Name: Susan D. Mackey-Andrews

Age: 59

Political Party: Democrat

Residence: Dover-Foxcroft

Web site: Sue4SenateDist27.com

Employment: Founder/president of Solutions Consulting Group LLC, which helps municipal and state governments provide services for families and very young children

Education: B.S. degree (Magna Cum Laude), education; University of Massachusetts.

Political experience: Co-chair of the Regional School Unit 18 Regional Planning Committee, Charter Commission for Dover-Foxcroft Appointee; advocate for young children with disabilities, early-childhood systems and for senior citizens

Name: Douglas M. Smith

Age: 61

Political Party: Republican

Residence: Dover-Foxcroft

Employment: Tree farmer, retired attorney and probate judge

Education: Foxcroft Academy, '65; B.A. Univ. of Maine. '69; Juris Doctor, Univ. of Maine Law School, '74

Political experience: 1970-76: Maine House of Representatives; 2006, elected to the Maine Senate.

 

1. What can you, as a state legislator, do to help people struggling this year with the high cost of gas and oil?

Mackey-Andrews: "Advocate for additional federal-energy supports and state funds to meet the need. This will take a combination of solutions, over time. Would promote conservation and recycling at home and workplace, and support greater use of hydro, wind, solar, geothermal-power and other creative options."

Smith: "Work with local organizations to encourage assistance to those in need; provide information on state programs that could help. Have proposed two-year $5,000 tax credit against 2008 and 2009 income taxes for heating-system conversions/supplementation, weatherization and efficiency measures."

2. How would you handle the biggest issues facing the towns in your district?

Mackey-Andrews: "I will work to unify our rural area by meeting with other elected officials, attending town meetings on a regular basis, and meeting with citizens through regularly scheduled local "listening forums." Rather than assuming what the problems and priorities are, I believe we should ask voters directly and then set about an agenda which responds to what they direct us to do."

Smith: "The ecomomy needs massive amounts of capital investment to create jobs; this has been inhibited by high state-income taxes, high costs of regulatory compliance, high health-insurance costs and high electricity costs, all of which must be addressed for economic recovery."

3. Do you have any plans that would result in more jobs for Maine?

Mackey-Andrews: "Rural Maine needs a sound infrastructure to attract new businesses, good roads, technology, great schools and reasonable property taxes. By creating healthy and strong communities, we will keep our population and attract new families They will bring their creative business ideas and attract other businesses due to the vibrancy of our communities."

Smith: "Yes, to introduce an Economic Recovery Act that will embody the items set forth in answer No. 2."

4. What do you think of the beverage-tax repeal on the November ballot?

Mackey-Andrews: "I do not support it. We need to seek more progressive tax approaches that involve all of the people who use Maine resources, its roads and public facilities; and extends targeted benefits to residents who contribute to the employment, health and welfare of our state by residing here year-round."

Smith: "The repeal should succeed because Maine has sufficient revenue ($6.3 billion) to more than meet the needs of the people. The Dirigo Health program is a failed experiment that should have been terminated rather."

 

5. Would you support legislation to change the income tax or sales tax?

Mackey-Andrews: "Yes. We need to overhaul the way we approach both taxes and spending by creating priorities that drive the taxation process and result in services and supports that people need and value."

Smith: "I have twice introduced legislation to cut the Maine income tax in half, which would put Maine in the middle of the pack among those states with income taxes. The sales tax rate is acceptable. Won't support any tax increases even as an off-set to decreases of other taxes."

 

6. What's the biggest social issue facing the state in the next two years?

Mackey-Andrews: "Health care. Our children and grandchildren will pay for the medical needs of people who go without health care today. Healthy citizens are healthy workers, and attract viable businesses that invest and stay in our communities."

Smith: "How to redesign the massive and unaffordable welfare programs that Maine currently supports without destroying the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens."