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10/14/2008

House District 28: Canaan, Cornville, Hartland, Palmyra and St. Albans

Name: Dean A. Cray

Age: 50

Political Party: Republican

Residence: Palmyra

Employment: Farmer, school bus driver

Education: High school diploma

Political experience: Running for second term as legislator, selectman, road commissioner

Name: Pamela Hitchcock

Age: 60

Political Party: Democratic

Residence: Canaan

Employment: Self-employed

Education: Beal College

Political experience: None

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

Cray: "Support LIHEAP and look at alternative fuel and heat sources for the long term."

Hitchcock: "This is a big problem for all of us. As a small business owner, the high cost of energy is my problem, too. We need to convert to green and renewable energy to ease the burden. Tax credits for the conversion will be a start. Help with home insulation is another thing we can look into."

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

Cray: "I think jobs are crucial in my district and small business creates most of the jobs, so I will continue to work for small business in Augusta."

Hitchcock: "I feel jobs and the economy need improvement. We need to work harder to promote Maine as a business-friendly state. Health care needs to be affordable for everyone along with the high cost of prescriptions. We need to do everything we can to re-negotiate costs."

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

Cray: "I think we need to look closely at regulations, environmental issues, and not over-taxing the businesses we have."

Hitchcock: "I will work to enact laws that are more small business-friendly. We need to encourage economic development and expansion of current businesses. Green energy solutions will add jobs now and into the future. I will work to move Maine in that direction."

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

Cray: "I don't like the way it was passed and I don't think we need more taxes; we need to spend our tax dollars more wisely."

Hitchcock: "I'm not sure imposing a new tax on people already struggling to make ends meet is the best way to help fund Dirigo."

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

Cray: "I would like to see the income tax lowered because it is a tax on working people."

Hitchcock: "I think that both need to be re-visited to ease the burden on all Maine people. Modernization of the income tax code will do that. By changing the sales tax base we will ease the burden."

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

Cray: "I believe health insurance and jobs are of major concern."

Hitchcock: "I think finding ways to better fund services to those in need is a very big issue. Some services just can't be cut any further."

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