District 132

 

Republican Bill Gombar challenges incumbent Democrat George Hogan to represent Old Orchard Beach in House District 132.

 

Name:  William Gombar

Age:  43

Address:  1 Dewey Ave.

Phone number:  937-6078

E-mail and/or website: billg@oobgop.com and www.billgombar.com

Occupation:  Manager for a computer services company

Marital status:  Married to Laurie-Jean Gombar

Children: Walker, 6, and Saima, 2

Education: ASEE       

Organizations/activities: OOB Republican committee (former chairman), York County Republican Committee delegate, Knights of Columbus

Previous political experience:  Currently on the Old Orchard Beach Charter Commission.

 

Why are you running for office?

I don’t like the way I’m currently being represented in Augusta. 

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Reduce the spending

2. Make Maine more business friendly

3. Reduce the intrusions on our liberties

 

Name: George Hogan

Age: 68

Address: 17 Seacliff Ave.

Phone number: 934-0492

Occupation: Retired

Marital status: Married to Faith

Children: Five

Education: Attended Boston University and Gorham State Teachers College

Previous political experience: School board, town council, recreation department

 

Why are you running for office?

To continue working for Old Orchard Beach citizens and to as much constituency work as possible to help Old Orchard Beach citizens.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

1. Dealing with a billion dollar deficit. The last two years with the Legislature wrestled with huge reductions in the budget. The result was a billion dollar reduction from the previous budget. This was done with no tax increase. I do not approve of any tax increase but consolidations of agencies will have to happen as well as the reduction of more government jobs. Also one of the larger agency budgets is in human resources, which will have to be scrutinized.

2. Creating competition in health care coverage. The state is hampered by lack of competition creating financial hardship on many as they struggles to pay monthly premiums. I will submit a bill to allow Maine residents to negotiate health policies across state lines, something that is not allowed at this time. Maine has high standards outside companies have to adhere to. I say fix it so standards are still in place but leave decisions to the person as to whether they wish to buy that policy. Competition has to happen.

3. Sustainable funding for roads and bridges. The gas tax is the main source of income for roads and this revenue line has been reduced dramatically in the past few years. The reason for the reduction is more fuel-efficient cars and less driving. Being on transportation committee in Augusta, we have spent hours trying to establish a new sustainable line of income. Nobody has the heart to increase the gas tax. I believe this is one area to tap in to and that is gambling casinos. I am not a casino advocate, but if it were to do some good for the state instead of lining the pockets of individuals, take a look at it.

 

District 133

 

Republican Brad Watts challenges incumbent Democrat Don Pilon to represent Saco in House District 133. Pilon did not return a candidate survey before the Courier’s publication deadline.

 

Name: Brad Watts

Age: 26

Address: 210 Beach St., No. 18

Phone number: 294-6444

Website: www.acandidatewhocares.com

Occupation: small business owner of Fidelity Contracting; Marine Reservist

Marital status: not yet married

Children: not yet

Education: Final semester, B.A. Communications, USM

Organizations/activities: Member: Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, AmVets, Kora Shriners, Scarborough Gun and Rod Club, Saco Spirit. Volunteer: Stone Soup Food Pantry, Literacy Volunteers of America and Soldiers’ Angels.

Previous political experience: State director, Student Veterans of America

 

Why are you running for office?

We can’t afford to sit around and do nothing. The toxic business climate in Maine is killing the hopes and dreams of young entrepreneurs throughout Maine who want to create business, opportunity and bring jobs to Maine.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Jobs: Support small businesses. Support buying locally, which keeps three times the money in our local communities and stop looking to CVS for job creation. Streamline small business licenses and give tax breaks to small businesses so they can grow. Stop taxing small businesses to death while giving handouts to corporations. Reduce costs of doing business by reducing taxes, energy costs, and amount of time spent doing paperwork for the state. Allow small business to get back to doing business, not just paperwork.

2. Education: Reduce mandates put on teachers and allow them to get back to teaching. Teachers and parents know what’s best for students, not politicians. Invest in alternative education programs because traditional education may not work for everyone. We should take action to curb rising dropout rates. The only way to reform welfare is if recipients have training to get a job.

3. Cost of living:  It is much too expensive to live in Maine compared to other states. We need to reduce the cost of clean energy so Maine products can be produced less expensively so the savings can be passed on to the consumer. Too much of our tax revenue is wasted by irresponsible legislators. The sales tax was created to help reduce property taxes but too much of that revenue is not used this way. While we’re trying to stretch a dollar our legislators are playing Shop ’Til You Drop.

