Voters in House District 86 face a choice between the incumbent, Philip A. Curtis, a solid Republican lawmaker, and Kathleen V. "Katie" Ouilette, a feisty Republican-turned-Democrat.

Curtis and Ouilette aren't far apart on the issues. They live in a poor county that's hurting for good-paying jobs and that kind of pain tends to focus your thinking. Both say economic development is key, and see state investment as crucial to making that happen. They both also want to reduce the state's tax burden. They agree -- who doesn't? -- that the school consolidation mandate was poorly executed, though Curtis goes further and urges its repeal.

Curtis has served in government since he was a 24-year-old selectman in Madison. Professionally, he has decades of experience in the very unromantic but essential stuff of rural life: road building and maintenance. He has a strong knowledge of the important field utilities regulation, gained from working with Madison's municipally owned utilities district during the deregulation era.

His record on environmental issues is not great -- he voted "No" on a host of reasonable bills in the last session, including one to establish a uniform state building and energy code.

Ouilette has done her share of public service, including a two-term stint on the region's school board. She was also county chairwoman of the Republican Party and her professional background includes marketing and business development. She's been a tireless promoter of Skowhegan and serves on that city's Run of River Committee, which is promoting a whitewater paddling course down the gorge that runs through the middle of downtown.

While Ouilette has a winning personality and a lot of enthusiasm, she's vague when it comes to spelling out concrete positions. Curtis has the edge when it comes to articulating actual policies he'd like to push in the Legislature. He's particularly strong when it comes to discussing the difficult choices ahead for paying for road and bridge repair -- choices that must be made soon in order for Maine to be competitive economically.

The Morning Sentinel endorses Philip A. Curtis for re-election to the Maine House, in the hope that he will work hard to bring economic opportunity to Somerset County and, at the same time, improve his record on the environment, the preservation of which is a crucial component of that opportunity.