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Candidates' Forum: Democrats oppose national park

Four contenders also field questions on issues such as Sunday hunting and mandatory paid sick leave.

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA — Democrats running for governor outlined their positions on a national park in northern Maine, Sunday hunting, mandatory paid sick leave and budget issues Thursday at a forum sponsored by the Maine Forest Products Council.

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Steven Rowe, second from left, and Pat McGowan, second from right, speak with Jeremy Payne, left, and Sebastian Belle, right, during a forum sponsored by the Maine Forestry Products Council in Augusta.

Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

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All four who attended – Patrick McGowan, John Richardson, Steven Rowe and Rosa Scarcelli – said they oppose creating a national park in the North Woods.

The four offered different ideas on dealing with the state budget, which faces a $314 million shortfall in the current two-year cycle.

Rowe, who served eight years as attorney general, said the state must look at the Department of Health and Human Services and education budgets for savings.

McGowan, who resigned as commissioner of the state Department of Conservation to run for governor, said he opposes consolidating the state's four natural resource agencies. While their budgets could be trimmed, the agencies represent less than 3 percent of the state General Fund budget, he said.

Richardson, who resigned as head of the state Department of Economic and Community Development to run, said he'd look to Iowa, where "lean management practices" have proven effective.

Scarcelli, who runs a housing company, said Maine has an outdated system of government. "The idea is smarter government, not necessarily smaller government," she said.

Sunday hunting got support from two candidates.

McGowan said he favors it in the unorganized territories as long as a fee is charged. Richardson said he supports it in "parts of the state."

Rowe said he'd have to think about it, and Scarcelli said she'd have to discuss the issue with interested parties.

The candidates spent 90 minutes answering questions from the council before an audience representing professional guides, renewable energy companies, sportsmen, paper mills and small woodlot owners.

The candidates split on whether to require large Maine companies to offer paid sick leave to employees. The measure is sponsored by Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, a gubernatorial candidate who did not attend the forum because of legislative business, said James Cote, a communications specialist with the forest products council.

Rowe said he would support the bill as amended because it would apply only to businesses with 50 or more employees.

Richardson said he opposes it.

"I would veto this bill," he said. "It's well-intentioned, but it's the wrong time."

Scarcelli said Maine should not become the first state in the nation to have such a law.

McGowan said he, too, would oppose the bill.

All four said they would support a constitutional amendment to protect a portion of public money for the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, although McGowan said funds would also have to be protected for the Department of Conservation.

Another topic of discussion was energy – the high cost in Maine and what role windmills, biomass and hydropower would play in the future.

Rowe said pursuing a variety of sources – offshore wind, biomass and tidal – will be the key. "It needs to be diversified," he said.

McGowan said recent state law changes that help speed up approvals for new power generation must be applied to other areas.

"Energy is a critical piece of Maine's future," he said.

Seven Democrats have signed up to run for governor and Monday is the deadline for party candidates to turn in 2,000 signatures to secure a place on the June ballot.

MaineToday Media Reporter Susan Cover can be contacted at 620-7015 or at:

scover@centralmaine.com