Each
Candidate in The Monument's news area was offered
space to submit a 400-word or so position piece.
Their essays are below. The Monument thanks all
who participated and wishes all of you good luck
November 2.
David
Mastropaolo and Sen. Karl Turner, Senate District
11
To
the Voters of Gray, Maine:
My
name is David Mastropaolo. I am a Democrat and Clean
Election Candidate running for the State Senate
in District 11. While visiting over 1500 homes across
the district I have learned that voters are frustrated
with our legislators and angry about our situation.
Voters don't trust our legislators to resolve our
worst problems. Voters are tired of partisan politics
and want the games to stop. Voters are afraid and
worried about the future.
Our State is in danger and most everyone agrees
that partisan politics have put us there. Our legislators
are too concerned with winning arguments and taking
credit. They demonstrate loyalty to their political
party while ignoring the needs of the people. They
are more concerned with being right than they are
about doing the right thing. We, the people, deserve
better.
My opponent has been a player in the partisan game
for four years. Last year he took a leadership role,
but I for one don't like where or how he has led
us. For example:
1. He played an obstructionist role on Tax Reform.
He supported a controversial ultimatum - No constitutional
amendment to cap spending? No tax reform!!! Instead
of a reasonable compromise we are faced with the
potentially catastrophic tax cap referendum.
2. He played Partisan on the bond package. He voted
against it, preventing the bond package from coming
before the voters of Maine. The result was that
our authority as voters to fund bridge and road
improvements, environmental cleanup, and open space
protection was taken from us.
3. He attempted to undermine the Dirigo Health Program.
During budget deliberations he supported taking
away Dirigo's start up capital. This first of its
kind program is our best hope for providing affordable
health insurance to all Mainers. He wanted to disable
it.
4. He opposed the creation of "Pine Tree Development
Zones" an economic development initiative that
promotes job growth by providing sales and income
tax breaks for new and expanding businesses. He
voted against it.
I am very different from my opponent. During my
25-year career in business I have worked relentlessly
to resolve conflict, align goals, and help people
make difficult decisions for the common good. My
skills are particularly well suited for the work
ahead in the State Senate. Please vote for me between
now and November 2. I will serve you well.
Sen.
Karl Turner
Thirty years of Democratic control of the legislature
have left us with a highly taxed economy that has
struggled to create high paying jobs. In fairness,
many Democrats connect the economic dots very well.
They just happen to be under represented in the
make-up of Maine's Legislature.
I have worked hard over the last four years to reduce
regulation and to improve the job environment. I
have prevented increased workers' compensation burdens
and voted against tax increases. I have worked with
the Department of Transportation on the Rte 26 bypass
project and made every effort to help resolve the
problems Gray citizens have had when dealing with
Augusta's bureaucracy. Making government more responsive
to you, our citizens, is one of the many pleasures
of being a State Senator.
As we look ahead, I am working hard to achieve a
Republican majority in the State Senate. That is
vital to bringing the legislative agenda to the
center thus allowing us to set better priorities
for the State of Maine.
My
priorities for 2005:
1) Tax Reform. In the last legislative session I
proposed comprehensive solutions to our property
tax problems. I will submit legislation in January
taxing out-of-state property owners at higher levels
than Mainers. I will support a constitutional amendment
to cap the growth in government spending. I will
support an increase in the circuit breaker problem,
which helps lower income families with their property
taxes, and will fund it by eliminating the homestead
exemption.
2) State budget. I worked on state agency spending
to hold the line on increased costs in 2003-2004.
Next year, I am again committed to balance the state
budget without increased taxes. I have identified
close to $100 million dollars in spending reductions.
On a base of $2.65 billion, this is a four percent
cut of existing spending.
3) Education. I am committed to investing new spending
dollars in K-16 education. The K-12 commitment is
to honor the voter approved initiative to increase
GPA funding from 43% to 55%.
4)
Social Services. We must properly care for those
seniors, youth and others who can not care for themselves.
I will make certain they are cared for first before
funding any new programs.
5.
Environment and open spaces. Maine has a well protected
environment and there are cost effective ways to
further that protection. Open space protection will
need new bonding in 2005. We can do this without
incurring additional net debt service because we
are retiring older higher priced debt with lower
cost new debt. I think that is prudent.
.....
