Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

GOVERNOR'S RACE

Cutler, LePage center stage

The pair appear before the forest products industry

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

BREWER -- Republican Paul LePage and independent Eliot Cutler -- two of five candidates for governor -- talked about energy, education and welfare Thursday night at a forum sponsored by the forest products industry.

Cutler, a Cape Elizabeth attorney, said the state needs to find a way to lower electric costs to help all businesses succeed. He said he would create an energy finance authority, negotiate with Canada to get hydroelectric power, and move natural gas up the Kennebec, Androscoggin and Penobscot rivers.

LePage, Waterville mayor and the general manager of the Marden's retail chain, said he would look for ways to lower energy costs for residents and commercial users. He also criticized Cutler for suggesting the need for an energy finance authority.

"He's looking at growing government and I'm looking at shrinking it," LePage said. "Authorities are nothing but an arm of government."

Cutler said the authority would employ five people at most and that it would bring cheap capital to the state.

"I want to generate lower-cost electricity in this state, and I know how to do it," Cutler said. "Pulling the state out of the abyss we are falling into ... we've got to think beyond conventional thinking."

The men, two of a field of five, had the stage to themselves Thursday. The debate focused largely on issues, but they had a chance to mix it up on occasion.

The forum was sponsored by the Maine Forest Products Council, Forest Resources Association, Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine and the Maine Pulp and Paper Association.

The groups invited Cutler, LePage and Democrat Libby Mitchell to the Speaking from the Stump forum. Mitchell declined to participate because two others who will be on the Nov. 2 ballot -- independents Shawn Moody of Gorham and Kevin Scott of Andover -- were not invited.

Joel Swanton of the Forest Resources Association said the groups invited only the "leading" candidates because they wanted to give enough time for in depth answers. Moody and Scott were given the opportunity to meet individually with the boards, he said.

Unlike many forums, the 90-minute format gave audience members a chance to control the discussion.

One audience member asked what the candidates would want President Barack Obama to do to help Maine.

Cutler, who said he voted for Obama, said he disagrees with the way stimulus money has been spent.

"I would ask him to stop spending money on artificial stimulus," he said.

LePage offered a short answer.

"I'd ask him to get out of my state," he said, drawing laughs from the crowd.

On the issue of education, LePage said he's looking for ways to make at least some level of higher education cheaper for Maine students.

"We're exploring going to a five-year high school where you can graduate with an associate's degree," he said.

Also, he said schools can do a better job of specializing in the trades, and he was critical of school district consolidation put in place by Gov. John Baldacci and the Legislature.

"Consolidation could have worked if it wasn't rammed down our throats," LePage said. "They could have offered specialization."

Cutler said he would support charter schools, tie teacher pay to student performance, and merge the community colleges and university system.

"There is massive change and reform that needs to take place in that system," he said. "Once we do that, I think we can start looking at more investment."

On the issue of welfare, LePage emphasized his campaign pledge to put in place a tiered system and a five-year lifetime limit.

If someone exceeds the limit, he said "we'll buy you a bus ticket to Massachusetts and you can start over," he said drawing laughter.

Cutler quickly said, "It's not funny."

He said he agreed with LePage that the state has a "culture of dependency" but that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can't impose limits on federal benefits.

Cutler said the real problem with the the state welfare system is that the state hires 7,000 contractors to perform services, which makes it expensive, difficult to oversee and hard for those trying to navigate the system.

"We have got to be better at this," he said.

Toward the end of the forum, Cutler, an independent, said he would be better at working with Democrats than LePage and better at working with Republicans than Mitchell.

LePage agreed that Cutler would work better with Democrats because he was a Democrat "all his life" until last year.

Cutler responded: "Paul, buddy, I was a Republican after I was a Democrat. Neither of them fit. I'm an independent and proud of it."

To which LePage quipped: "It's like (saying) I voted for it before I voted against it."

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@mainetoday.com