The June 8th Primary will soon be here.  Green jobs, economic recovery, and gubernatorial candidates, oh my!  Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidacies are on the line.  So too, are four critical bond questions 2, 3, 4, and 5--our homegrown economic recovery package that, if Mainers vote "YES"  will support green jobs, sustainable transportation, downtown revitalization and clean water.  Plus there's a whole slew of contested state rep races.  Scroll down for our take on the gubernatorial primary, the referendum and bond questions, and local races in Portland.  More than 10,000 paper copies of the voter guide will be distributed throughout southern Maine--so look for it out in your community.  Or you can print out your own voter guide here!

One of the primary tools (no pun intended) we use to mobilize our peers is our semi-annual voter guide. Our endorsed candidates are clearly labeled below.  Our volunteers vote on which candidates and ballot issues receive League endorsement.  Our multi-partisan Elections Committee spends scores of hours researching and interviewing candidates.  Leaguers who have racked up a minimum of eight hours of volunteer time over the past year are privy to the Elections Committee’s research and vote on their favorite candidates based on this information.  While we have no litmus test for endorsement, League candidates tend to be committed to issues young people care about, including protecting the environment, social justice, and transparency and honesty in government.  For more info, contact the League of Young Voters PAC:  207.772.3207, will@theleague.com, twitter.com/MaineLeague.

Democratic Gubernatorial Primary
League Endorsed Candidate: Steve Rowe
Steve Rowe has served many years in both the legislature (including Speaker of the House) and as Maine’s Attorney general. What sets Rowe apart from other candidates is his ability to take a wide-angle lens when looking at the social and economic problems that Maine faces. For example, he not only focuses on creating affordable and quality education at all levels; but, seeing the link between early childhood development and academic success, he also advocates for accessible pre-kindergarten education. He demonstrates this big-picture thinking for Maine’s job market, supporting more innovative green jobs and stronger workforce education. Rowe is a leader in many important causes, from his proactive stance on domestic violence while Attorney General, to racial discrimination in schools and prisons, to marriage equality and GLBTQ rights. An advocate for a regional single-payer health care system, he doesn’t just advocate for health insurance reform; he also focuses on preventative care and increasing access. He’s taken a firm stance on environmental issues, such as conservation, renewable energy, and upholding existing statutes like the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, despite his support for Maine’s Clean Elections system, his campaign is privately funded; but, unlike other privately funded candidates, 92% of his sources come from within the state. Although he acknowledges that he doesn’t sparkle as a public speaker (he’ll never be mistaken for Barack Obama in this respect), the League believes that his experience, out-of-the box thinking, and commitment to Maine’s future make him an ideal candidate for Governor.

Pat McGowan was the former commissioner of the Department of Conservation and understands the important issues facing our environment. We are convinced he would be a champion for Maine's fragile ecosystem. Pat has also been a Legislator and a regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. He gets good marks for supporting gay rights and backing alternative transportation. Pat is a pilot and we think that his ability to keep his cool under pressure is a plus in the “dog fights” that can happen in Augusta.  While there are no real bones of contention we have with him, the League thinks that other candidates have the energy and positions to further the issues and goals young people are passionate about better in the Blaine House.  McGowen is running as a Clean Elections candidate.

Senator Libby Mitchell is a force to be reckoned with and has accomplished a great deal in Maine politics as President of the Senate. She describes herself as “tough,” which is an accurate reflection given her status as the first woman in the country to be both Speaker of the House and Senate President. Libby has a reputation, rightly so, of being a true champion of bills that align with her values. We admire her support of Same Sex Marriage, as well as her ability to translate each issue into a personal story. When asked about a broad range of issues from how she would support young farmers to how she would utilize our natural resources to improve our economy, Libby has an intelligent response and plan of action. While Libby has our deep respect, we have found her ideas are a little more inside-the-box than Steve Rowe's. We were disappointed that a bill Libby initially championed that would have given Maine workers paid sick days, died a silent (and very political) death in the final days the past legislative session.  Although she will not be receiving our endorsement in the primary, we applaud her many years of service and outstanding leadership.  We look forward to continuing our work with her to make Maine a better, more just, and more sustainable place to live, work, and play.  She is a Clean Elections candidate.

Rosa Scarcelli brings a fresh, young energy to the gubernatorial race and relishes her “outsider” role. Rosa is a business leader who manages a $500 million development company. Her stated passion and commitment to providing a better quality of life for disenfranchised people is apparent through her development of quality low income housing across Maine and through her service on the board of Ingraham, which provides services for mentally ill people.  She was among the first seven people on President Obama’s campaign finance committee. Rosa has pledged to evaluate all state programs in her first year in office to figure out if the tax money going into them is being used effectively. The League of Young Voters is concerned that her fiscally conservative approach might not be the best tack to take at a time when so many Mainers are in need.  We are also concerned with her unclear (and sometimes hostile) comments on the effectiveness of Maine’s ground-breaking Clean Elections program. While we do not endorse her run for governor, we hope she will continue to find ways to serve the state. Rosa is running a privately financed campaign.

