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Gubernatorial hopefuls make stop at fishermen’s forum

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

ROCKPORT — Candidates for governor stressed the importance of the state’s fishing heritage at a Friday forum, but differed on how best to help one of the state’s oldest and most important industries.
The Maine Fishermen’s Forum, a three-day event at the Samoset Resort, is designed to draw attention to the issues facing the state’s commercial fishermen.
This year, the group’s board of directors invited some of the candidates for governor to a forum that gave four Democrats, six Republicans, a Green Independent and an unenrolled candidate the chance to address about 100 people and answer questions from the audience.
Candidates were asked what they would have done to help save a cannery from closing in Prospect Harbor, how strongly they would advocate for Maine fishermen, and what can be done to attract seafood processing plants to Maine.
Green Independent Lynne Williams said the state has fast-tracked approvals for wind power projects and should do the same for seafood processing plants.
“We need to identify those economic entities we need in this state and then go after them,” she said.
Republican Matt Jacobson said it takes too long for businesses to get approvals from the government when they are trying to locate in Maine. He said Massachusetts law dictates that approvals or denials be issued in 125 days.
“In Maine, we’re five years to maybe,” he said.
The forum featured a wide array of seminars that included commercial groundfishing, business planning for lobstermen and survival training.
Yet some in the audience wanted to know about other areas of policy that affect their lives, such as education, energy costs and whether offshore wind turbines would affect the future of fishing.
Democrat John Richardson said Maine needs to generate its own energy and stop sending billions of dollars a year out of state to pay for heating oil and other energy needs.
“We can’t afford not to produce it,” he said, but added that he would want input from those in the fishing industry about new sources of energy. “You’ve got to be at the table.”
Independent Eliot Cutler said he has experience negotiating with businesses in Asia and China that he would use to help the fishing industry.
“The community and harbors on the Maine coast are the heart and soul of the state of Maine,” he said. “As governor, I will help you create and strengthen the Maine brand. I have done it before.”
On education, Republican Steve Abbott said Maine needs to be more innovative by allowing charter schools and instituting merit pay for teachers.
He was critical of recent efforts to require school districts to consolidate, saying it would have been better to offer incentives, rather than penalties, and phase it in more slowly.
“I disagree with the way we went about school consolidation in Maine,” he said.
Democrat Rosa Scarcelli criticized the current state government, saying she’s running to provide a choice to Democrats who want change.
“Maine can’t continue to survive on 24-month budget cycles,” she said.
Although the forum featured members of three parties and one unenrolled candidate, Democrats and Republicans are working to win party nominations in June to advance to November. Some emphasized their experience outside government to try to win over voters; others said the best governor would be someone who knows the ropes in Augusta.
Republican Les Otten said taxes are too high and jobs are too scarce in Maine, and as a businessman, he has the experience to lead the state.
When it comes to the fishing industry, he said he would fight regulations from the federal government that help foreign countries while hurting Maine.
“I’ll be the biggest pain in the butt to Washington,” Otten said.
Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, said state government — Democrats in particular — have been responsive to the needs of citizens.
“We are not the enemy,” she said. “We do not feel we have ruined Augusta for the last 40 years.”
Republican Bruce Poliquin offered a different view, saying his private-sector experience would improve state government.
“Augusta has a problem with management,” he said. “That’s why we’re all experiencing one of the worst business economies in the country.”
Democrat Steve Rowe said commercial fishermen and lobstermen need access to capital, stable year-round populations in island communities and lower health care costs. He said the state Department of Marine Resources should be a Cabinet-level agency in the state.
“If we’re serious about good jobs in Maine, we’ve got to focus on fish processing and making sure we have value-added jobs in Maine.” he said.
Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, said he disagrees with current efforts to consolidate some functions of natural resource agencies, including the Department of Marine Resources.
He suggested directing a portion of the state’s meals-and-lodging tax to support marine industries, and said the state needs money and personnel to lobby in Washington.
“There’s no avoiding the fact that the feds are running the show in many respects,” he said.
Waterville Mayor Paul LePage, a Republican, stressed his fiscal accomplishments at the local level, saying the city has saved money over the years to prepare for state budget cuts.
“I know what it is to be put into economic slavery by your state government and federal government,” he said.

click image to enlarge

Green Independent Lynne Williams, center, speaks during Friday's gubernatorial candidate forum at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. She is flanked by Republican Bruce Poliquin, left and Democrat Rosa Scarcelli on the right.

Photo by Daniel O'Connell

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Susan Cover — 620-7015
scover@centralmaine.com