Voters face choices in divisive election State legislative races heat up

The U.S. presidential race has laid bare sharp divides in the country, as the Republican and Democratic candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, have squared off in contentious debates and have offered starkly different visions for the country's future. Offering alternatives in the November 8 general election are Green Independent candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson.
In Maine, voters in the 2nd Congressional District will see a rematch of the race between Republican Congressman Bruce Poliquin of Oakland and Democratic challenger Emily Cain of Orono. And in Washington County, voters will cast their ballots in races for the State Senate and House of Representatives. Profiles of those candidates follow. They were asked about job opportunities Downeast, the opiate epidemic, school funding and how the legislature should address the ongoing impasse with Governor Paul LePage.

SENATE DISTRICT 6
Democrat Rock Alley of Jonesport and Republican Joyce Maker of Calais are both seeking the Maine Senate District 6 seat that has been held by David Burns of Whiting, who did not seek reelection.

Rock Alley
Rock Alley describes himself as a fisherman who has spent 50 years working around oceans to earn a living, and he is currently the first president of the Maine Lobstering Union.
"We have to preserve jobs in the lobster industry that are being lost due to regulations that keep changing," he stresses. "It used to be that if you were a good worker you could buy a fishing license, but that isn't true anymore. It's an awful lot like a dictatorship, and the younger ones are leaving because it's almost impossible for someone who doesn't already have a license."
"I also think a resource for creating jobs is to use our Vacationland logo," he adds. "There are a lot of beautiful towns up and down the coast, but most visitors just go to Ellsworth or Bar Harbor. I don't think there's enough advertising for our area."
Alley worries that there is too much of a tax burden on small mom and pop businesses, and they are disappearing. "Right now, in Jonesport-Beals, we only have one take-out restaurant and no gas station." He adds, "The small communities are dying, and I hate to see that."
Alley calls the opiate epidemic Downeast "a massive, massive problem." He stresses, "It's the biggest problem to hit the United States since World War II."
"You need to care for people, and almost everyone knows someone who has a drug problem. I want them to know that I'll stand and fight for you."
Alley says the cost of not getting sufficient funding from Augusta for local schools is a real problem. "We live it right here in our small communities that aren't subsidized enough. A lot of people in Washington County are on fixed incomes."
In commenting on the Maine Legislature's ongoing impasse with Governor Paul LePage, Alley calls LePage "a spoiled little brat who vetoes too many bills. I've had a couple of run-ins with him, and he has not acted like a governor."
"I'm willing to work across the aisle with Republicans, and I'm not a bully like the governor, but I get my point across."

Joyce Maker
Joyce Maker of Calais is a retired college administrator who has served in numerous local, county and state committees, as well as two terms as representative for House District 140.
"It's hard to put into words, but I do a pretty good job working with people in the middle," she says of her style and a reason for seeking the Senate seat.
"In dealing with the drug and alcohol problem in our area, I have already submitted a bill for peer counseling, and I hope there are results from that. I would like to have a treatment center in Washington County. When I was working on an alcohol team with kids at Calais High School, I learned that these kids have no place to come home to. They need to be in a hospital setting."
"I'm very concerned that, when we need it most, access to police stations is being negatively affected by reduced funding," she adds. "And there should be more community policing. Everyone needs to be involved."
"We increased funding two years ago for schools, but we have to somehow find money just for those schools who need it the most," says Maker. "I'm on a blue ribbon commission to fix the problem of school funding so that everyone pays their fair share of taxes."
"I think we do pretty good dealing with the governor," stresses Maker of the Maine Legislature. "We need to work together and do our business, not just for one party but for everyone. I have respect for both sides, and we need more of that."
"I listen to both sides and look for the truism and middle ground that everyone can agree on," adds Maker.

HOUSE DISTRICT 138
For the Maine House of Representatives District 138 seat, Democratic incumbent Robert Alley of Beals is being challenged by Peter Doak of Columbia Falls, who previously represented the area in the House from 2012 to 2014.

Robert Alley
Bob Alley has done many things so far in his lifetime. A father of three and a great-grandfather to five, he has served in the U.S. Navy and as an educator and currently serves the House District 138 as its representative. He is now campaigning to keep that seat. He and his wife, Hazel, live in Beals.
"I am running again to continue the work for all of the hard working people in Washington County. There is still a lot to get done," Alley says. Employment and job creation are at the top of his agenda. Commenting on the current shortage of job opportunities within the district, Alley says, "We don't get much respect down in Augusta, but we need to use the bond money the governor is holding and put some of that to work to develop new job opportunities for this area."
Regarding opiate addiction throughout Downeast, Alley believes education of all involved is key to battling this epidemic. "We need to continue to pursue education, not only of the drug abuser, but also the family and the after-care needed for treatment to succeed," Alley says.
As a former educator, Alley is concerned about education at the local level. Regarding funding for local schools, Alley says, "The money currently being paid into the state and local system now should be used locally. We would use the funds generated in Washington County and keep them here for use directly in education. Right now our hands are tied, but if we could have better control of the money and keep it here locally, I believe the local schools would be better served."
When asked about moving on some of these ideas with the governor, knowing the noted impasse between the legislature and the governor's office, Alley admits it has been a tough road. "He is a hard man to talk to and deal with, but I and my colleagues will persevere and continue the work we have started."
Alley looks forward to the campaigning coming to an end and also to another two years of legislative service for the people of District 138.

