aside
in "rainy day" fund for future
budget crisis
Cutting taxes
23.
For every $100 of sales, about
how much profit do you think the
average Maine business makes?
$1-5
24.
Do you think the current level
of taxes paid by Maine citizens
is :
Income Taxes - Too
high
Property Taxes - Too
high
Sales Taxes - About
right
Excise Taxes - About
right
25.
Maine’s top corporate income
tax is 8.93%, one of the highest
in the county. A report released
by the research firm Ernst &
Young in January 2004 ranks
Maine as having the highest
State and Local business taxes
per dollar of capital income
(tax burden) in the country at
24.4%. Do you favor reducing the
tax burden on Maine employers?
Favor
26.
In the past, Maine unemployment
compensation tax rates have led
to deficits in the unemployment
compensation trust fund. In
light of deficits, would you
support raising the unemployment
compensation tax on employers?
Oppose
27.
In 1993 the legislature reformed
Maine’s workers’
compensation system. Since that
time those reforms have resulted
in more than a 43% reduction in
workers’ compensation loss
cost rate for Maine employers.
Yet Maine is still ranked as
having the 46th highest
workers’ compensation costs in
the country. Do you believe
Maine must reduce workers’
compensation costs further so
that Maine moves closer to the
national median for these costs?
Agree
28.
Do you favor legislation that
requires companies to give
part-time and temporary
employees all the same benefits
(including health benefits,
vacation, sick time, etc.)
received by regular, full-time
employees?
Oppose
29.
If you favor legislation that
requires companies to give
part-time and temporary
employees the same benefits as
full-time employees, how would
you fund such a mandate
I
don't favor it. I would rather decouple many of
these so-called benefits from full-time
employment altogether. This system burdens small
businessand creates unfair competition to Maine
businesses.
30.
If the Legislature requires
companies to give part-time and
temporary employees the same
benefits as full-time employees,
what do you think the impact on
Maine businesses would be?
Severe
31.
Do you support changes in the
state minimum wage above the
median for all states?
Oppose
32.
Do you support indexing the
state minimum wage to the
Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
Oppose
33.
Do you support privatizing
public services wherever a
cost-benefit analysis indicates
savings for Maine tax-payers
while maintaining or improving
service delivery?
