Eloise Vitelli

Age: 65

Occupation: Director of Program and Policy, Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community

Political background: Democrat

Times Record: Why are you running for office?

Eloise Vitelli: I want to continue work I have been doing for over 30 years: Creating opportunities for Maine people to find good jobs, get an education, or start a small business. I believe my voice matters.

TR: What are the top three issues you’ll have to deal with if elected?

EV: Our biggest assets are our people and our place, so the first issue is education — Pre-K through adult learners. We need to adequately and fairly support our public schools, make post-secondary education accessible and affordable, encourage and create diverse pathways for lifelong learning so Maine people have the skills needed to compete in today’s economy. Second, is the economy. We need to grow our economy from the ground up by supporting our small businesses, our entrepreneurs and innovators, and help them create good jobs. We need to invest in 21st century infrastructure, specifically broadband. We need to raise the minimum wage, expand access to health care. Our environment is the third priority, both the natural and built world we inhabit. We need to continue to protect our air, water and land; reduce dependence on fossil fuels, increase use of renewable energy; preserve our historic towns and communities.

TR: What skills or strengths do you bring to office?

EV: I have broad experience in workforce and economic development; have designed and implemented programs, creating new opportunities for Maine people. Having served on numerous boards, I know how to bring people together around a common mission and get things done. I am an optimist able to envision possibilities.

TR: Why should voters choose you?

EV: Though I came into office mid-session and faced a steep learning curve to catch up to my colleagues, I accomplished a fair amount in the short session, passing a Pre-K bill, and sponsoring a successful solar energy policy bill, as examples. I earned the respect of members and advocates on both sides of the aisle as Senate Chair of the ACF committee and contributed to the innovative work of the Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce. I believe good governance comes from listening to each other and working together to solve common problems that move us towards a shared vision.

Linda Baker

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired public school teacher

Political background: Topsham Selectwoman, Topsham Finance Committee, Topsham Finance Committee Chairwoman

Times Record: Why are you running for office?

Linda Baker: Our graduates leave the state because Maine can’t compete for high paying jobs. At the same time, our retirees are leaving the state because of Maine’s high income tax. I will establish priorities to reduce spending and create a tax system that encourages investment in Maine.

TR: What are the top three issues you’ll have to deal with if elected?

LB: Creating jobs — Maine needs to do more than just give bond money to a few businesses. The state can assist business development by ensuring our workers are well trained, cutting burdensome and unnecessary regulations, and by exploring and facilitating permitting for affordable energy opportunities.

Welfare reform — We must change how we spend taxpayers’ money and prioritize limited resources for those in greatest need such as children, the elderly and disabled. Our social service system was never intended to be a career; it’s intended to help people get on their feet and become independent.

Tax reform — Our businesses and our retirees are leaving the state because our taxes are too high. Our rates are a major impediment to business recruitment and expansions. Property taxes are also too high, especially in mid-coast Maine. Making the state pay follow the law and pay its full share of education would be major tax relief.

TR: What skills or strengths do you bring to office?

LB: Thirty-plus years in the classroom has taught me to be a good listener, an arbitrator of disputes and able to be heard above the din. In addition, I have strong budgetary skills from my service as selectwoman, finance committee member, financial manager of a non-profit and bank operations manager.

TR: Why should voters choose you?

LB: To date, outside special interests have spent $33,875 to reelect the incumbent, but voters are ready for a change. We must get our fiscal house in order and that means tough decisions. Going door-to-door, I have been honest with the voters about what I will do in Augusta and it has struck a chord. My 30 years in local classrooms have given me a unique understanding of the problems and the needs of this area. My students say I was tough but fair and looked out for the underdog. That’s what I will bring to Augusta.

Alice E. Knapp

Age: 55 (on Oct. 28)

Occupation: Selfemployed small town country lawyer

Political background: President of the student government my senior year of high school, on the executive committee of the student forum at Bard College, active with the Green Party and co-chair of the Sagadahoc Greens 1989- 1998, Town of Richmond Board of Selectmen (June 1998 to June 2001, November 2001 to June 2005, chairperson during final year( s) of term), Richmond Planning Board Member from 1991-1998, cochair 1995- 1998; ran for State Senate as a Clean Election Independent Candidate in 2004, received 14 percent of the overall vote and defeated the victorious incumbent, Arthur Mayo, in Richmond; public member of the Sagadahoc County Budget Advisory Committee 2005-2008; president of No New Corridors Richmond 1997-98, which worked with similarly impacted communities in a failed bid to get the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require the Maritime & Northeast pipeline to stick to existing utilities corridors (FERC staff supported our alternate route after more than a year of hearings but the Commissioners flipped the staff recommendation); successfully advocated for and drafted LD 1620, which, in amended form, was enacted April 1, 2010 as PL Chapter 588, An Act To Protect Health Care Consumers from Catastrophic Debt, Maine’s first-in-the-nation state law prohibiting aggregate benefit caps in health insurance plans; president for a spell of the Richmond Area Health Center Community Advisory Board, former Board member of Consumers For Affordable Healthcare, and founding and current member of Maine AllCare.

Times Record: Why are you running for office?

Alice Knapp: I was asked and believe I have much to contribute if given the opportunity. I would challenge the sacred cows and self-limiting concepts miring our politics in favor of fresh approaches capable of unlocking the enormous spirit, talent, vitality and potential of Maine’s fiercely independent, yet communityminded people.

TR: What are the top three issues you’ll have to deal with if elected?

AK: 1) Creating the conditions that unlock meaningful economic opportunities for Maine people by, among other things: i) providing life-long learning opportunities that develop valuable job and entrepreneurial skills; ii) implementing a statewide, single payer health care system, which, writ large, is the same model implemented by Maine’s largest employers and Medicare. This would: make our businesses more competitive; rationalize health claims administration; reduce our off the charts health care spending; protect Maine people from premature death and bankruptcy; and, for the first time, institutionalize fairness.

2) Rationalizing taxing and spending by, among other things: i) drastically reducing tax exemptions, which roughly equal the combined sales and income taxes taken in; ii) reforming our regressive property tax system; iii) stopping subsidies to people and entities that don’t need them; iv) addressing education funding

3) Environmental protection to include investments in energy efficiency and the development of sustainable energy.

TR: What skills or strengths do you bring to office?

AK: I excel at critical thinking, analysis, creative problem solving, thinking outside the box, and public speaking. I can explain complicated issues in readily understandable terms. I’ve been politically active in a variety of capacities for 3 decades and have enough hard won experience to have gained some wisdom and humility.

TR: Why should voters choose you?

AK: The legislature is full of fine people on both sides of the aisle, but in most instances they can be expected to vote their party line. The major parties are too ideologically driven to undertake a truly self- critical look at whether the policies they advocate are working for all Maine people. They also cater to their base resulting in policy designed to create and preserve special interest advantage. My independent voice is needed to help restore reason and fairness to government policy. Unlike my opponents, I would be free to publicly recognize the legitimate issues raised by both major parties.