“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” -Winston Churchill

Lane/Tommy: We are supportive of those candidates who champion spending reform such as Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Mainers have been promised time and time again by our elected officials that we would receive tax relief and reform. All we have received from these lies are higher taxes. To top it off we paid for the supposed tax relief with our own money. We feel that the following candidates for various offices will take Maine in the right direction and please realize we do not have the column space for all.

Lane: My vote for governor of the state of Maine goes to Chandler Woodcock. Our present governor has done to Maine what Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did to Louisiana as both are rated economic disaster areas. Although Baldacci claims he created 24,000 new jobs (he has never given us a list) he is lying by omission because he fails to state that Maine lost more jobs than he supposedly created.

Baldacci also boasts that he did not raise broad-based taxes but fails to mention how many hundreds of millions of dollars were brought into the state trough because he increased fees across the board.

I also laugh at his pitiful commercial where he states he took on President Bush over military base closings in Maine. Hello? John, ever hear of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission?

Chandler Woodcock has the right stuff to turn Maine around and ensure not only our future but the futures of our children and grandchildren. That’s much better than driving our children out of this state.

Tommy: I also feel that Chandler Woodcock is the best choice for Maine’s next governor. Change is needed for Maine instead of empty promises of tax relief and reform. Chandler will begin by looking at Maine’s financial woes by using an outside auditor. Under Baldacci we have heard of hundreds of millions of missing dollars at the Department of Health and Human Services alone. Has anyone been held accountable? Under Chandler’s leadership we would hear him say, “Where’s the money?” Honesty, integrity and straightforwardness are qualities that all Mainers deserve in a governor. Chandler has the character to lead Maine to a better future. He is the only viable candidate that supports Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Lane/Tommy: We support the following candidates from Windham: Lani Kelly for Senate District 12, Gary Plummer for House District 111, Clayton Haskell for House District 110 and Donna Chapman for Cumberland County Registrar of Deeds.

Lani Kelly is a dynamic person who is committed to lowering Mainers’ tax burden, advocates education and has the new leadership needed to lead Maine in a new direction. Gary Plummer is a proven leader with experience. He believes we cannot continue to spend beyond our means. Clayton Haskell is a small business owner who is committed to tax relief and knows how difficult it is to be a farmer in this state. Together they make a powerful team that will move Maine into a prosperous future.

Donna Chapman is running for Registrar of Deeds because she has set a goal of bringing that office up to today’s standards and making public records available online to the citizens of this county for free. We feel that their opponents will continue the status quo, and Maine’s tax burden will continue to be number one in this nation.

Other candidates that need your support are Al Austin who is running for Cumberland County Commissioner. John Robinson is running for House District 103. Richard Cebra is running for House District 101. If these names are on your ballot, please vote for them. Again, the alternative is a continuing high tax burden.

Tommy: I state again that we are encouraging your vote for those candidates who are backing Maine’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The opposing candidates have not shown what they propose for tax and spending reform if elected. To us, it indicates they would keep the status quo. Mainers have been carrying the heaviest tax burden in this country and a vote for the candidates who support change is a must.

Lane: A few years ago we were promised tax relief if citizens in Maine defeated the Palesky Tax Cap. After the defeat of the Tax Cap initiative, tax relief was supposed to come from LD1. Under LD1 there was an increase in state funding for local education which should have lowered our property taxes. Instead the school boards took the money and ran. The money had to come from somewhere to pay for this invisible tax relief and that “somewhere” is nothing less than our own wallets.

Tommy: Recently, the Maine Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Municipal Association conceded at the 11th hour that LD1 had some hidden flaws. Now they promise to plug the leaks in LD1. If there have been problems all this time, why are they telling us they can fix it this time? We firmly believe we cannot trust the Maine Chamber of Commerce, the MMA, AARP and other acronyms that want our money to give us true tax reform and relief. They are a day late and we are short millions of our own dollars. Vote for candidates that support answering YES on Question 1.