16.
Previous/current elected or
appointed governmental
positions.
Presque
Isle City Council (7 years) Twice Chair Northern
Maine Development Commission Board Maine
Municipal Executive Committee Presque Isle
Development Loan Committee
17.
Previous/current private-sector
experience.
Small
business owner of a cafe & a theater company
Executive Director in charge of economic
development Caribou Chamber of Commerce &
Industry Executive Director of Presque Isl'e
homeles shelter 1997 to 2000
18.
Reason for seeking office.
Help
local economic devlopment and to get Maine on
track for economic development and business
attraction. To help support the small businesses
Maine already has.
2.
Issue Questions
19.
What do you think is the ONE (1)
most important issue facing the
state of Maine?
Maine's
business environment must improve allowing good
jobs to be created and allow small businesses to
grow and prosper.
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?
Maine
must create a pro-business environment
addressing taxes, worker's comp, unemployment
and health care to allow our businesses to
create new jobs and attract new business and
entrepreneurs.
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 75% of
shortfall by cutting programs &
services and 25% by raising taxes &
fees
22.
If the state of Maine has a
budget surplus, what would be
your top two priorities? (select
two)
Paying off the
state debt
Cutting taxes
23.
For every $100 of sales, about
how much profit do you think the
average Maine business makes?
$5-10
24.
Do you think the current level
of taxes paid by Maine citizens
is :
Income Taxes - Too
high
Property Taxes - Much
too high
Sales Taxes - About
right
Excise Taxes - Too
high
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?
Strongly 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?
Disagree
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
Empty
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?
