SACO — With just three weeks until the June 8 primary, four of the five Democratic gubernatorial candidates had an opportunity to speak with York County voters in the first of a two-part forum series with candidates from each party, Tuesday. Republican candidates have been invited to speak tonight in Saco, at a second forum hosted by the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce.

Taking part in the question and answer session Tuesday were Democratic candidates Steve Rowe, Patrick McGowan, Rosa Scarcelli and Donna Dion. Candidate Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell was not in attendance because she was campaigning in Aroostook County, according to her campaign manager Jeremy Kennedy. John Richardson dropped out of the race in April, but his name will appear on the ballot.

The Democratic candidates took turns answering questions from those in attendance, posed by the chamber’s Executive Director Craig Pendleton. The audience included those from the business community and other interested voters.

Saco resident Brian Doyle said the governor recently eliminated his job, and he was interested in what the candidates had to say.

“That’s why I’m here, to meet the candidates,” Doyle said. He added he plans to attend part two tonight to hear from the Republican candidates.

Former Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe started the forum off saying that job creation will be an important responsibility of the next governor and small businesses need access to capital for growth.

“Health care is killing our businesses, and so is energy right now,” Rowe said. “If we can reduce (those) costs, it will help.”

All the candidates agreed health care is too expensive, and there is no competition to help keep prices down in Maine.

McGowan, a former state legislator and small business owner, and Dion, a write-in canidate and former Biddeford mayor, agreed and both said a single-payer system is the long-term solution to health care in the United States.

Scarcelli, a businesswoman, said competition is key.

“We can put the exchanges in place in 2011, we don’t have to wait until 2014,” she said, referring to the new federal health care law. “The exchanges are something I would put in place immediately.”

The candidates were all in agreement on how to further reform health care and reduce costs and also said preventative care would help reduce costs for all Americans.

The candidates also all supported a “no” vote on Question 1 on the June ballot. A yes vote would overturn changes to the state sales and income tax.

“The bottom line is $300 will be saved by Maine families with these changes,” McGowan said.

Although the candidates were in agreement, Dion said as sales tax expands, if the changes are confirmed, there will be a period of transition and some business owners are concerned about the impacts.

Continuing on the financial debate, the candidates were asked about their stance on federal regulations for financial institutions following the recession and major problems on Wall Street.

“It is important that we regulate, but it is important to recognize the reality of those regulations,” Scarcelli said. “This is about pragmatism.”

She added that the money used to bail out banks deemed “too big to fail” should have been put into “Main Street.”

All the candidates also said they would support incentive programs like the Pine Tree Zone and Tax Increment Financing Districts.

In addition, though, Dion said training programs should be evaluated and possibly expanded to help draw new businesses to the state. Dion said she would work hard and make the best decisions for the people because she is “not developing a legacy,” but rather trying to move the state forward.

Scarcelli said tax credits and incentives work and those programs should be expanded. She offers a “fresh approach” as a young contender, she said, and believes the state’s economy needs a jump-start ”“ which she could offer.

Rowe closed by reiterating he would create jobs as governor and work to keep young people in the state.

McGowan said he was pleased to be contending in a race with so many candidates with different ideas. He said his small business background will help him as governor, and he knows how to put a budget together after his service in the Legislature.

Mitchell’s campaign manager said today in a phone interview that Mitchell’s top priorities as governor would be jobs, health care and education. Serving in the Legislature during the last 20 years, working as a teacher and in business, qualify her for the position, he said. Mitchell will work with both sides of the aisle and make the tough decisions if elected, Kennedy said.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate forum will be held tonight from 6:30-8 p.m. at the PeoplesChoice Credit Union, 23 Industrial Park Road in Saco.

— Staff Writer Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com.