Letters to The Editor

 

Dear Folks of Gray, North Yarmouth and Pownal,

After 14 hours of greeting and meeting voters throughout the Gray, No.Yarmouth, and Pownal district I came home reflective of the rich interactions I experienced in each town! A great group of gentlemen standing around me were also running for elected positions. We enjoyed congenial conversation, and shared concern for the state and local issues before us.

Politics can be an effective tool and efficient vehicle when all thoughts and ideas are allowed to be heard, debated and occasionally blended for constructive reform on key issues. That's what Maine people expect from their representation and leadership. Maine desperately needs a TEAM; an all out scale of cooperation that will turn our tax and financial vulnerability around.

A team would apply a strong press and cover the court on multiple challenges. We're too far from being competitive to indulge in the play of tabling creative policy because it didn't come from one Bench or another. A high score for success is too paramount to tolerate an obsessive concern for individual recognition. The band aids don't stay secure. We must gain the capacity to restrain the ball hog that shoots into the black hole! No singular attempt will produce the healing surface we need to compete and win!!

MY TEAM GOALS:
See and be seen
Reach and be reached
Enrich and be enriched
Thank you for your caring comments and supportive votes. I look forward to being your presence at our Capitol as Governor Baldacci huddles to consider calling the players back on the court.

Sincerely,
Susan W. Austin
State Representative Gray-New Gloucester

* NOTE: The new district will not take effect until after December 2004 when the 122nd Legislature is sworn in.

If anyone has doubts about the worth of the democratic system, they should spend some time at the doors of our polling places on primary day.

As a candidate for state representative of District 109, I spent the day in Gray, Pownal and North Yarmouth meeting neighbors and sharing the day with other candidates of both parties. It was a great experience and really reinforced my faith in the future of our area. We have a wealth of talent and ideas in this district that we can apply to solve today's problems and plan for our tomorrows.

Many thanks to those of you who supported me and honored me with your votes. I will work hard to justify your confidence and I promise to run a clean, honorable campaign to be your next representative.

Regarding Question 1, the voters have spoken. Now let's implement it and see some solid state support for our local schools. The time for debate and quibbling about this issue is over. I hope my opponent will join with me in a call for action to benefit our children and, hopefully, relieve some of the pressure on homeowners.

Steve Bunker
229 Portland Road
Gray, Maine 04039
657 2117

This week our nation celebrated Flag Day (June 14), a day where we remember what this symbol stands for. Since Betsy Ross made the first flag in Philadelphia in June of 1776 it has stood for liberty and freedom principles our country was founded on.

In the last session of Congress, a bill was introduced that would have
protected this national symbol. H. J. RES. 4 proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow Congress to have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

I can't understand why U.S. Rep. Allen would not want to protect the symbol of our country, a symbol that others have looked to for centuries. He says he supports our troops, but then votes against the very symbol they are fighting to protect.

This November, I am supporting Charlie Summers. Someone who not only says he supports our troops, he means it!

Sincerely,
Skip Crane, Gray

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the citizens of Gray who turned out to vote in Tuesday's election. Maine voters consistently earn recognition for placing our state among those with the highest voter turnout rate in the country, and Gray voters exceeded Tuesday's statewide average of 16%, with about one fourth of Gray voters participating.

I also wish to express my appreciation for your confidence in granting me the honor and privilege of serving as your representative to the Gray Town Council. I firmly believe, as did our country's founders, in a government that is no more than a means by which the people govern themselves. With that in mind, I will to the best of my ability, fulfill my commitment to you, the people that are the Town of Gray.

I welcome your comments, and I can be reached by phone or fax at 657-4754, or e-mail at gfoster@securespeed.net

Thank you,
Gary Foster, Gray

I am a taxpaying resident of Kennebec County but I consider myself a temporarily absent member of the Gray/New Gloucester family. I am asking for your assistance. We need relief here in Kennebec County and you can help us while at the same time helping yourself and the region.

Kennebec County population declines every year. Augusta had 18,560 residents in the 2000 census. That's smaller than Sanford. Families are packing up and moving away.

Why? Jobs. We have lost many good paying jobs. In February 2001, the unemployment rate in Kennebec County was 4.4%. Three months ago, our unemployment rate had climbed to 6.2%. That doesn't include the people who have left!

Jobs are disappearing because Maine continues to have what Governor Baldacci calls a "heavy tax burden." If an employer is looking to set up shop in New England, why would they choose to start their business in Maine with its "heavy tax burden" when they could open up shop in New Hampshire where there are no sales taxes, no income taxes and in some cases even lower property taxes than we "enjoy" here in Maine?

Food stamp usage in Kennebec County increased by 28 percent from 2000 through 2003, according to the Department of Human Services. Nearly 3,000 Augusta residents now rely on the state to help them meet basic needs.

Democrats have proposed increasing the sales tax by 20% as a way of providing relief. We need lawmakers in Augusta who understand that you cannot tax your way to prosperity.

Please send Karl Turner of Cumberland, Raymond's Joe Bruno, and Lois Snowe-Mello of Poland to the State Senate.

I also want to praise Rep. Sue Austin for her continued leadership despite some very nasty and uncalled for personal attacks.

Warm Regards to All (even my Democrat friends);

Chuck Mahaleris
Kennebec County Republican Chair

Dear Editor,

To Gray citizens, thank you for coming out to vote last Tuesday, for supporting the school budget, and for giving me a chance to represent Gray on the school board. Thank you!

Tami Plummer, Gray
tmcplummer@yahoo.com