Political News

Christopher Miller announces candidacy
By Christopher Miller

I'm Christopher F. Miller. I'm a Democrat and I'm running for Governor of Maine.

I care deeply about the future of our communities, about my vegetable garden, about this little bit of the planet we call Maine. If we want peace, justice and economic security, then it is our responsibility and duty, as citizens, to say enough! That is why I am running for Governor. Right, Mr. Miller

I wonder how much trash Maine can burn, breath and drink. I wonder how many roads we can build and how much farmland we can subdivide. Where will the Feds send Maine's Guard next to find the cheap energy and natural resources that feed this growth? Which of our towns will suffer the LNG terminals and lines to feed the cities to the south? How long can this go on? We need to kick this growth habit before it is too late, while Maine still has the strength of community and rural infrastructure to do it with thought and grace. Every day the sun shines on 21 million acres of Maine. That is our energy income.

The foreign corporations and the World Trade Organization tell us we must sell our water, that our libraries can no longer provide free services, that the power from dams on our rivers must be sold elsewhere while the same dam kills our fish. I wonder, when citizens lose authority over their own communities, what then is a citizen?

To live within our means and under our own control, we will have to learn to share fairly a smaller economic pie. Fairness depends on a democratic economy. If Maine is to build a democratic economy, we must break up the centralized public bureaucracy that has evolved to serve corporate power, organized money, and the established political class.

We'll have to push power and resources out from Augusta, into our local communities and bioregions. We'll have to empower our citizens to make decisions about local resources, not the lobbyists in Augusta. No more end runs by corporate predators. A democratic economy is a decentralized, local economy.

The oil is running out. Maine must plan for the transition to a sustainable society, to a fair and democratic economy based in our local communities. People first, that's the big idea.

Christopher F. Miller lives in Gray. His two teenage sons, Max and Griffin, attend Lyman Moore School in Portland. Chris has worked as a general contractor, designer and builder of solar homes and heating systems, and for the past decade as an internet service provider. He graduated from M.I.T. (BSAD, 1979) and moved to Maine in 1983. Over the past few years Chris has worked on issues surrounding corporate power. He's been active working to elect local candidates, with the Kucinich for President campaign, and now with the campaigns of Jean Hay Bright and Dexter Kamilewicz.

Miller for Governor of Maine Christopher F. Miller
campaign@dryki.net
208 Portland Road
207.657.4963 Gray, ME 04039
http://www.mainecommonwealth.com/
People first, that's the big idea.

Democratic Committee to host Town Caucus

New Gloucester - On Sunday, February 26, the New Gloucester Democratic Committee will host its biennial Town Caucus from 2-4 p.m. at the Meetinghouse, next to Town Hall. All registered New Gloucester Democrats are invited to attend. Left, Kit St. John, to be guest speaker

Please note: New Gloucester residents registered to vote elsewhere, or who have not yet registered to vote, including teenagers aged 17 who will be 18 by November 7, 2006, will be eligible to participate in the caucus by registering at the event.

They should bring identification and proof of residency and arrive at the event before 1:30 for voter registration.

Everyone at the caucus will be eligible to become a delegate to the state convention in June - no experience is necessary! We want to field a delegation of passionate citizens who are ready to insist that our party, and our country, can do better. Crafting the Maine Democratic Party's platform at the convention is a tangible means of accomplishing that goal.

The issue of property tax reform is certain to be at the center of public attention this year. Our guest speaker is Christopher (Kit) St. John, Executive Director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, who will help us understand the issues and implications of reform options. He possesses a gift for transforming apparently complex topics such as the state budget,
tax caps and property tax reform into plain language and understandable concepts.

Whatever your level of interest - informed voter, participant in town or county committees, or occasional candidate support worker -- this caucus is the place to start. Get connected with like-minded progressives, and get ready for 2008.

And be prepared for fun. Do you have a JFK button stowed away up in your attic? HHH? Something older? Please bring along your vintage Democratic buttons to display or trade. Other memorabilia is welcome, too.
FMI, please call Penny Hilton at 926-4004.

Gray Democrats To Hold Caucus

Gray, Maine - On Sunday, February 26th at 2 p.m. at Stimson Hall the Democrats of Gray will caucus to select delegates to the Democratic State Convention, elect municipal officers, County Committee members and discuss policy issues affecting all Maine people.Below: Paul Proudian at the last Dem caucus, at Stimson Hall, 2004. Prata photo

The caucuses are the front lines of grassroots politics. Democratic candidates, elected officials and representatives from Democratic campaigns will be attending. "Two years ago we had a record turnout by Gray Democrats. We have important elections coming up at every level of government and this is the opportunity for everyone to get actively involved." said Donnie Carroll, Gray's Democratic town chair. Attendees are asked to bring their viewpoints, ideas and questions for discussion.

People not enrolled in a political party who would like to enroll as a Democrat may do so at the caucus or at the Town Office. Voter registration will be open at the caucus location from 1:30 through 3:30.

If you have question please feel free to call the caucus convener, Donnie Carroll at 657-4107 or email at soccerdad_98@yahoo.com

Democratic Women Call to Caucus, February 26

Democratic Women's League announces the first Women's Caucus on Sunday, February 26, 2006. The locations and time vary depending on town or municipality.

The Maine Democratic Party's Democratic Women's League is organizing women's caucuses throughout the state to coincide with the general caucuses that same day.

Jennifer DeChant is the DWL Chair. The Women's Caucus is designed to identify women's issues; illustrate the strategy for getting more women electing into public offices; and promote fuller representation at the state convention in June.

For more information on how to get involved or for times and locations of Women's Caucus, contact Staci Kangas, DWL caucus coordinator, at 712-6768 or stacikangas@hotmail.com.

The Democratic Women's League, an affiliate of the Maine Democratic Party, is the beginning of a 10 year plan to achieve gender equity throughout the Democratic Party. Currently women are only 21% of the legislators in the Maine House and 31% in the Maine Senate- a twenty-year all time low. The Maine Democratic Women's League was formed to fight this critical trend.

Local Republicans to Caucus

Barry Watson, chair of the Gray Republican Committee, has issued an invitation to all registered Republicans to caucus at 1 p.m. on February 12 at Stimson Hall in Gray.

The main purpose of the biennial caucus is to allow registered voters who are enrolled in the Republican Party to elect delegates and alternates to the Republican State Convention . The Convention this year will be held at the Augusta Civic Center on May 5 and 6.

Other business at the caucus will include the organization of the local committee and the nomination of members to the Cumberland County Republican Committee. All local Republicans are encouraged to attend the caucus and take part in the political process this election year.