Unlike the Presidential election this fall, Mainers have a clear-cut choice for who should represent our state in the United States Senate. For the past 12 years, Sen. Susan Collins has amassed a voting record second to none, which we have not seen in our state since the glory days of the Honorable Margaret Chase Smith. Sen. Collins is emulating the work begun by Sen. Smith, and unmistakably deserves the support of all Maine voters to return her to Washington as our U.S. senator.

We should feel enormous pride for having Sen. Collins represent our state. She is not timid in challenging her party leadership, while maintaining the single-minded purpose of prioritizing the needs of the people of the state of Maine. She remains reliably in the mainstream and has done so without missing a vote in the time she has been in Washington.

Her opponent on the other hand, has time and again revealed an inability to show up to work in Congress. Unfortunately for Maine citizens, Rep. Tom Allen has been absent for well over 100 congressional votes. Mainers deserve better, and we must demand that when elected, our elected officials show up for the debate.

While I may not always agree with the senator's stance on issues, she will buck leadership when it comes to representing her constituents. On a number of occasions, her votes have not been to my liking, however, she votes with Maine people as her first priority.

In reviewing the voting record of both senatorial candidates, there are areas of similarities and areas of great differences. Being a conservative, if the candidate is of like mind, I classify them as a strong candidate; if the candidate holds totally opposite views, I classify them as a weak candidate. And if they demonstrate a mainstream view, I classify them as a moderate candidate.

On issues of education, military and health, both Collins and Allen are strong candidates. In matters of trade, both are moderate, and on the issue of immigration both register as weak candidates. There are hundreds of thousand of legal immigrants with much to offer our society, but are denied the opportunity because of the millions who jumped the fence illegally. This I find very unfortunate.

But this is where any semblance of similarity ends between the two candidates.

On votes related to business, free enterprise and national security, Collins comes out very strong, while Allen demonstrates weakness. Maine is a state made up of over 30,000 small and micro-businesses, which expect support from elected officials. On issues involving tax reform, government spending, government reform and conservatism, our junior senator comes out a moderate, while her opponent Allen is clearly a big spender, prefers the status quo and has never seen a tax he won't increase. Being the state with the oldest population in the country, you would expect our elected officials to be concerned and interested in supporting the large population on fixed incomes.

Lastly, and a noteworthy difference between the two candidates, is the issue of liberalism. Here again, from my perspective the choice is a "no brainer." While neither candidate is perfect, Sen. Collins puts Maine people ahead of political partisanship, demonstrates some restraint in spending and taxing, and takes a mainstream view of the issues serving the mainstream point of view for most independent Mainers. She rejects governing from the fringe.

Allen, on the other hand, is a liberal partisan. Our junior senator has the ability and desire to look at both sides of any issue. Her opponent looks at issues with blinders, one-way all the way and cannot see the point of view of the other side, whether it is right, wrong or indifferent.

Return Sen. Collins to Washington; she deserves our trust.

Paul R. LePage is the Republican mayor of Waterville.