The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election plays host to a crowded field, with five candidates on the ballot and two more declared write-in candidates, according to Maine's Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. Voters will have a wide selection of choices this November to replace the outgoing Democrat, John Baldacci, who must leave office after serving the state's maximum of two consecutive terms in the governor's mansion. The state has a decidedly rural makeup, with just more than 1.3 million people spread out over less than 31,000 square miles, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (Map of Maine's congressional districts and counties.)
Candidates for Governor of Maine (four-year term)
Candidate: Paul R. LePage
Party: Republican
Political experience: LePage is the current two-term mayor of Waterville "a solidly Democrat town," according to LePage's 2010 gubernatorial campaign website. He has worked with the Democratic city council to reduce local taxes without cutting services.
Professional experience: LePage's career began at Arthurette Lumber, a firm in Canada. From there he became general manager of Marden's, a popular state-wide discount and surplus retailer in Maine, where he has been since 1996. He also leads LePage and Kasevich, a consultancy group which offers leadership services and advice. LePage and Kasevich lists various financial industry sectors as its primary client base. LePage cites his rise from being homeless as a child to his successful professional and political career as an indicator of his determination and an example of the American dream in action.
Key issues: LePage vows on his website to lower income taxes, property taxes and corporate taxes while repealing new state sales taxes. He supports the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. LePage says he will make Maine more attractive to business and envisions the state as "a landscape bounding with economic activity."
LePage is also a proponent of limited government. He says he will protect citizens against the intrusion of government into their personal lives, finances and businesses. He is a social conservative who says that he will work to protect traditional Maine values, if elected.
Endorsements: LePage has strong support and direct endorsements from many Maine Republicans, but to date, the endorsement and contribution from Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America PAC is his biggest nod from the national level.
LePage's 2010 election prospects: As a member of the opposition party, LePage may have a leg up on his Democratic opponent, especially because the current Democratic governor is carrying a 60 percent disapproval rating, according to Rasmussen Reports' latest poll. Despite the presence of a number of independent candidates who are eating into the numbers for both LePage and his Democratic opponent, LePage retained an eight-point lead over his nearest rival, according the July 14 poll. Just a few days after the poll, however, Rasmussen drew the ire of the state AARP chapter when he said his opponent was "too old to be governor," a remark for which he later apologized.
Candidate: Elizabeth "Libby" H. Mitchell
Party: Democrat
Political experience: Mitchell is currently the state senate president, serving her third term in Maine, representing District 24. She spent nine terms in the Maine State House of Representatives and she is the only woman in the nation to serve as both speaker of the house and president of the senate, according to her campaign website. Mitchell served three terms on the Board of Selectmen in her hometown of Vassalboro. She has also served as director of the Maine Homeless Coalition and held a number of board positions, including Maine General Health, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and the Kennebec Valley Medical Center.
Professional experience: Prior to her political career, Mitchell was a school teacher. She currently practices law as an associate with the firm Mitchell and Davis, according to her bio on the Maine state senate website.
Key issues: Mitchell says she is an advocate for a strong education system, which she says will allow the businesses and workforce of Maine to grow by adapting to changes in the global economy. Mitchell's plans for Maine include the expansion of Maine's ability to generate renewable energy from sources such as wind, sun and tidal forces. Mitchell also proposes to increase Maine's attractiveness to business by reducing the cost of doing business in Maine. Mitchell was influential in the legislative passage of the Marriage Equality Act, although it was later repealed in a referendum. She says that she "will work to make sure legislation for marriage equality reaches my desk, and I will sign it without hesitation."
Endorsements: Mitchell has won the endorsement of the Maine Education Association, according to a statement on the MEA website. Mitchell also has the endorsement of the Maine AFL-CIO which, according to information on Mitchell's website, said she "has consistently championed the interests of Maine's working families."
At the national level, Mitchell picked up the endorsement of former President Clinton before the primaries were held. Citing her service on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, a position to which he appointed her, Clinton sent an email to Maine citizens on her behalf on March 9. The full text of the email can be found at Mitchell's website.
Mitchell's 2010 election prospects: Mitchell trails by eight points in the Rasmussen Poll, but has important organizational backing from the Maine AFL-CIO and the Maine Education Association. The ability of these groups to mobilize their memberships to get out the vote will be key if Mitchell is to succeed in November.
Candidate: Eliot Cutler
Party: Independent
Political Experience: According to Cutler's Facebook profile, he served as Special Assistant to Maine's Senator Edmund Muskie and Legislative Assistant and Counsel to the Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution between the years of 1968 and 1974. He also served as the Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment under President Carter from 1977 to 1980. His campaign's stance on protecting Maine's natural areas seem to be clearly linked to this early experience.
Professional experience: After leaving his position with the OMB under President Carter, Cutler became a partner at the law firm of Webster and Sheffield. He then founded his own firm, Cutler and Stanfield, LLP, a leading environmental and land use law firm. Cutler and Stanfield merged with Akin, Gimp, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, LLP, making Cutler a partner in the new firm, according to his campaign website. His website also credits Cutler with being "an owner of a manufacturing company, a business adviser to one of the world's largest construction companies (and its first American director), a director of a mortgage company, and a founder and trustee of a highly regarded family of mutual funds."