 

District 134

 

Republican Mary Schiavoni and Roger Gay, a green party candidate, challenges incumbent Democrat Linda Valentino to represent Saco in House District 134.

 

Name: Roger B. Gay

Age: 51

Address: 76 Rocky Hill Road

Phone number: 282-0242

E-mail: lnmannn@yahoo.com

Occupation: Quality control inspector

Marital status: Engaged to Sonya Lundh

Children: Sara, 24, and Jesse, 26

Education: Thornton Academy, 1977; some college

Organizations/activities: Dry land swim coach at YMCA; farming produce, eggs, meat and chicken; work on and race car at Beech Ridge Raceway and Oxford Speedway.

Previous political experience: Involved with Union/Here Local 406 at General Dynamics; elected to the union’s New England Joint Board.

 

Why are you running for office?

To give the people and their children a better life.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

1. Jobs: One idea is to build large greenhouses around the state. This will create local jobs for communities and people will buy local produce.

2. Insurance: It should be improved and available to the elderly and also to low-income residents.

3. Energy: Wind power in approved areas, promote solar energy, increase research and use water power. People need to become more self-sufficient.

 

Name:  Mary E. Schiavoni

Address: 77 Burnham Rd.

Phone number: 284-9978

Website: www.maryschiavoni.com

Occupation:  Executive director

Marital status: Married

Education: B.S. Western Michigan University, M.S. University of South Florida 

Organizations/activities: Good Shepherd Parish; Saco Republican CMTE; York County Republican CMTE; American Speech and Hearing Association; Maine Speech and Hearing Association.

Previous political experience: Delegate, Maine Republican Convention and Maine Republican Platform Committee; Chair, York County Republican Education Committee; Secretary, Saco Republican Caucus.

 

Why are you running for office?

I believe my experience gives me a unique advantage in identifying the steps needed to lead Maine back toward growth and prosperity. My proven skills founding and managing two successful Maine businesses, inventing products and creating jobs are needed in the Legislature. As a health care provider, I am acutely aware of the issues facing patients, insurance providers and employers. My knowledge of Maine’s health care system is invaluable in identifying areas of success, waste and reform. Today, Maine families without paychecks are suffering. Cost of health insurance continues to climb. Maine’s economy is stagnant due to poor business leadership in Augusta. I believe I can help solve these problems.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Create jobs: I have created two small businesses, which have grown into larger companies. I hold five U.S. patents and have created jobs in the community. I understand the issues facing Maine employers. I will work hard to remove obstacles preventing employers from hiring Maine people.   

2. Support entrepreneurs: Small business growth is critical for a vibrant economy. Fees, licenses, taxes and costly regulations can overwhelm the budgets of entrepreneurs. I will recommend strategies that mentor and guide small business owners through state and local regulations. Working to create a favorable regulatory climate and eliminating unnecessary costs will give entrepreneurs a boost to get off to a healthy start.

3. Reduce the tax burden on families: Saco residents should not have to worry that their representative will vote for new taxes and take more of their paycheck as has happened after the last two elections. I will not raise taxes on the people of Saco. Rather, I will assess the use of current funds ensuring we are getting the most for our tax dollars. I will develop outcome protocols for managing current revenues and review budget outputs to identify waste in state spending.

 

Name: Linda M. Valentino

Age: 54

Address: Fire Lane No. 2, Boom Road

Phone number: 282-5227

E-mail and/or website: lmvalentino54@yahoo.com  and www.lindavalentino.com

Occupation: Paralegal; real estate; small business owner

Marital status: Married to Curtis Scamman

Children: Three

Education: Thornton Academy; B.A. in political science from University of Southern Maine

Organizations/activities: Co-Chairman, Committee to Honor Maine Women Veterans

Previous political experience: 2004 to 2010 state representative; 1979 to 1985 Saco city councilor

 

Why are you running for office?

I feel the same frustration that many citizens feel with government. I want good jobs, quality education and affordable health care, but I also want less business regulation, lower taxes and smaller government.  For the last six years I have worked to find this balance, such as proposing a one-body, unicameral Legislature, which would have saved $15 million per budget. I have been, and will continue to be, a vocal advocate for fiscal moderation.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

1. Jobs: Maine needs to shed its anti-business, high-tax image. Until we can pass legislation that helps make Maine a destination for business, we will not attract companies and entrepreneurs needed to provide quality jobs to grow the economy. Businesses are looking for a skilled work force, access to capital, affordable health care and low taxes. We need to rewrite existing incentives to attract out-of-state venture capital, reduce health care premiums and reform our tax code. 