Peter Doak
"I am in good health and ready to get back to work," Peter Doak says about his candidacy for the House District 138. Born and raised in Maine, Doak and his wife Barbara live in Columbia Falls and have three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Retired from the U.S. Army and a longtime educator, he previously served in the 126th Legislature back in 2012. "There is more to do, and that is the reason I am running again," Doak says.
A high priority on his agenda is to attract younger people to the area, and he believes one way to do that is by lowering energy costs. He also believes that some areas are being over-regulated, such as crabmeat packing and smoked food processing, forcing many locals out of work.
In speaking about the grip opiate abuse has Downeast, he admits it has been an uphill battle. An increase in law enforcement and targeting education on those coming out of treatment would impact the situation more quickly than anything else. "We can get the person sober, that is not the issue, but we need to stay with them and provide follow‑up services to maintain their sobriety," Doak says.
Regarding education at the local school level, Doak, who was an educator for 17 years, believes making cuts within other expenditures and focusing more aggressively on education would have greater impact. "Quite frankly, the current formula for allocation of funding schools must be changed. Being a principal for all those years, the state never did fund a complete 55%, and ultimately it ends up on the taxpayers to make up the difference, and taxing a person making $200,000 is not the answer," Doak says.
On the ongoing impasse with the governor on issues, Doak says, "This is something that should not solely fall onto the governor. There have been many cases where the legislature fails to work in any way with the governor. This is a team effort, and we need to work across party lines to get things done."

HOUSE DISTRICT 139
In House District 139, Republican incumbent Will Tuell of East Machias is being challenged by Democratic candidate Colleen Morton of Eastport.

Colleen Morton
Colleen Morton wants to represent House District 139. Raised in a rural part of northern Minnesota, she has spent much of the last 11 years living in Eastport. "I understand the issues of rural communities," she says, pointing to experience gained both in Washington County and in similar communities in other parts of the U.S. and abroad.
Economic development is her specialty. A former U.S. government development agency employee, Morton wrote the grant application that resulted in USDA funding for a feasibility study for a high‑tech incubator serving seven towns, to be located in Eastport. "The lack of infrastructure is the biggest block," she says, pointing to the absence of broadband Internet connectivity in much of the community. "The legislature has proposed the needed expansion, but the governor vetoed it," an action she termed shortsighted. "Our natural resources are being depleted," Morton observes. "We have to invest in our people."
The opiate addiction issue is "a multi‑pronged problem that requires a multi‑pronged solution." Many addicts, she says, start out with prescription medications that lead them into other opiates. "We need to have better control over the prescription process. It is a mental health issue. You have to have a priority of helping people, but we have been cutting them off. There are no easy answers," she observes.
Morton terms the school funding issue a Gordian knot, while reciting all of the known challenges. One way to help would be to make better use of distance learning processes that allow students to pursue subjects that may not be offered in a small school. "The legislature must allocate funds to school systems," she says, while also saying that more money is not always the answer.
Dealing with the roadblocks thrown up by Governor LePage is an issue, she says. "But it's not a one‑way street. It's not him only." More use of citizen oversight committees is one way, she says. "People have to get involved, go to Augusta."

Will Tuell
Will Tuell says he's running for reelection to the legislature representing District 139 "because we need folks in Augusta who will stand for Washington County," basing his experience on his current term and also his background as a reporter Downeast.
Tuell suggests several things that will help grow the local economy, beginning with expanded and improved Internet connectivity. "Eight percent of our homes rely on dial‑up connections," he says, pointing out that improved access leads to opportunities for business growth, including home‑based businesses, and also educational opportunities that currently are only available to those with better connections. He also suggests ways of helping clammers who are unable to work during closures, such as the one that recently ended.
"It really is an epidemic," he says, regarding opiate abuse. He referenced several local groups that are providing services to help overcome this problem, suggesting there may be ways to support these groups. "There is no magic bullet. We have to look at it from different points of view." He also speaks of the need for a detox center accessible locally as part of a multi‑tiered approach. "We need to help law enforcement in their efforts to interdict importation of drugs."
Many local communities are "hammered" by the current school funding formula, which equates a community's wealth with shoreline evaluation. "Areas that are not taxable shouldn't be in the formula," he says, supporting opening discussions on altering the formula so that it does not pit "rich versus poor districts" in the distribution of state funds.
How to deal with the impasse with Governor Paul LePage? Tuell was one of four Republicans who favored a special session to censure the governor regarding the recent voice‑message controversy. "Whether his conduct is acceptable, the legislature should hold him accountable," he says.
Tuell expresses frustration over the recent EUT school reorganization, which also led to a disruption of busing schedules and financing. "They dropped that on us the day before the legislature went into recess, so we weren't able to address it."

