Letters to the Editor

 

To the Citizens of New Gloucester,

I am writing to you in support of Mike Vaughan's election to the Maine House of Representatives.

It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as your Representative for the last two years. I served with Mike Vaughan last term and it is rare that an individual like Mike comes along that is so committed to solving problems in Augusta. I realized quickly that I could count on Representative Vaughan for his sound discussion on proposed legislation.

Mike is quick on his feet to assist his constituents who need his help. He has been active and creative around submitting legislation that he is passionate about. Mike has my full endorsement. Please send his sensible voice and vote back to Augusta.

Please vote for Mike Vaughan for the Maine House on Tuesday, November 2nd.

Representative Susan Austin,
Gray

Dear Editor,

I am voting to re-elect Senator Neria Douglass in District 15 for Auburn, Durham, New Gloucester and Poland. She is running against Lois Snow Mello. Senator Douglass truly cares for the people in Maine. Let's take a look at the voting record of both candidates. Here are the bills that Neria voted for but Lois did not.

LD 1634 Maine RXPlus: Lois voted against providing discounts of between 10-60% on the price of prescription drugs. Lowering the cost of Rx drugs.
LD 1611 Dirigo Health: Lois voted against providing more affordable health coverage for uninsured and small businesses.
LD 1890 disclose Drug prices- Lois voted against
LD 1309 Arsenic Ban-Lois voted against
LD 1826 Dispose of Dangerous Pharmaceuticals-Lois voted against
LD 673 Minimum Wage increase-Lois voted against.
LD 644 Booster Seat Law-Lois voted against assisting reg transport providers to comply

Maine League of Conservation Voters gave Lois a 0% rating and placed her on their dishonor roll. In contrast, Senator Douglass received a 88% score and was placed on their honor roll.

Lois voted against providing property tax relief to Maine homeowners. So what has Lois been doing to help the people of Maine? She voted against just about every budget presented. That's another example of partisan politics and being part of NOT THE SOLUTION up in Augusta. We need candidates that can work together to provide solutions.
Let's Re-elect Senator Neria Douglas in District 15. A candidate that truly cares about the people of Maine.

Mary Baumer,
Durham

Editor, Monument:

My partner Steve Bunker is running for office in our district. He's a terrific candidate, smart and insightful, with an understanding of issues and political process necessary to represent us. Process is vital if you want to get something done.

Steve's a small businessman, a combat veteran, a longtime community activist with a reputation for fighting for his neighbors. (I could tell you stories!)

But the way things play out in Gray, I'm not sure many people understand the differences between the candidates and how important these differences are.

His opponent prides herself on her voting record, but does anyone really know how she votes? Or how she stands on issues important to us, like the tax cap, which Steve opposes.

She voted against raising the minimum wage, which is still not a living wage, but wasn't opposed to paying herself extra for a special session.
Steve is endorsed by The League of Conservation Voters. His opponent is on its "Dishonor Roll."

Steve is endorsed by the Maine Council of Senior Citizens and many other groups concerned with peoples' rights.

Steve wanted to get together with his opponent in public, so people could compare candidate positions. But she refused. All over Cumberland County candidates met in forums, but not in Gray. If a candidate won't reveal, discuss or defend their position, how do we base our votes?

Effective representation is not about popularity or partisan politics. We have a right to know where our representatives stand, and why.

Sharon Bondroff,
Gray

To the editor:

The election on November 2 is about far more than who will control the White House for the next four years. The President's term lasts only four years, but a Supreme Court justice is appointed for life. All but one of the nine current Supreme Court justices is over 65. The next president will have the opportunity to fill at least three of the nine seats on the Supreme Court.

The justices whom the President appoints will affect our rights on privacy, the environment, discrimination, and the workplace, for decades. If Bush appoints our next Supreme Court justices, he'll fill the bench with ultraconservative judges, solidifying the far-right majority. Bush has stated that his favorite Supreme Court justices are Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, both extremely right-wing. Bush has already attacked fundamental freedoms and the conservative Court has damaged hard-won, basic, civil rights. We must not allow that power to be put into the wrong hands. Once our rights are revoked, it's too late.

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said, "The mark of a good judge is a judge whose opinion you can read and have no idea if the judge was a man or a woman, Republican or Democrat, a Christian or a Jew. You just know that he or she was a good judge." John Kerry will appoint judges who respect the Constitution and the rights of all Americans.

Please vote for John Kerry--to save our courts and to protect our rights.

Stephanie Deveau,
Gray

To the Editor:

I support the re-election of Sue Austin to the State Legislature to continue her fine work in the newly created House District 109. This area is her lifetime home where her cares, concerns, and commitments are centered. Sue Austin has strong connections in District 109 and she will continue her work in the Legislature for a strong economy, lower taxes, high quality education, and affordable healthcare. Sue Austin is clearly the right person to represent us in Augusta from House District 109.

David W. Knudsen,
Gray

To The Editor:

During this most important campaign I just wanted to stress to all your reader's how important it is to get to the poles on November 2nd, 2004. With the Referendum's that are to be voted makes it that much more important ,besides the fact that it is a Presidential year.