Republican Gubernatorial Primary
League Endorsed Candidate: Peter Mills
Senator Peter Mills is an endangered species: the moderate Republican. He is often described as the smartest guy in the room (regardless of which room). He is known for his analytic and thoughtful approach to policy issues.  Peter is with us all the way on gay rights (he was the only Republican to vote for marriage equality in the Senate).  He supports the responsible development of wind energy and calls on having more support for “nature-based tourism.” Peter does have a fiscally conservative side, which we may at times quibble with, but we are sure that if he’s elected into the Blaine House, he would look at the issues reasonably,  make well-thought out decisions, and work to get support from both sides of the aisle. These reasons are why we are endorsing Peter Mills for the Republican Nomination for Governor. Peter is running as a Clean Elections candidate.

Bill Beardsley draws his experience from his 23 years as president of Husson University. As one who has spoken at Tea Party rallies, Beardsley advocates for deregulation, lowering taxes, and cutting back public programs. Beardsley suggests lowering energy costs by focusing on the local production of both nuclear power and wind energy.  He also supports offshore drilling.   Although he advocates front-loading early childhood education, he plans to further cut both K-12 and higher education spending. Beardsley does not support marriage equality.  The League is concerned about his economic and environmental policies and his unwillingness to support equal rights for same-sex couples. Beardsley is running a privately financed campaign.

Matt Jacobson boasts of experience bringing industry and jobs to Maine.  Issue-by-issue, however, he holds positions ultimately at odds with those of the League and, we believe, most Mainers. He favors a market-driven, deregulated approach to healthcare, which would eliminate consumer protections in Maine. Jacobson opposes marriage equality and has a reactionary take on the state budget (his plan calls for the resignation of 600 appointed public officials, many that oversee vital social programs). Although job placement is a concern tied to education, and we must accentuate Maine’s strengths in both arenas, Jacobson’s plan to tie the two issues tightly together, lets the ends effectively determine the means. This is dangerous to the prospects of creativity, progress, and possibility fostered by public liberal arts education. While both Matt and the League want the best for Maine, we differ when it comes time to chose the best roads to take, and perhaps are looking for different destinations.  Matt is running a privately financed campaign.

Les Otten is a developer and investor. While the League is certainly intrigued by Les Otten’s support for expanded rail service in Maine, his zeal for tax cuts during a time of budgetary crisis in Augusta (which is a-kin to quitting your job when you can’t make rent) and opposition to marriage equality does not square with League values. As such, we cannot endorse him.  Otten is running a privately financed campaign.

Steve Abbott, Paul LePage, and Bruce Poliquin did not respond to our many phone calls and emails regarding the League of Young Voters’ questionnaire.  They are running privately financed campaigns.

Referendum and Bond Questions

Question  1  (People’s Veto): League stance: no recommendation
“Do you want to reject the new law that lowers Maine’s income tax and replaces that revenue by making changes to the sales tax?”

A “yes” vote keeps our taxes as they are; a no vote lets the tax reform that was passed last year stand.  An “odd bedfellows” mix of Republicans and Greens collected petition signatures in an attempt to veto the tax reform.  The reform is meant to shift the tax burden from the average Mainer to vacationers out of state.  Unfortunately, last minute political wrangling made the measure extremely weak.  Suddenly, car repairs are taxed but not ski tickets.  Mini-golf is taxed but not real golf.  On the plus side, the tax reform helps make the state budget predictable through a relatively flat income tax and by expanding the sales tax.  The flat tax is made fairer through progressive tax credits, the shining star of the reform. The League is strongly divided on Question 1 because the tax reform is so weak. We do like the idea of a progressive tax that shifts the sales tax burden to vacationers from out of state. The reform as passed may help the majority of Mainers in that it may slightly reduce our income tax, but we found little to be excited about. 

Questions 2 through 5 are bond questions.  The League strongly recommends voting yes on questions 2 through 5.  Think of these bonds as Maine’s homegrown economic recovery package.  From green jobs to rail roads, from revitalizing downtowns to protecting water quality, questions 2 through 5 are investments in our future.  Because we can be nerds, you should know that if we passed all of these bonds, we will still be well below the national average of 5% indebtedness:  in other words, we’d still be in good financial shape.

