SACO — Three Republican gubernatorial candidates for governor brought their campaigns here Wednesday night to speak with the public and members of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce, sharing their thoughts on education, economic growth and a host of other topics.

Turnout at the event was light and Chamber Director Craig Pendleton apologized to the candidates, stating that he worked hard to promote the event.

“I don’t understand with the importance of this election why people aren’t showing up,” he said.

The small crowd and fewer candidates allowed more time for each to speak, however, and for participants to talk with attendees after the forum.

“How can anybody get to know you in a 60-second sound bite?” said candidate Peter Mills.

Candidates Les Otten and Mills agreed on many points during the forum. Also in attendance was write-in candidate Marty Vachon. The five other candidates who will be on the ballot were not able to attend the forum: Steve Abbott, William Beardsley, Paul LePage, Matt Jacobsen and Bruce Poliquin.

Mills, an attorney and Vietnam veteran, has served in the Maine Legislature for 16 years. Otten is a businessman and former CEO of American Skiing Company. Vachon is an electrician and though he has no experience in a legislative body other than as a Town Meeting member in Sanford, Vachon said he felt running for governor “was the only way” to effect change.

Jobs and economic development were at the core of the night’s discussion and Otten stressed that power needs to be at the local level, with less government.

“The answer to job creation in Maine is to change the environment,” said Otten. “Our tax burden is among the highest in the United States, which discourages business.

“We need to cut $1 billion out of the budget ”¦ and it will take resolve and extraordinary measures to do it,” he said.

Mills agreed that state government must be more transparent and social services should be more focused on helping people out of a state of dependency rather than perpetuating it.

Mills said he is in favor of lowering the capital gains tax and both he and Otten agreed that health care costs are too high in Maine. Two months ago, Mills’ “Fund of funds” legislation was signed into law, which allows for the state to guarantee up to 80 percent of loss through the state pension system if an investor puts money into an industry that is currently part of the Maine economy.

Candidate Marty Vachon stressed strong family values, smaller schools and smaller government throughout his brief comments during the forum.

On environmental issues, Mills said the state’s regulations need to be clarified. Otten said he would eliminate the Land Use Regulation Commission because it provides more red tape for businesses, who already deal with local authorities and the Department of Environmental Protection.

The income tax issue, Question 1 on the June ballot, is one of the few issues on which Mills and Otten disagreed. A yes vote would overturn changes to the state sales and income tax.

Mills said he would not vote to repeal the changes, as they are an improvement to the current tax code and shift some of the tax burden onto visitors. Otten countered that the change is “nothing more than rearranging deck chairs.”

Families who vacation in Maine have a finite amount of money budgeted for their trip, so businesses will be giving up revenue to the tax, he said.

With regard to education, Otten said he would support charter schools that allow leaders to fire under-performing teachers.

“Without the ability to fire teachers who are not producing, you get stuck with a lot of dead wood,” he said, adding that tenure “is not the way it works in the real world.”

Mills advocated for evaluation of students during the school year and said he would make it his goal as governor to have all 7-year-olds literate.

Steve Abbott, chief of staff for U.S. Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, was unable to attend the forum, but did have a representative there. Abbott told the Journal Tribune via e-mail that his “number one priority is to make Maine the best place in the nation to do business.

“I’ll work hard to reduce the cost of doing business, and to end the constant adversarial attitude from our state government toward businesses,” he wrote.

Matt Jacobsen, CEO of Maine & Company, was also unable to attend the forum. He said via e-mail to the Journal Tribune, “Right now, we need jobs more than anything, and creating good jobs is what I do for a living.”

Jacobsen said he would reduce taxes on those who create opportunities, streamline the application of Maine’s business and environmental regulations; and make sure students are adequately prepared.

Beardsley, LePage and Poliquin did not return requests for comment by press time.

Referencing the low turnout at the forum, Mills urged people to register in a political party and to vote on June 8.

“Les and I and others are deeply concerned that people will see (this election) as seven boring white guys over 50,” he said, noting that voter turnout is expected to be low. “June 8 is your chance ”“ your vote will count more on June 8 than any other time in your life.”

— City Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 322 or kristenm@journaltribune.com.