In Augusta This Week
On Thursday, the GOP group in Augusta has invited me to attend and say a few words. If you’re in the area and available, I would love to see you there. Full details below:
Thursday, June 18
Augusta GOP Meeting
6:00 pm
Maine GOP Headquarters
9 Higgins Street
Augusta, ME
Hope to see you there!
Mobile Office Launch!
During the past few weeks, I’ve met hundreds of Mainers at a number of events. I’ve reached out to thousands more through radio interviews. The excitement and support for my Candidacy has been humbling.
To further help get out our winning message, I’m proud to introduce our Mobile Office. (See picture here.) It’s a valuable tool that allows me to travel across our great State, listening to the issues and ideas important to our fellow Mainers. The Mobile Office is an efficient way to conduct business while traveling to Fort Kent, Eastport, Jackman, or any other corner of our expansive State. We can contact voters, coordinate volunteers, and interview with the media en route to our next stop.
I hope to see you on the road soon! As always, call me anytime with questions or comments: 207-232-4387. Or, email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Same Old Non-Answers from Augusta
As I travel around the state meeting with voters, the most common question is “How are you going to create jobs in Maine?” This issue, and the economy more broadly, is the one most on people’s minds. Job creation must be the central focus for our next Governor.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Anyone who simply says we’ll declare Maine “open for business” doesn’t understand the root causes of the problems in our State. We need more than just marketing.
Our State government’s excessive spending and uncommonly high taxes to pay for it make Maine less attractive to new businesses. That, in turn, drives away jobs. That piece of the puzzle must change.
But, it’s more than just tightening our belts and lowering taxes. We need a new, positive attitude toward business development and jobs in Augusta. Our State government should be making it easier, not harder, to live, work and raise a family here.
The Legislature is wrapping up a session that is full of the same old non-answers to our persistent problems: raise the gas tax, increase the cost of doing business, and shift the burden from one group to another. That’s not tackling the root causes of why Maine cannot effectively compete with other states for good jobs. That’s just kicking the can down the street.
Maine needs a Governor who is a business owner and manager. Someone who’s a strong leader. Someone who “gets it”.
Oxford County GOP meeting
On Tuesday, we’re heading to Andover for the Oxford County GOP meeting. If you’re in area, I hope you’re able to make it out.
Here are the full details:
Tuesday, June 9
Oxford County GOP meeting
5:30 pm
First Congregational Church
23 Elm Street
Andover, ME
Moving Forward
Our Campaign is gearing up as we head into summer. Already, I’ve spoken to a number of GOP groups around the State. I’m pleased to report an enthusiastic response wherever we go. The number of people visiting my website expands each week. The list of those receiving these weekly emails grows daily. We’re increasing our team of volunteers.
I’m looking forward to attending as many community events as possible. Our team has mapped out the summer and fall Fair Schedule. I hope to visit all of them. I’m committed to take our Campaign directly to the people, and to demonstrate why I’m best qualified to be your next Governor. That’s why I started earlier than anyone else. Since filing with the State in February, I’ve been working non-stop to organize and execute our journey to Augusta.
If you’re signed up on Facebook, I invite you to send me a Friend Request. You can see my individual page here or join our group here. If you’re already one of my Facebook Friends, please send Suggest a Friend’ Notifications to all your friends, that way they’ll get updates on our progress and appearances.
We had our first weekly Volunteer Executive Committee conference call last night. If you’d like to help our exciting and increasingly visible Campaign, please sign up here to be a Volunteer . We’ll contact you to explore how you can help.
I’m always accessible. Call me anytime (207-232-4387), or send me an email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to make Maine a better place to live and work.
Bring Charter Schools to Maine
Maine is one of only ten states which doesn’t allow charter schools. A recent effort in the legislature to bring charter school to Maine was watered down so that it will effectively kill any real reform. Despite this set-back, we should continue to try to bring this opportunity to our Maine students.
A charter school is an innovative alternative to our current educational system. Such schools have been tested for years and their success is well-known. They strike a balance between the supporters and opponents of School Choice.
Our citizens support educational reforms such as partial merit pay for teachers, increased flexibility for educational standards, and, most importantly, choice of the school that best fits their child’s needs. We all want what’s best for our kids. We need to make the commitment to change the system to do so.
On a recent trip to Colorado, I met with a Denver public school official to learn how their system built a coalition of teachers, administrators, and parents to address educational reform. Beginning in 2004, their school system introduced a partially incentive-based teacher compensation system. The long-term goals are to attract and retain the best teachers for their kids, to provide an improved professional environment for the teachers, and to say taxpayer money.
There are many other examples of education reform across the country. Maine should closely examine all of them.
Mainers Demanding Real Tax Reform
Few would disagree that Maine families are overtaxed. We have the 7th highest personal state income tax in the country. It kicks in at annual earnings of $19,450. That means a full-time worker earning less than $10 per hour is starting to shoulder this burden. It hurts families trying to get ahead, and small businesses struggling to stay afloat.
A recent survey shows a large majority of Mainers want to see significant tax reductions and spending reform. Nearly two-thirds want a major reduction or the elimination of the automobile excise tax, and 6 in 10 support a bill to limit state spending.
The recent proposals in the State legislature to increase the sales and gas taxes are more of the same that brought us the problems we now have. Instead we need to lower taxes across the board at least the national averages. This will help lower the cost of doing business in Maine, and will begin introducing a new positive attitude toward businesses and jobs. We can’t support the old structure. Mainers are demanding relief and positive reform to fix an unsustainable system.
Our families deserve a better State government. One that taxes us less, spends our money wisely, and is able to competently manage the State budget. The results will be a healthier private sector economy with a higher standard of living for our citizens.
Saco GOP Meeting
Tomorrow night, I’ve been invited to speak before the Saco Town Republican Party. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm at the Run of the Mill Restaurant. I hope those of you in Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard beach and the surrounding area can make it out.
Full Details:
Saco Town Republican Party Meeting
Wednesday, June 3, 6:30 pm
100 Main St
Saco, ME 04072
Map
I look forward to seeing you there!