Question  2  (Bond Issue):  We recommend vote yes!
"Do you favor a $26,500,000 bond issue that will create jobs through investment in an off-shore wind energy demonstration site and related manufacturing to advance Maine’s energy independence from imported foreign oil, that will leverage $24,500,000 in federal and other funds and for energy improvements at campuses of the University of Maine System, Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy in order to make facilities more efficient and less costly to operate?”

Green jobs, clean wind energy, energy conservation, and support for the University of Maine!  Vote yes on 2!

Question  3  (Bond Issue):   We recommend vote yes!
"Do you favor a $47,800,000 bond issue to create jobs in Maine through improvements to highways, railroads and marine facilities, including port and harbor structures, and specifying the allocation of $4,000,000 of the transportation bond approved by voters in November 2009 to be used for capital rail purposes?”

This bond will go to improving our roads, supporting railroads, and upgrading Portland’s waterfront. Vote yes on 3! 

Question  4  (Bond Issue):   We recommend vote yes!
"Do you favor a $23,750,000 bond issue to provide capital investment to stimulate economic development and job creation by making investments under the Communities for Maine’s Future Program and in historic properties; providing funding for research and development investments awarded through a competitive process; providing funds for disbursements to qualifying small businesses; and providing grants for food processing for fishing, agricultural, dairy and lumbering businesses within the State and redevelopment projects at the Brunswick Naval Air Station that will make the State eligible for over $39,000,000 in federal and other matching funds?”

This bond will go to revitalizing downtowns across Maine.  If we want to keep cul-de-sacs out of our farmlands and forests, we need to make Main Streets throughout the state viable places to live, work, and play.  Vote yes on 4!

Question  5  (Bond Issue):   We recommend vote yes!
"Do you favor a $10,250,000 bond issue to improve water quality, support drinking water programs and the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and to assist farmers in the development of environmentally sound water sources that will leverage $33,250,000 in federal and other funds?”

You had me at improving water quality. Leveraging funds?  What a bonus.  Vote yes on 5!

Democratic State Rep District 114 (N. Deering)
League Endorsed Candidate: Peter Stuckey
Representative Peter Stuckey has completed a solid first term as a Legislator for 114 and the League is proud to endorse him in the primary as he runs for reelection.  Peter sees energy, healthcare, and the state budget as the biggest issues facing Maine.   Peter is pro-marriage equality and cosponsored the gay marriage bill that passed last year.  He was one of six members of the House to vote in favor of Senator Alfond’s bill to let municipalities allow immigrants and refugees to vote in local elections. Peter easily makes time to talk to his constituents and is a very approachable Representative.  Peter has voted progressively over the past term and has more than earned our endorsement in the Primary.  He is running as a Clean Elections candidate.

George Vincent Jr. did not respond to our phone call and letter regarding the League of Young Voters’ questionnaire.

Republican State Rep District 116 (Riverton): NO ENDORSEMENT
Kenneth Capron is the founder of the Maine Center for Constitutional Studies - a conservative non-profit dedicated to promoting “con-stitutional values” and government accountability. Capron is concerned with jobs and economic growth and advocates to reduce spending. Capron wants to reduce the cost of health care by eliminating cost shifting and overhauling Dirigo; he does not support a single-payer system. Additionally, Capron is opposed to marriage equality and wants to limit immigration—a big red flag for us. Capron's conservative views are not in line with the League.  While we were pleased he was the only Republican canidate to show up at our State Rep Primary Mixer, we cannot endorse him.  Ken is running a privately financed campaign.

Batr Sharif did not respond to our many phone calls and emails regarding the League of Young Voters’ questionnaire.

Democratic State Rep District 119 (Parkside, Bayside, "Artside")
League Endorsed Candidate: Jill Barkley
Jill Barkley is a tried and true Leaguer and would do Parkside and Bayside proud. In her short five years as a Maine resident, she has been a tireless voice for people who might otherwise have never been heard.  She brings strong leadership to LBGTQ and domestic violence issues.  This year she won a “Best of” award from the Portland Phoenix for her activism—and we hope that plaque is sitting next to the Step Up to The Plate award she received from the League a few years back. This primary could have been a tough one for us—her opponent, Mohammed, is also a League volunteer, but it’s Jill’s leadership and activism on marriage equality that makes the difference in the race.  We enthusiastically endorse Jill in the primary.  Jill is a Clean Elections candidate.

Mohammed Dini is a Somali immigrant and a student at the University of Southern Maine. He has volunteered extensively with the League of Young Voters and has been a driving force behind our campaign to allow legal resident municipal voting in Portland. Mohammed is committed to representing the low-income and immigrant communities and advocating for education and healthcare reform. Mohammed and Jill Barkley’s views on most issues are remarkably similar.  Unfortunately, Mohammed is unwilling to be a strong supporter of full marriage equality. The League will not endorse Mohammed this year, yet we applaud his energetic and intelligent campaign and look forward to continuing our work with him on social justice and economic issues here in Portland. 