2. Government reforms: In future years, Maine will not have federal stimulus money to help the budget.  We need to plan for these shortages now. This will mean looking at a leaner, but still efficient, government in both the executive and Legislative branches. If we truly want clean elections, we need to eliminate the loophole where large sums of money can be given by corporate and special interests to candidates with legislative PACs.

3. Higher education: We need to put more emphasis on community colleges by funding them at higher levels so they can expand to meet the needs of the thousands of students and adults waiting to get in. Community colleges not only provide people with a degree, but they provide them with a specific skill-set to enter the work force. We need to expand relationships with private businesses to make sure we are providing the education and training to meet good-paying jobs.

 

District 135

 

Republican Marc Worrell of Biddeford challenges incumbent Democrat Paulette Beaudoin to represent Biddeford in House District 135.

 

Name: Paulette G. Beaudoin

Age: 77

Address: 32 Herring Ave. Extension

Phone number: 284-6324

Occupation: State representative

Marital status: Married to Roger for 55 years and six months

Children: Two daughters, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Education: High school and some college

Organizations/activities: Vice president, Maine Council of Senior Citizens; Daughters of Isabella; Red Hat Society; Biddeford Senior Citizens member; Biddeford Democratic Committee.

Previous political experience: Current state representative; testified before Congressional committees on Maine senior issues; lobbied Congressional committees on Maine senior issues; spoke before the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in January 2003; December 2005 delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in Washington, D.C.

 

Why are you running for office?

To try to make things better, helping people in need and especially the elderly.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Single-payer health care for everyone in the state of Maine to have health insurance at a reasonable price.

2. To stop the use of cell phones and texting while driving to prevent accidents.

3. Motorcycle helmets – require to wear to survive accidents.

 

Name: Marc Worrell

Age: 40

Address: 10 Apostolic Way

Phone number: 283-1331 home 590-5630 cell

E-mail and/or website: mgmworrell@gmail.com / www.worrellforhouse.com

Occupation: Central Maine Power-Substations Electrical Technician (20 years)

Marital status: Married

Children: Griffin, 14; Kassey, 11; Emma, 2

Education: Associate degree in electrical technology from SMCC

Organizations/activities: Deacon, accountant, food pantry administrator at the First Apostolic Church; Chairman, City of Biddeford Republican Committee

Previous political experience: None

 

Why are you running for office?

I felt compelled to get involved because of the fiscal crisis that our country is in. Taxes and spending are out of control. We are putting a debt burden on our children that is unacceptable. Our elected leaders have not been listening to the voters and we have proved this by having to overturn our elected leader three times in recent years with the “people’s veto.”

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

1. Fiscal responsibility: We can’t spend more than we take in.  Lower taxes and targeted spending cuts.  This will put more money into your pockets. You know better what to do with your money. This will stimulate the economy.

2. Welfare reform: We need a tiered system with incentives for working.  Gradually as goals are met and individuals benefits are gradually reduced.  Our current system punishes people who work and they lose their benefits.

3. Reducing the size of government: Look for synergies within agencies to combine departments. Look to outsource to the private sector if the private sector can do it better and cheaper.

 

District 136

 

Democrat Megan Rochelo and Republican Sturgis Whelan are running to represent Biddeford in House District 136.

 

Name:  Megan Rochelo

Age: 33

Address: 59 Prospect St.

Phone number: 929-0110

E-mail: megan.rochelo@gmail.com

Website: www.meganrochelo.blogspot.com

Occupation: Director, Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition, University of New England

Marital status: Married

Education: Master of Public Health, Boston University

Organizations/activities: Heart of Biddeford, Eastern Trail Alliance, TNC Next

 

Previous political experience: None

 

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I want to bring a fresh perspective and strong voice to Augusta on behalf of District 136. I am passionate and dedicated to making Biddeford, once again, a thriving city that people are excited to work, live and play in. I have a background in public health and a desire to work to ensure everyone has the ability to live a healthy and productive life in a community that supports them.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Healthy people and community

• Ensure everyone has access to affordable, high quality health care

• Prioritize and work for the wellbeing of our senior citizens

• Work to make our community a place where people have access to and education

about the importance of nutrition and physical activity

• Increase the opportunities for access to outdoor recreation for all people

• Maximize efforts to ensure clean air, water and soil now and for future

generations

2. Education and job opportunities

• Support education and local schools to ensure we have the resources necessary to meet the needs of a diverse student body

• Ensure we have education and training opportunities that are preparing young people for meaningful employment

• Increase employment opportunities in our communities through  support for current businesses and recruitment on new and innovate companies

3. Thriving downtown and creative economy

• Preserving the history and structures of our Main Streets and ensuring downtown once again becomes the thriving hub of our community

• Utilizing modern tools of economic development to invest in our downtown, encouraging local business growth and fostering smart investments in our community

• Nurturing the creative economy that has started to take root and helping to ensure we become a destination for arts and culture

 

Name: Sturgis Whalen

Age: 64

Address: 140 Hill St.

