ROCKPORT — At the close of the 120-minute candidates forum at the Rockport Opera House, Oct. 19, more than 60 citizens had a better understanding of where four local candidates running for state office stand headed to the polls, even if they hadn't yet made up their minds whom to elect. The Rockport Public Library's annual Maine Senate and Legislative forum was moderated by Dan Bookham, of Allen Insurance and Financial, and cohosted by PenBayPilot.com.

The Candidates Forum was videotaped and is accessible by watching segments of it posted on YouTube. The links are below and correspond to the questions that were asked. The videos at the right also correspond to the questions listed below. The Forum is also being replayed on Public Access Channel 22 for Camden and Rockport.


1: Introduction by the candidates


When Legislature reconvenes in January it will face a $100 million deficit. How will you contribute to solving the problem, where would you cut spending, where would you get the money?


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2: Question 1: How many bills have you sponsored. Of the ones you sponsored, which are you most proud of. For Carole: What bills might you put forward? What types of bills might you cosponsor?

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3: What is your position on the liquid petroleum tank in Searsport?

Have you ever voted against your party? Example? if you haven't, why not?

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4: How do you feel about same-sex marriage, and why?

Be specific: How would you grow small businesses and employment? Not just the rhetoric.

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5: Health care, LD 1333, Where do you stand on it, and where do you stand on universal health care?


As a young voter, I want to know why I should vote for you?

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6: Picture identifications and secure voting registration: What is your position?

What is your opinion on virtual schools?


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7: What can be done to get Maine back on track and addressing energy efficiency?

What is the issue which would be most important to you if elected and what do you bring to resolving this issue?


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8: Closing statements

Questions came via emails, by individual voters speaking from the floor, or they were penciled onto notecards and passed to the front of the room. Bookham then posed questions to the four candidates, who included House District 46 candidates Carole Gartley (R) and Joan Welsh (D), both of Rockport; and Senate District 22 candidates Ed Mazurek (D-Rockland) and Chris Rector (R-Thomaston).

To kick off the forum, each of the candidates was given three minutes to present an opening statement.

Mazurek, a longtime coach and teacher in Rockland, said his goals were to "bring back the balance to Augusta" and to move Maine forward. He said given the state's status as the "oldest" in terms of age per capita and rising health care costs were problems in need of a solution.

"We also want to keep our natural resources pristine and protect them, and the future of tomorrow rests in the education of our children — that is key for the state and the nation," said Mazurek.

Rector cited his 40 years of business experience as helping him take a "tough position on fiscal discipline."

"I have been applauded for my tough stand against the governor [Paul LePage]," said Rector. "I am for education, protecting the most vulnerable and I have a bipartisan record."

Gartley spoke of her business experience and background as a public school teacher. She said her role as a partner in the development of the Breakwater Marketplace in Rockland taught her how to collaborate in creating a "model for how public and private entities can work together."

"My background as a public school teacher gave me courage to run for office," said Gartley. "I am a problem-solver, so the leap for me to go from teacher to construction manager to becoming my own business owner is not surprising."

Welsh said she brings a wealth of experience in the business sector, notably through her work with nonprofits for 30-plus years.

She said that that experience growing revenues, managing employees and dealing with rising health care costs all helped her understand what it's like for the business community. She also cited her work with the educational organization Outward Bound for helping foster her understanding of the "importance of education."

"I am hoping to put to use all of the information I have learned over the past terms," said Welsh.

The questions posed to the candidates originated from Bookham, from citizens via email and from the floor Friday night. They included, "How many bills have you sponsored or co-sponsored, and which one are you most proud of?" "With the looming budget gap, how will you close it, where will the money come from, where will the cuts come from?" "What is your position on the mega LP Tank in Searsport?" and "In terms of growing small business and employment, how would you grow both specifically?"

The candidates were also asked whether they were able to vote bipartisan, whether there was pressure to vote the "party line" and what their voting history was to back the answer up. In addition, they were asked their stance on upcoming State Referendum Question 1, the Maine Same-Sex Marriage question, and their opinions on LD1333 "An Act To Modify Rating Practices for Individual and Small Group Health Plans and to Encourage Value-Based Purchasing of Health Care Services," Maine's new health insurance reform.

A light moment in the forum came with a question posed by a young student named Heaven, who asked, simply, "Why should I vote for you?"

Mazurek answered first, looking directly at Heaven and saying, "I am a very nice guy."

He went on to add, "I listen and that is key to being a good legislator. To listen and then take action is what I do best...People trust me. They confide in me and can trust me."

Rector followed, and said: "I am a nice guy, too. But this is more than being a nice guy. It's about creating an environment where families survive and thrive, with education for all. Higher education needs to be affordable."

Gartley answered the question by saying she was fully connected to young people in the community. "I love working with young people, connecting them with resources and mentoring them."

Welsh responded by thanking Heaven for her interest and involvement in the night's proceedings, adding that young people are needed to become involved in all parts of government. "My work and adventures at Outward Bound qualify me to understand young people."

The final question of the night, posed by Frank Bean of Rockport via Bookham, was "What is the issue most important to you and what would you do about it?"

Mazurek said transportation, because it "connects Maine internally and with other states."

"We need to develop it [transportation] to grow strong and remain strong," said Mazurek. "Communications needs to grow and strengthen too."

Rector said that innovation is needed, to attract and retain people in Maine.

"Tex Tech Industries in Monmoth was a traditional textile company making tennis ball covers. They adapted to create products for defense and that firefighters can use. Innovation did that," said Rector.

Gartley said that strong families are important for a variety of reasons, so for her, workforce development is an important issue.

"We need to eliminate the gap between skills and available jobs, and we need to collaborate more," said Gartley.

Welsh said as an outdoors person, the environment is a precious resource for the state.

"We need to find ways to keep the environment whole and protected, which is also a driver for our community. People who work here virtually do it because of our environment," said Welsh.

Links to the candidates on Facebook:

— Ed Mazurek
— Chris Rector

— Carole Gartley
— Joan Welsh