Democrat John Piotti is a strong and effective advocate for the state's dairy industry, much of which is located in the district.

And his tenure as co-chairman of the Legislature's taxation committee resulted in a strong, bipartisan attempt at comprehensive tax reform during the last session, although that attempt didn't go far enough (it was revenue-neutral when it needed to actually lower taxes) and was, ultimately, defeated.

His opponent, Republican Matt Evans, is a provocative and pugnacious attorney who describes himself as a "social and fiscal conservative." Evans' detailed platform is a mix of anti-government, anti-tax and anti-welfare positions popular with conservatives across the country.

While a part of Evans' message is appealing -- Mainers pay too much in taxes and the state needs to cut MaineCare expenditures -- voters in House District 45 have been ably represented by Piotti and should return him to the Statehouse.

He has vowed to bring his work on tax reform to a successful conclusion, though to do that he will have to assemble a bipartisan coalition powerful enough to overcome entrenched Democratic leaders and interests who have resisted that reform for years.

It's a monumental task, but we believe that Piotti has what it takes to do it -- if it can be done at all in a Democratically controlled Statehouse.