House District 79

Farmingdale, Hallowell and West Gardiner

Name: Charles Jacques

Age: 48

Political Party: Republican

Residence: West Gardiner

Employment: retail manager

Education: business management and accounting

Political experience: Long-time activist, Libertarian political causes

Name: Sharon Treat

Age: 52

Political Party: Democrat

Residence: Hallowell

Employment: lawyer, Executive Director of the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices

Education: Princeton University graduate 1978, Georgetown University Law Center JD cum laude 1982

Political experience: Representative, Maine Legislature, 1990-96, 2006-08; Senator, Maine Legislature, 1996-2004 (Majority Leader 2002-04, Assistant Leader 2000-02)

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

Jacques: Spending cuts and tax cuts immediately, to put more money back in the pocket of Mainers who need it now should be the first thing the new legislature does. No excuses, NONE. Mainers need action, not more empty promises that something "will" be done.

Treat: First, connect people with resources such as weatherization loans, fuel assistance grants, property tax refunds. Second, increase funding to help pay for heat and weatherization, using the Rainy Day Fund this year. Third, focus on longer-term investment in energy alternatives and conservation through R&D, the REGGI carbon sale and PUC funds, training energy auditors, enforcing the new building code, tax policy and other incentives.

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

Jacques: By scheduling regular meetings with elected officials to discuss their concerns and to review the best way to get state government out of their way.

Treat: I work closely with my constituents to find solutions, such amending the school consolidation law to allow Hall-Dale to partner with Monmouth, Dresden and Richmond, and not other towns chosen by the Department of Education. I will be introducing legislation to lower health insurance costs through increased scrutiny of administrative costs and greater oversight of rate increases; I also plan legislation to protect homeowners facing foreclosure due to predatory mortgages. I am working now with the Department of Corrections and county jails on a prescription drug plan to lower taxpayer costs.

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

Jacques: I propose extending the current Pine Tree enterprise zone concept to the entire State of Maine. Employers who create new jobs in Maine, anywhere, would be given a credit on their company's income tax equal to 50% of the state income tax collected from their increased payroll.

Treat: Yes, I want to direct more higher education funding to train people for high-paying and emerging jobs such as nursing, pharmacy, alternative energy technologies, which I would also support through redirecting some of our economic development assistance. I am active in making sure trade policy helps our business export products while not undercutting Maine businesses, and support marketing initiatives for "Made in Maine" products and locally-supported agriculture.

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

Jacques: I support the repeal wholeheartedly. I also favor the ending of the misguided and failed Dirigo health program that this scheme was designed to prop up.

Treat: I do not support repeal until an alternative can be adopted, though, because I don't want to jeopardize the health insurance of 18,000 people and small businesses who purchased Dirigo insurance, and eliminate the reinsurance program that will reduce health insurance premiums for everyone, also funded by these taxes on discretionary items such as beer and soda. I am certainly open to reviewing all of these policies once the Legislature is back in session.

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

Jacques: Yes. Calvin Coolidge said that collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery, and I concur. Maine's tax burden is simply too high. We're killing our citizens with an unbearable burden and then using their distress as an excuse to justify more government programs. That's nuts and needs to stop, right now.

Treat: Yes, I would like to see the income tax reduced on middle-income taxpayers.

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

Jacques: So-called gay marriage is sure to dominate the discussions. I actually favor a separation of marriage and state, that is, ending all state involvement in regulation of definition of marriage. At the same time, I would make all state laws marital neutral, including the tax code.

Treat: Our challenge is to plan for and invest in our future while paring the budget so that spending does not outrun our ability to pay. This means structural changes in how we provide services, and setting priorities as we never have before - all while making sure no one goes without food, shelter, basic health services, education and an opportunity to make a living. It's a very tall order.