Anson, Bingham, Caratunk, Carrabassett Valley, Embden, Jackman, Moose River, Moscow, New Portland, Wellington and Plantations of Brighton, Coplin, Dennistown, Highland, Pleasant Ridge, The Forks and West Forks, plus the unorganized territories of Concord, Lexington and Wyman Townships, Northeast Somerset (including Rockwood Strip) Northwest Somerset and Seboomook Lake.

Name: Garrison (Garry) E. Cupples

Age: 64

Political Party: Democrat

Residence: New Portland

Employment: Retired teacher

Education: BA English, University of Texas; Diploma in Education, Bishop's University, Lennoxville Quebec

Political experience: Chairman, Somerset County Democrats; town chairman, New Portland Democrats.

Name: Wright H. Pinkham Sr.

Age: 67

Political Party: Republican:

Residence: Lexington Twp.

Employment: Retired

Education: Vocational, technical School

Political experience: Four years in state Legislature

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

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

CUPPLES: I will work with the legislature to propose and pass legislation to provide immediate energy assistance. I will also push hard for federal assistance.

PINKHAM: First, the short time goal is to provide the funding that is available to get us through the upcoming winter for those in need. Second, the long term goal is to revamp our welfare system in order to truly provide for the needy. We all know of families that have taken advantage of our welfare system who are, to put it plainly, lazy and greedy. These are the people that we need to get off the gravy train in order to provide better help for others, including health care.

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

PINKHAM: The biggest issue facing our towns and cities is ever increasing property taxes. The legislature need to pass legislation that actually deals with the issue, and not do as we have done in the past, with legislation such as school consolidation, jail consolidation, etc. in that communities are not seeing any savings, in most cases in my district, only added cost.

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

CUPPLES: I plan to work for green collar jobs in Maine, by encouraging the establishment of alternative energy facilities.

PINKHAM: In order to provide jobs in Maine, we must first make it easier for business to locate in Maine. Excessive over-regulation and high taxes are two of the major stumbling blocks. We need to have a better business climate in Maine, period.

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

CUPPLES: I think it would be a mistake to repeal the beverage tax. Until a universal health care system is created by the federal government, the Dirigo Health Plan needs to be maintained and expanded. A few pennies on non-essential beverages is a reasonable price to pay for improved health care.

PINKHAM: I would expect it to be repealed. In fact, I urge people to vote "Yes" for repeal. The fact that it came before the Legislature in the middle of the night without public hearings is not an acceptable way for Legislature to do business. It was intended to fund Dirigo Health Insurance, which is a failed program. There are other ways to provide better health care at a cheaper rate if the governor would only accept the fact it's not working. The prediction was by this time there would be 130,000 Mainers on the program. It has gone from a high of 15,000 or so members down to about 10,000 members. I do not advocate dumping those currently in Dirigo Health. In fact, I will not vote for any legislation that does not provide health insurance that is better and cheaper for those members.

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

CUPPLES: It is possible that there are changes which will need to be made to the income tax and sales tax.

PINKHAM: I have based my campaign for the last two terms on helping business, providing jobs and no new taxes. I might consider a plan if it can be proven not to raise taxes, but make some equitable shifts.

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

CUPPLES: After talking to people throughout District 88, I have found that the most critical issues they are facing are health care and high energy costs.

PINKHAM: In my opinion, the ever increasing use of drugs and alcohol are a major problem in Maine. Reading the newspaper, watching news and reading the court news it is apparent that many of the burglaries, family abuse and murders are directly related to drugs and alcohol. I wish I had a solution. The breakdown of the family structure is probably the prevalent cause. How do we reinstate or legislate that?