E-mail: Sturgis@maine.rr.com

Occupation: Retired

Marital status: Married

Children: One son

Education: High school

Organizations/activities: No current organizations

Previous political experience: Ran for state representative twice before in same district

 

Why are you running for office?

To continue to try to make Biddeford a healthier and safer place to live for those of us who make our homes here.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Jobs:  Support small businesses with tax breaks and low interest loans.  I know what it is like, having been in the upholstery business with the economy slowing down.

2. Taxes: Taxes are a large problem in Maine.  The number of taxes and the amount of money collected appears to be spent on projects and programs that are not beneficial to the actual taxpayers themselves.  Need to look for ways to stop increasing and adding new taxes and to use what there is available wisely.

3. Welfare:  We need to help people with schooling and training that are able to get into the work force.  This approach would help the state in the long run by creating future taxpayers.

 

District 137

 

Republican Suzanne Sexton challenges incumbent Democrat Alan Casavant to represent Biddeford and Kennebunkport in House District 137.

 

Name: Alan Casavant

Age: 58

Address: 22 Meetinghouse Road, Biddeford

Phone number: 284-4690

E-mail: acasavant@maine.rr.com

Occupation: High school teacher

Marital status: Engaged

Education: University of Maine Orono, psychology; MA, University of Southern Maine, American and New England Studies

Organizations/activities: Friends of University of New England; Societe St. Jean Baptiste de Bienfaisance

Previous political experience: Biddeford City Council, 18 years; two previous terms, Maine Legislature

 

Why are you running for office?

I enjoy the job and the challenge of finding solutions to problems. As an educator, I recognize what works and does not work in a classroom, and I want to continue to work on educational reform. I have done a good job representing the people of Biddeford and Kennebunkport, and I would like to continue advancing legislation and perspective on their behalf.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Tax Reform: The current model is broken. It is based upon an industrial economy, and Maine is now a service economy. The state and local governments are too dependent upon the property tax, and everyone despises the excise tax. Passing tax reform will not be easy, as every person who “thinks” that the new system will be unfair to them, or cost them more money, will holler and create noise.

2. Education is expensive: Not educating our children is expensive. Currently, Maine pays more money per student than most states, yet critics often note that in terms of testing, Maine is not doing very well. Technology has clearly and radically changed the classroom environment, and that technology has opened many educational doors. It is expensive, yet it offers wonderful insights and understanding into the world at large. However, there are looming problems. The first is with the current tax system and revenue stream, the state cannot afford to pay more money to local cities and towns for education. Without additional money through taxation, any additional funds must be taken from other programs and departments.

3. The protection of the environment remains critical: Maine’s landscape is its future. Maine can attract talent and business by maintaining its environmental integrity. However, to do this, we still need the help of small business. This must be a partnership, as without individuals who are willing to risk capital, there can be no jobs  and without jobs, there is no Maine future.

 

Name: Suzanne Paquette Sexton          

Age: 61          

Address: 158 Guinea Road, Biddeford

Phone number: 282-1763

Occupation: Administrative assistant

Marital status: Married

Children: Three

Education: St. Joseph High School; Pierre’s School of Cosmetology; continuing education at the University of Southern Maine

Organizations/activities: Downtown Development Commission, Biddeford

Previous political experience: None

 

Why are you running for office?

Like most citizens, I am tired of politics as usual. I want to make a difference, stop the out of control spending and seek new ways to bring jobs to Maine.

 

What are your top three issues and how would you address them?

 

1. Spending: Make all departments accountable for the funds they request. The purse is empty … make your spending count and cut where it is possible.

2. No new taxes and do my best to lower taxes: This can only be done with common sense. Some programs will have to take a good  hard look at their budgets. It cannot happen unless we are all on board.

3. I am very much committed to workforce, not welfare. Many able-bodied people are used to a handout, but I believe in a hand up.