Green Independent State Rep District 119 (Parkside, Bayside, "Artside")
League Endorsed Candidate:  Christian McNeil
Christian McNeil is a local blogger and the online communication’s manager for Maine Audubon.  Christian combines the sagacity of a policy wonk with the zeal of a grassroots activist in his holistic approach to the challenges facing Maine.  The League of Young Voters admires his views on everything from improving public health by focusing on preventative measures and promoting walkable communities; to welcoming and supporting new Mainers from across the globe; to vigorously advocating for improved rail and mass transit travel options; to a strong commitment to marriage equality; to making the phrase “quality of life” meaningful by keeping Maine affordable for middle and working class Mainer.  If the League can respectfully offer up un-asked for advice, it is that we urge Christian to keep his zeal on these issues from burning bridges in our community.  Nonetheless, he is the League’s runaway favorite for District 119’s Green Independent Party Nomination. Christian is not a Clean Elections candidate and is running a privately financed campaign.

Kris Eckhardt did not respond to our many requests regarding the League of Young Voters’ questionnaire.  Kris is not a Clean Elections candidate and is running a privately financed campaign.

Green Independent State Rep District 120 (Munjoy Hill, Downtown, Old Port, "Artside")
League Endorsed Candidate:  Anna Trevorrow
Anna Trevorrow’s signs say she’s for a “better tomorrow,” and the League agrees she’s in it for far more than the rhyme. Anna has proven herself to be a “League candidate,” doing a bang-up job sitting on Portland’s Charter Commission.  Anna is also the Maine Green Independent Party’s state chair. Her top three priorities are a repeal of the proposed tax reform bill in favor of a more progressive reform with a focus on fair income and service taxing; smart job creation with an eye toward empowering sole proprietorships; and affordable high-quality health care with ultimate aspirations of a single-payer system implemented at the state. Anna also strongly supports marriage equality, and initially brought the issue of non-citizen, legal resident, municipal voting rights to the Charter Commission. Trevorrow is an intelligent and motivated young candidate with progressive politics the League of Young Voters can proudly back.  Anna is a Clean Elections candidate. 

Charles Bragdon is young-at-heart.  Over the past year, you may have seen him at numerous events, showing support for health care reform, changes to Portland’s charter, and marriage equality. Charlie has been instrumental in helping out with the League of Young Voters’ legal resident voting petition campaign. In his professional life, he owns and operates a cab business.  After being registered as a Democrat during an unsuccessful bid to unseat City Councilor Kevin Donoghue last year, Charles quickly switched his registration to the Green Party and announced his State Rep candidacy.  The League will not be endorsing Charles, and, instead, will be watching how he develops as a Green Party leader.  We do, however, want to thank Charles for his hard work on our petition campaign!  Charles is a Clean Elections candidate.

So What About Unopposed Candidates?
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (Democrat, 1st District), State Reps Anne Haskell (Democrat, District 117)  and Jon Hinck (Democrat, District 118), and Senator Justin Alfond, the founder of the Maine League of Young Voters, were endorsed by the League when they ran for office two years ago.  We’re not not endorsing them this time around—it’s just that they are running unopposed and certainly don’t need our help to make it through the primary! The same goes for the other unopposed candidates who want to represent Portland up in Augusta. Instead, we’ve chosen to focus on races where voters have to make a decision.  You may have noticed, too, that no Independents are listed in our gubernatorial write-ups.  That’s because Independents don’t face a primary.   Don’t worry, though—as the general election approaches, we’ll publish another voter guide and let you know where all the candidates stand. 

Where to Vote
All Portland districts are split into precincts, which determine where you vote.  Please go to www.portlandmaine.gov/voter/distlook.asp to look up where you vote.  REMEMBER, you can vote NOW!  You can go to City Hall any weekday and vote.  If you’re not registered, don’t worry.  You can vote the same day that you register—just bring a photo ID and proof of address (like a utility bill) to City Hall.  If you have questions, give us a call:  207.772.3207.

Hey, How Come Representatives In My Town Aren't Listed?
The League has a very committed bunch of volunteers that work dozens of hours a month doing research on candidates and issues Portlanders are going to vote on.  If you would like to help us start an elections committee in your town, let us know!  It's a great way to get to know more about the political process and the people that are running our government.  Email will@theleague.com or give us a call at 207.772.3207.

Paid for by League of Young Voters Political Action Committee (LYV PAC) 142 High Street, Suite 302, Portland, Maine, 04101, Will Everitt, Treasurer. Not paid for by any candidate or candidate's committee.