Key issues: Cutler is a proponent of environmental conservation. He promises to protect Maine's forests, farmlands, harbors and downtowns. He also envisions investments in farming, fishing, forestry and tourism which he calls on his website, the original cornerstones of Maine's economy and important industries in today's Maine.
Cutler is advocate of enhancing Maine's education system and promoting Maine's renewable energy resources. He also wants to lower health care costs by focusing on preventative care and increasing jobs in Maine by lowering the cost of doing business.
Endorsements: In perhaps one of the seemingly oddest endorsements of the 2010 Maine election cycle, Cutler has been campaigning with Ina Garten, the Food Network's Barefoot Contessa and he features that association on his campaign website. Cutler's website also touts endorsements by Democratic state Sen. Dennis Damon, Democratic state Rep. Leila J. Percy, Democratic state Sen. Elizabeth Schneider and Gordon Smith, a former member of the Republican National Committee.
Cutler's past suggests Democratic tendencies, but he has garnered the support of several prominent Republican Maine business leaders. His campaign manager, Edward "Ted" O'Meara, is a member of the Republican National Committee and former chairman of the Maine Republican Party.
Cutler's 2010 election prospects: The most recent Rasmussen poll of likely voters in Maine shows Cutler picking up eight percentage points while the leading Republican dropped four percent and the leading Democrat dropped by five points.
Cutler's campaign theme "Independent, just like Maine," seems to be striking a cord in this season of anti-incumbency. Is it enough to take down the big party candidates? Probably not, but with 12 percent of likely voters undecided, major gaffes by either of the others could easily make it a tight three-way race.
Candidate: Shawn H. Moody
Party: Independent
Political experience: Moody's campaign website mentions that his brother served two terms on the Gorham Town Council.
Professional experience: At age 17, says Moody's website, he borrowed money to start his own auto repair center which became Moody's Collision Centers, which is now the largest auto collision repair center in New England.
Key Issues: Moody's vision for Maine would be to reduce the state unemployment rate to six percent by focusing on what Maine does best: fishing, forestry and farming. He wants to institute merit pay for teachers to encourage the best teachers to stay in Maine. He will work to reduce health care cost by increasing competition and leave the state with a budget surplus in 2014.
Endorsements: The only endorsement that Moody seems to have collected is the one featured on his television commercial, now available on YouTube. That comes from Survivor: Gabon reality-TV winner Bob Crowley who taught at Gorham High School where Moody's children attended.
Moody's 2010 election prospects: At this point, it is difficult to see how Moody could win in November. With Rasmussen allotting just three percent of likely voters to all other candidates combined after LePage, Mitchell and Cutler, his support hasn't yet materialized.
Candidate: Kevin L. Scott
Party: Independent
Political experience: Scott currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Andover Water District. He has a degree in government and politics from George Mason University, according to his campaign website.
Professional experience: Scott founded Recruiting Resources International, an employee placement service specializing in engineering disciplines.
Key issues: On his website, Scott advocates "innovative budget solutions," including establishing a voluntary 32- hour work week and reducing state payrolls through attrition. His plan for reforming school funding include prioritizing funding of schools to avoid long-term poverty and creating incentives for parents to volunteer at school. Scott advocates a Maine solution to health care that does not include involvement at the federal level. His plan features health savings accounts and examining the viability of a state health bond to provide public funding of health care.
Endorsements: None yet.
Scott's 2010 election prospects: It is difficult to foresee a swing in voter sentiment that could propel Scott to the governor's office. Without a base of party support, significant endorsements or broad name recognition, there does not appear to be a viable path to victory for Scott in 2010.
Contrasting the candidates
All of Maine's gubernatorial candidates want to improve the business environment in Maine to foster job growth. LePage says lowering taxes will encourage business growth, while Mitchell believes that lowering the cost of doing business in Maine while promoting a well-educated and adaptable work-force is the key. Cutler and Moody believe that remembering Maine's strengths in forestry, fishing and farming provide the state's best opportunity. Both Cutler and Mitchell also advocate strengthening Maine's efforts to build a renewable energy infrastructure. Scott believes in strengthening the farming industry while promoting a 32-hour work week.
Maine passed a Marriage Equality Act, which was later repealed in a hard-fought referendum vote. LePage says vaguely that he supports traditional Maine values without explicitly spelling them out. Mitchell takes a bold stance on civil rights and her support for marriage equality.
Cutler's campaign puts his concern for the environment forward more than any of the other candidates, although Mitchell, Moody and Scott all offer support for farming, forestry and fishing -- industries which require paying attention to environmental issues for their sustainability.
Maine at a Glance
Maine's unemployment is running at 8 percent for June 2010 compared to the national rate of 9.5 percent, according to the Maine Department of Labor. Despite being better than the national average, 41 percent of Maine likely voters think the economy is getting worse while only 30 percent of those polled by Rasmussen Reports thought that it was improving. In 2008, President Obama won Maine handily with 58 percent of the vote in the presidential election, but, says the Rasmussen poll, only 50 percent of Mainers approve of his job performance, while 49 percent disapprove. Despite having a median household income that is significantly lower than the national average, Maine has a lower poverty rate than the remainder of the country, according to 2008 U.S. Census estimates.
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