Winslow, part of Benton

Name: Kenneth (Ken) Fletcher

Age: 62

Political Party: Republican

Residence: 382 Garland Rd, Winslow, Maine 04901

Employment: Pulp and Paper Consultant

Education: BS in Forestry and Fifth Year Certificate in Pulp and Paper Management from University of Maine at Orono

Political Experience: three terms (six years), Maine House of Representatives

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

FLETCHER: I was asked ... to serve on the Governor's Pre-Emergency Energy Task Force. We worked over the summer to develop the Seven Point Short-term Plan for this winter. I have worked with the Mid-Maine United Way ... to develop the local collaboration to ensure that the information links for assistance are known and coordinated.

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

FLETCHER I will continue to: support the state full funding of K-12 education to the required 55 percent level; work to correct the Support School Administration Consolidation plan; and work to increase the investment to create higher-paying employment opportunities.

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

FLETCHER: The tax structure needs to be modified to be competitive with other states. In addition, we need a fundamental change in thinking that welcomes private sector growth. Maine can not "legislate prosperity." We need to change our policies to attract the private sector investment that will produced the higher paying jobs.

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

FLETCHER: It is clear that Maine people can not afford to have another tax imposed on them when they are struggling to pay for gas to get to work, heating fuel for the winter, and electricity increases that have doubled in the last few years.

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

FLETCHER: Yes. We need to reduce the top marginal income tax rate to reduce the income tax burden on working families.

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

FLETCHER: I believe the economic conditions and poor business climate in Maine will be a major challenge that can no longer be ignored. The ripple effect of the lack of good paying quality jobs and resulting social consequences will be even more dramatic in next two years.

Name: Steven J. Huber

Age: 51

Political Party: Democrat

Residence: Winslow, ME

Employment: Chemistry teacher, Lawrence High School, Fairfield

Education: Immaculate Heart of Mary Parochial School, Fairfield Lawrence High School, Fairfield, graduated in Class of 1975 Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, graduated in Class of 1979 University of Vermont Medical School, Burlington, VT, 1980 University of Maine, Orono, 1984 (teacher certificate requirements)

Family: Divorced, 13 years Single parent for most of special needs son's life 1 child: Garrett, 23, resides in Bangor

Political experience: President of SAD 49 Teachers' Association, 2006-2008

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

HUBER: I would certainly support taking money out of the Rainy Day fund to assist in heating those most affected, including emergency heating shelters. I would also support distributing these monies through the local town governments.

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

HUBER: Host meetings to elicit the input of townsfolk. I am an external processor and value the open discussion of ideas. Traveling through the district and knocking on doors, I have been impressed with the level of knowledge, insight, and interest which people have in a variety of areas.

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

HUBER: We should continue to market Maine to those niche employers who would benefit by moving their operations. For instance, the space rental & employee costs for biotech firms in Massachusetts are much higher than Maine's and the distance from southern Maine is not that great. Tax incentives should be extended to assist firms to relocate.

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

HUBER: Six pennies per bottle of wine. Seven pennies per 20 oz. soda. I find it difficult to believe that the consumers of these products will face a hardship in paying these amounts. Think about it. The beer tax has not been increased since 1961! I am not aware of another tax which has been unchanged for forty-seven years.

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

HUBER: Absolutely, but I would be interested in revenue-neutral changes. Income taxes are too high (as are property taxes - but the legislation to address that in the last Legislative session was opposed by partisan strategists, including my opponent in this race) and are not as efficient as they could be.

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

HUBER: Working folks are finding it hard to pay their bills. We hear of the choices which some people will have to make this winter: fuel, food or medicine? The taxpayer revolt is making it difficult to offer assistance for those less fortunate, or carry out the normal functions of government.