I just wanted to remind your reader's to Vot No on Question #1. If this Tax Cap Initiative is voted in a lot of the small town's that makes Maine what oit is will be ruined, our safety and our children's will be at risk.

I also wanted to remind everyone to Voite no to Question #2, Bear trapping is a way of life in Maine, for centuries hunter's have been bating and trapping bear for food and their fur . It is important that we the citizens of Maine can still do this. Many Many small busniness's such as, Bed and Breakfasts, and Lodges will go under if this were to pass. Let Maine hunter's do what they have been doing for atleast a century.With a population of 23,000 bear in the state we all run the risk of being approached agressivley ...
I cannot express this view anymore than I have already. All I can say is get out there and vote your conscience.

Lester Timofeev,
Stetson, Maine

To the Editor:

Many people prior to this election year have not become involved in politics to much of an extent. However, driven by the momentous 2004 presidential race, some have felt compelled to jump in. I fall into this category, having joined the New Gloucester Democratic Committee at its February caucus.
An unexpected bonus for working with our committee is getting to know our candidate for State House District 105 (New Gloucester, Durham and am liver of Lisbon): Geoffrey Leighton. We've hit the road together about a half dozen times now, to travel around New Gloucester's byways during Geoff's door-to-door campaign. I have enjoyed our chats, some on political issues and some on any incidental topic that may spring to mind at the time.

Our conversations have provided me with the basis for assessing Geoff's character, thereby determining his viability as a public servant.

His Maine roots descend thirteen generations, providing him with a strong independent spirit. Maybe that is why he is termed "an independent Democrat." Geoff possesses a positive outlook, essential in sustaining the momentum necessary to keep challenging work forging ahead. He's open-minded, seeking out various opinions from as many sources as possible. This quality would help him achieve his top priority as a lawmaker: consensus-building, compromise and civil discussion.

Additionally, Geoff has the ability to express his ideas in a clear, concise fashion. Throw in a smattering of his dry, Yankee sense of humor, and you've got yourself a fine state representative.

Patti Mikkelsen,
New Gloucester

To the citizens of Gray,

Any one who was at or witnessed the Gray Town Council meeting on October 19 saw my hackles were up again regarding the town's continuing mis-handling of Gray's election process. In case you don't know Gray issued absentee ballots and then later opted to change the ballot.
What if those who have already voted absentee don't return the second ballot? Do you throw out their first ballot because it is the wrong ballot and their vote(s) is not counted? How come some people have the option to change their vote? When you vote at the polls "that's it" you can't change your mind later!

With time I'm sure others could come up with an extended list of possibilities, none good. The way I see it Gray has two choices: (1) When the decision is made to issue ballots the election is closed. (2) Gray sets policy that no ballots will be issued until the time has passed when any change to the ballot can legally occur, whatever that time is- 10 days 30 days? Separately the legislature has an obligation to review the related law and make whatever adjustments are necessary so the law is clear, concise and uniformly applied.

We should not have to pay lawyers to tell us what we can do even though the law doesn't say we can- but some body thought it should have said we can. Def: Legislative Intent - too incompetent to say what you mean and mean what your say.

Jim Monroe,
Gray

Dear Fellow Citizens:

On Tuesday November 2, 2004 the voters of Gray will choose their representatives at the Maine Senate and Legislature. At the present time we are very well represented by Susan Austin in the Legislature and Karl Turner in the Senate. On November 2, I am voting to re-elect both Susan and Karl so they may continue to do their great work.

Sue Austin and Karl Turner are aggressive advocates for Gray in Augusta. They are both diligent and tireless in keeping the Route 26 bypass active, all in a time of decreased funding or elimination of such projects. They also keep us informed of other policy decisions in Augusta that affect the lives of the people of Gray.

Finally, Susan Austin and Karl Turner have provided leadership, sound judgment, and common sense in shaping decisions for the State. These are qualities that are needed to lead Maine through the challenges that lay ahead in the upcoming Legislative Session.

Join me in voting for Susan Austin for Representative and Karl Turner for Senator on November 2.

Sincerely,

Matthew E. Sturgis,
Gray

Letter to the Editor:

It is worth noting that when the opponents of the tax cap initiative speak, the three main themes are severe reduction in education, and Police and Fire protection. These are typical for the opposition because they play on people's fears. Forget whether people can afford continual tax increase at the local level and state level; government must come first or we will surely perish or suffer a fate worse than death.

On the other hand, waiting around for Government to control its spending is like believing that someday pigs will fly. The Maine Legislature has demonstrated that government is more important, primarily because the mindset in Augusta is that it can solve all your problems given the ever increasing spending of money that you, the taxpayer, keep sending up there. The problem with that is it tends to take away the incentive for people to solve their own problems. Example: you hear how bad it is that not everyone has health insurance. The truth is that many could afford it, they just prefer to spend their money on something else. Why buy insurance, after all, when the government will buy it for you?

Clifton E. Foster,
Gray