HOUSE DISTRICT 140
In House District 140, Republican Marianne Moore of Calais is running against Democratic candidate Anne Perry of Calais to replace Rep. Joyce Maker, who is running for the Maine Senate. Perry previously served four terms in the House.

Marianne Moore
In the 15 years she has lived in Calais, Marianne Moore has served in municipal government for 13, including serving as mayor for the past four years. While mayor, she has served on the executive board of the Maine Municipal Association, and she is a member of the Washington County Development Authority, in addition to other committees.
Asked what her motivations are for running, Moore expresses that her business background -- having spent 30 years as a manager with Southern Bell and as owner of Curves -- brings what is needed to the table for economic development in the area. Moore adds that her experience advocating in Augusta on Calais‑related issues could be easily expanded to county-wide issues.
Concerning jobs, Moore says that continued collaboration between towns -- such as between Baileyville and Calais -- and across the border is key for attracting industry. She speaks in favor of projects such as bringing a hotel to Calais, supporting the rail-to-trail initiative, and the expansion of dark fiber. She says she would support a casino in Washington County, but only if just the residents of the county got to vote on it. "We often get stepped on because of where we're located."
Regarding the opiate epidemic, Moore says she would support law enforcement as much as possible to stop drug dealers from coming in, while also providing options for treatment. She says that she is in favor of counseling programs but generally sees abstinence as the preferable method of recovery.
On the topic of ensuring local funding for schools, Moore says it is her goal to hold the government to the requirement of providing 55% of funding to schools. "We need to do whatever it takes to make that happen." She also says that revenue sharing amounts need to be restored by the state.
While Moore expresses that the governor has some good ideas, she says, "It may be a matter of us working together and working around him," rather than working with him. "Part of my goal will be to make sure that he is aware of where we're coming from."

Anne Perry
Anne Perry is a family nurse practitioner who has lived in Calais for 18 years. Locally, she has served on the school board, as president of the St. Croix Rotary Club, and as a key member of Neighbors Against Drug Abuse, among other groups. At the state level, she has served four terms in the House of Representatives.
"Whatever happens in this community is important to me," Perry says of her motivation to run. In her work, she sees people daily who are affected by local issues. "It is very important to have a strong voice in the legislature. I feel that with my experience in the past with representation and leadership, I can be that voice."
Regarding jobs, Perry says that "we get a much more sustained development if we work from within." She advocates for focusing on promoting programs that draw in young people and those that safely develop the natural resources to enable the local manufacturing of products for a worldwide market.
Perry's answer to the opiate epidemic is straightforward: treatment. She explains that without treatment, addicts create more addicts to fuel their habit. Perry speaks in particular favor of programs that provide counseling. Finally, she advocates for programs like drug court and emphasizes the importance of helping jailed addicts.
Regarding funding local education, Perry says, "We have a lot of work to do." Perry says that the education system is inhibited by a growing number of rules and regulations, while the legislature is hampered by its refusal to look beyond a two‑year budget. "Any major change we make...it takes at least five years to see what the results are."
While the legislative impasse with the governor is difficult to resolve, Perry stresses the importance of unity in the legislature. In her first term in the House, Perry was on the Health and Human Services Committee. Rather than maintaining its divisive legacy, the board was run inclusively, with input welcomed from both parties. That session, 178 bills were passed, and every single one had votes that broke party lines. "We came out with better legislation as a result."

HOUSE DISTRICT 141
Democrat Robert Griffin of Chester and incumbent Republican Rep. Beth Turner of Burlington are seeking the House District 141 seat.
Robert Griffin
Democrat Robert Griffin could not be reached for comment. On his Facebook page he says, "My platform is to improve the rural economy incentives for small farms and small businesses."
Beth Turner
Rep. Beth Turner has served six years as state representative in a district that includes areas in Penobscot and Washington counties. She has over 20 years of experience in local government in various positions.
Turner is running for office again because she sees herself as "a problem solver, and I am willing to find and implement solutions by working with both sides of the aisle, which I have been doing for the last six years."
Tuner believes regulations need to be lifted in order to encourage more small businesses. "With less regulations it will also allow existing businesses to grow and expand. In other words, have government get out of the way."
The problem of substance abuse Downeast needs to be tackled by someone who is "working with the Washington County delegation first and foremost. It is best tackled from three sides: treatment, education and law enforcement. This year an additional $3 million annually was approved for treatment and enforcement. I believe that if we use this three-prong approach with this money, we can make a difference in Washington County as well as the state to prevent addiction and to move addicts from treatment to long‑term recovery.
"The first thing we as legislators can do is to not vote for unfunded mandates," says Turner about the need to increase funding in local schools. "Also, the EPS funding formula isn't friendly at all to rural Maine," she says. "I believe working with other rural legislators we can change this formula and get more money to our schools. We need to increase the overall GPA, fix the labor markets and staff/teacher ratios.