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.


Candidate Geoffrey Leighton, (D-Durham) and Rep. Michael Vaughan, (R-Durham). District 105

Geoffrey Leighton: Working for your vote

When I first decided to run for the Maine House of Representatives in District 105, I was told that knocking on doors to introduce myself was the best way to get elected.

This was difficult for me because I know how much I value my privacy and how much I respect the privacy of others. However, I decided to listen to experienced advice and now I have knocked on over a thousand doors in New Gloucester, Durham and Lisbon. I have been exhilarated by
the extraordinary conversations I have had with my neighbors, but I also must apologize for all the times when I have interrupted people during supper, naps, phone calls, and chores.

To be honest, when a candidate knocks on your door, it is often an inconvenience, but I think of it as democracy at its best - I have learned so much more from my neighbors than I will ever learn from Augusta lobbyists.

When I first set out, I thought the idea of knocking on doors was to let voters get to know me, now I realize that it is so that I can get to know them and the issues they are concerned about. If voters decide to send me to Augusta, I will arrive there with first-hand knowledge of how people struggle and live in my district - knowledge I never would have acquired had I just stayed home and sent mailings. It makes sense that the people who are working the hardest for your vote now will likely work the hardest for you in the Legislature.

As I talk with the residents of New Gloucester, Durham and Lisbon I have confirmed my belief that our communities are some of the finest in the state and that our citizens are extraordinarily committed to preserving our neighborhoods, homes, schools, businesses, environment, and way of life.

Talking with you has deepened my conviction and strengthened my resolution to get to Augusta to do the best work that I can for our community.

Geoffrey Leighton
1355 Royalsborough Rd.
Durham, ME 04222
W: 353-7151
H: 353-2721
gleighton@geoffreyleighton.com
www.geoffreyleighton.com

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Rep. Mike Vaughan (R-Durham)
District 105, part of Durham, part of Lisbon, and New Gloucester

Recently I have noticed a lot of political ads for legislative candidates claiming to want to "Reduce Taxes," "Boost The Business Climate" and "Promote Bipartisan Support."

The funny thing is, the first two of these are long term Republican issues and the candidates making the comments are Democrats. I think the voter needs to ask the individual candidate about their past performance on these issues.

The current state of the State; high tax burden, hostile to small business, 2nd highest health insurance rates, exodus of jobs and our youth, is totally the result of the policies enacted during 30 years of Democrat domination of the Legislature, and their flagrant abuse of taxpayers and small business.

Whether or not the individual candidate if forthcoming with these answers, they can be double-checked as they are rated by a couple of outside entities. Both the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI) at www.me-ri.org and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) have scorecards on the actual voting records of the incumbent candidates, rating them on their favorability of small business and jobs. Most of the small businesses you enter are members of the NFIB.

If those "pro-job, pro-business, tax cutting" candidates have abysmal scores from these rating agencies, I think it would be fair to say they are part of the problem and need to be replaced. I don't care what party they represent.
The purpose of the "People's House" is self-explanatory. We should not be representing any departments of the executive branch nor any town governments. We are bound to represent the people who elected us in our districts.

Once you have reviewed their "collective" voting record, I think you'll agree that the Democrat majority party should be referred to as the "Bureaucratic Party" as they always come down on the side of expanding state government by creating new positions and programs and opposing significant and meaningful reform.

Currently the DHS and the Dept of Education consumes 2/3 of the State Budget, most of that going for salaries and benefits. The remaining 1/3 of the budget goes for essential and legitimate sectors of government like Transportation, State Troopers, Forestry etc.

The opposition to the new reform entity OPEGA, the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability was blatant, arrogant and telling.
This is your big chance to get Maine back on the right track. I urge you to look closely before you vote.