16.
Previous/current elected or
appointed governmental
positions.
None
17.
Previous/current private-sector
experience.
Board
Member United Parish Church Secretary 4-H
Leaders Association Boy Scout Committee member
Troop 194, Advancement Co-ordinator Troop 194
Court Appointed Financial Conservator
18.
Reason for seeking office.
I
have two reasons both being equal in importance.
I feel that our state has been in a spend mode
for too long and there is a need for our
legislature to limit it's spending as well as to
encourage new and strong businesses. There is a
need for affordable health care and this is an
issue that has been brought up by many that I
have spoken to during the campaign process. I
believe that I can bring the voice of the people
of Aroostook County to Augusta.
2.
Issue Questions
19.
What do you think is the ONE (1)
most important issue facing the
state of Maine?
A
balanced budget.
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?
Our
youth are leaving to find employment that will
pay them a wage they can live on. We need to
encourage new businesses to come to the state of
Maine that offer jobs with something more than
minimum wage pay.
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 50 % of
shortfall by cutting programs &
services and 50% 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?
$25-50
24.
Do you think the current level
of taxes paid by Maine citizens
is :
Income Taxes - About
right
Property Taxes - 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?
Oppose
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?
Favor
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?
Favor
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
The
state would not fund such a mandate. It would be
funded the same way that present benefits are
funded from an employer, with partial payment
being made by the employer and partial payment
being made by the employee.
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?
Moderate
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?
