“When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that is still an evil.” – Max Lerner, American journalist and columnist

Election Day and Windham’s annual town meeting have passed and I am mostly satisfied as to how things came out. I usually always seem to vote in the minority and this time things were different. Question 1 was the repeal of legislation that would have reduced the state income tax but vastly broadened the sales tax. It was a confusing question because in order to say no to the Legislature one had to check the “Yes” block on the ballot.

The statewide result was about 2-to-1 in favor of abolishing what the state Legislature had stated was tax reform and relief. Thank God many citizens saw through the political smoke cloud and passed Question 1.

But, as usual, the majority of Maine voters increased next year’s budget by passing all of the bond questions. After an expected $1 billion dollar shortfall in next year’s state budget, what does $100 million matter anyways?

An important part of this election were the primaries for the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor. I truthfully couldn’t care less who won the Democratic race but it was Libby Mitchell, a lifetime politician that loves to spend more money than we can produce.

Paul LePage was the surprise winner for the Republican race, and he did it with far less money than those who poured buckets of gold thinking that they could buy the honor of running for governor. I will fully support Paul LePage in any manner that I can. His political record in Waterville shows what a worthwhile candidate he is.

There will be three independent candidates running for governor also and I noticed that their political advertisements are already in the media. Oh well, I was getting kind of tired of the commercial that goes something like, “Give me the fish, give me the fish.”

Since every Windham candidate for the state Legislature was unopposed, the most important part of the ballot was the school budget and the mandatory state referendum question if the school budget should be voted on by the voters or by the school committee. I expected the school budget to pass, and it did. I was happy that the voters decided it was best for them to have the final say on the school budget instead of the school committee. As a matter of fact, I believe that each county budget and the state budget should be approved or disapproved by the voters.

Last, but certainly not least, Windham’s town meeting was held last Saturday. I didn’t count the number of citizens attending but I would say it was somewhat less than 100. Although some will think that I must have been on drugs to write what you are about to read, it’s time to give credit where credit is due. First, let me state I have never voted to approve a Windham town or school budget. This year Tommy Gleason, myself and several friends all voted for the council’s recommended budget, and it passed.

Old Windham (one doesn’t have to be old to be connected to Old Windham) showed up to change the proposed budget and Tommy argued that the council’s budget committee worked hard to come up with a budget that citizens would pass. As far as I am concerned, he convinced the majority of residents present at the town meeting to pass the budget.

I, too, must praise both the budget committee and the town council for its work in bringing forth the town budget that it did. No, I don’t agree with every aspect of it, but I am willing to bet that’s true for most citizens. The budget discussion was open to all to attend (only Gleason attended every one) or to view on Channel 7 or the Internet. Gleason was totally correct when he stated if someone had not attended any of the budget meetings, why did they attend the town meeting to complain at the end of the process. I won’t always agree with all the councilors all the time but I personally congratulate Councilor Matt Noel in his leadership of the budget committee. I hope Windham continues this committee and adds some citizens to it for next year.

I close this column with one small comment. Sometimes the decisions of the town council appear to have been made without substantial public discussion so the appearance is that the decision was made off of the public record beforehand. It would be in the best interest of the council and the town that something be done to correct this appearance.

Lane Hiltunen lives in Windham.

“When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that is still an evil.” – Max Lerner, American journalist and columnist

Election Day and Windham’s annual town meeting have passed and I am mostly satisfied as to how things came out. I usually always seem to vote in the minority and this time things were different. Question 1 was the repeal of legislation that would have reduced the state income tax but vastly broadened the sales tax. It was a confusing question because in order to say no to the Legislature one had to check the “Yes” block on the ballot.

The statewide result was about 2-to-1 in favor of abolishing what the state Legislature had stated was tax reform and relief. Thank God many citizens saw through the political smoke cloud and passed Question 1.

But, as usual, the majority of Maine voters increased next year’s budget by passing all of the bond questions. After an expected $1 billion dollar shortfall in next year’s state budget, what does $100 million matter anyways?

An important part of this election were the primaries for the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor. I truthfully couldn’t care less who won the Democratic race but it was Libby Mitchell, a lifetime politician that loves to spend more money than we can produce.

Paul LePage was the surprise winner for the Republican race, and he did it with far less money than those who poured buckets of gold thinking that they could buy the honor of running for governor. I will fully support Paul LePage in any manner that I can. His political record in Waterville shows what a worthwhile candidate he is.

There will be three independent candidates running for governor also and I noticed that their political advertisements are already in the media. Oh well, I was getting kind of tired of the commercial that goes something like, “Give me the fish, give me the fish.”

Since every Windham candidate for the state Legislature was unopposed, the most important part of the ballot was the school budget and the mandatory state referendum question if the school budget should be voted on by the voters or by the school committee. I expected the school budget to pass, and it did. I was happy that the voters decided it was best for them to have the final say on the school budget instead of the school committee. As a matter of fact, I believe that each county budget and the state budget should be approved or disapproved by the voters.

Last, but certainly not least, Windham’s town meeting was held last Saturday. I didn’t count the number of citizens attending but I would say it was somewhat less than 100. Although some will think that I must have been on drugs to write what you are about to read, it’s time to give credit where credit is due. First, let me state I have never voted to approve a Windham town or school budget. This year Tommy Gleason, myself and several friends all voted for the council’s recommended budget, and it passed.

Old Windham (one doesn’t have to be old to be connected to Old Windham) showed up to change the proposed budget and Tommy argued that the council’s budget committee worked hard to come up with a budget that citizens would pass. As far as I am concerned, he convinced the majority of residents present at the town meeting to pass the budget.

I, too, must praise both the budget committee and the town council for its work in bringing forth the town budget that it did. No, I don’t agree with every aspect of it, but I am willing to bet that’s true for most citizens. The budget discussion was open to all to attend (only Gleason attended every one) or to view on Channel 7 or the Internet. Gleason was totally correct when he stated if someone had not attended any of the budget meetings, why did they attend the town meeting to complain at the end of the process. I won’t always agree with all the councilors all the time but I personally congratulate Councilor Matt Noel in his leadership of the budget committee. I hope Windham continues this committee and adds some citizens to it for next year.

I close this column with one small comment. Sometimes the decisions of the town council appear to have been made without substantial public discussion so the appearance is that the decision was made off of the public record beforehand. It would be in the best interest of the council and the town that something be done to correct this appearance.

Lane Hiltunen lives in Windham.