After reading the recent report “Reinventing Maine Government” my choice of a candidate for governor was very much simplified.
The report commissioned by GrowSmart Maine clearly identifies the problems causing Maine’s ongoing fiscal crisis and proposes a bold course of action to address them. It is a common-sense, non-partisan plan — perhaps the only one that can save my native state from its downward spiral.
The steps outlined by the report are going to require a governor with intelligence, vision and real courage to step outside the box in making decisions. More importantly, the new governor needs to be nimble enough to proceed in the face of partisan uproar that will inevitably be aroused on both sides of the aisle by the plan. Certain sacred cows, fattened and pampered for decades by both Democrats and Republicans, will need to go to slaughter over the next four years if this plan is to have a chance.
The 2010 gubernatorial campaign has demonstrated one thing. The two political parties still have their head firmly in the sand with regard to Maine’s future. Why else would they offer us two ideologues from the far reaches of their respective political spectrum for Maine’s highest office?
A vote for either one of these candidates is a vote for complete gridlock over the next four years. Can any of us really envision Mr. Lepage turning his back on his Tea Party supporters and building a working coalition with democratic legislators to effect real change in Maine government? Or perhaps Ms. Mitchell will step up to sacrifice her ties to the teacher and state-employee unions — and then embrace the new conservative-minded republican legislators who will be coming into office?”Not going to happen” — as my ten-year old son would say.
Gridlock in Maine government over the next four years will continue the state’s economic downward spiral. As the “Reinventing Maine Government” report points out — standing still is not an option. And the time for small adjustments to Maine government based on the latest trend of tax proceeds or the health of the stock market is long gone.
A vote for Elliot Cutler does two things. It sends the message to the two parties to stop the partisan nonsense and get on with real reform. It also supports someone who has the intelligence, experience and flexibility to generate the type of ground-breaking change needed for Maine to thrive in the future.
James Andrews
Farmington
It also put back into play the taxes that we voted down in June. Check the front page on the Sunjournal today. This is a guy who clearly does not listen to the voters. He would install new taxes, he is so far out of main stream he makes the other canidates look middle of the road.
Well said. I completely agree. Thank you Mr. Andrews!
Excellent letter Jim!
well we have had a traffic jam of Democrats running the show for the last 30 + years, getting us nowhere so now is the time to boot them all out and put in tea party candidates through out the state! and fix Maine’s 9 Billion dollar dept and the 237,000 people who are on food stamps!