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Staff reports 10/06/2008

Augusta, China, Oakland, Sidney, Vassalboro

Name: Kimberly J. Davis
Age: 51
Political Party: Republican
Residence: Augusta
Employment: Self-employed
Education: Hall-Dale High School
Political experience: Augusta City Planning Board, Augusta City Council, Augusta Economic Development Committee, State of Maine Representative 2005-2006, with service on the Criminal Justice Committee.

Name: Elizabeth (Libby) H. Mitchell
Age: 68
Political Party: Democratic
Residence: Vassalboro
Employment: Attorney
Education: M.A.T., University of N.C., Chapel Hill; J.D., University of Maine School of Law
Political experience: State Representative 1974-84, 1990-98; Senator 2004-present; first woman Speaker of Maine House and first woman Majority Leader; current Majority Leader of Maine Senate; Vassalboro Selectwoman, 2000-present

1. What can you, as a state legislator, do to help people struggling this year with the high cost of gas and oil?

Davis: In addition to (federal low income heating assistance funds), low interest energy loans, and energy tax credits, I would request immediate release of monies from Maine’s Rainy Day fund to be allocated to each community and disbursed to eligible families at the discretion of local leaders.

Mitchell: The Legislature supports Mainers with additional money for the federal Low Income Heating Assistance program. We should continue our investments in weatherization, alternative energy, “green” industry, and public transportation plus the new Uniform Building Code.

2. How would you handle the biggest issues facing the towns in your district?

Mitchell: Towns struggle with providing necessary services while keeping property taxes down. We must provide state support for education, roads, and bridges. We must partner on economic development to create more jobs and increase the local tax base.

Davis: The unique and individual characteristics of Maine people is seen in each community and legislators must appreciate the differences between them. Most cookie cutter solutions don’t work for every town. State legislators, local leaders, and their constituents can find solutions to serious issues as long as discussion is open and honest.

3. Do you have any plans that would result in more jobs for Maine?

Davis: Increasing small business opportunities and attracting research and development is key to economic success and sustainability. Private industry supports our public workforce and public programs. Legislators must work with the private industry in a respectful manner. We must reduce burdensome and unnecessary regulations on business.

Mitchell: We need to support skilled workers for Maine jobs through a strong community college and university system. We need more research and development leading to new industries. We must enhance proven tax incentives and reform our tax structure.

4. What do you think of the beverage-tax repeal on the November ballot?

Mitchell: Although voters have the right to repeal the beverage tax, I believe it’s worth a few pennies on beverages to keep health insurance for over 80 businesses and 200 people in this Senate district and to lower insurance costs.

Davis: The beverage tax repeal is symptomatic of the overall lack of respect that citizens and legislators have for one another. Maine taxpayers were told “no new taxes” and the leaders of the Democrat party did the exact opposite. The merits of Dirigo is another story.

5. Would you support legislation to change the income or sales tax?

Davis: I would support change to reduce both the Maine income tax and the sales tax as well as change to simplify the tax codes.

Mitchell: I support lowering the income tax if budget constraints allow. The national economy and energy costs create daunting budget sessions. We must find efficiency and cuts while continuing to invest in jobs for our future.

6. What’s the biggest social issue facing the state in the next two years?

Mitchell: Maine’s aging population demands quality care and recruitment of a new workforce. Our low wage base makes ensuring basic needs like food and shelter a moral imperative for all of us.

Davis: The biggest social issues we face as a state, and as a nation, is apathy, poverty and greed. Politicians and union leaders have become greedy with power, their policies have impoverished Maine citizens, and citizens have become apathetic due to “politics as usual.”

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