Martin Shuer

Party affiliation: Independent

Age: 58

Town: Windham

Occupation: Photographer (35-year career)

Political experience: MDOT River Road Context Sensitive Solutions Public Advisory Committee, Windham Bike/Ped/Trails Committee, Lippman Park Preserve/Chaffin Pond Stakeholder Committee. I’ve been long engaged as a Windham resident in our governmental processes. Frequently attend and participate in Windham Town Council, other town government, and RSU14 School District meetings. Have been a community advocate in working with state and federal officials and our legislative representatives on transportation/infrastructure projects, education and healthcare initiatives, as well as local and state finance concerns. I’ve established a good working relationship with Maine Dept. of Transportation officials, PACTS staff, RSU14 Windham/Raymond School district administrative staff, and others.

1. What do you think the three most important issues are? Please identify at least one of those issues specific to your district.

The economy/jobs, healthcare, and education.

2. What do you think the solutions are?

In order to solve the many significant problems being faced by Mainers, and Americans, our elective officials need to start working together in a non-partisan manner. I remain optimistic that things can and will get better, that our best times are still ahead of us, not behind us. However, the risk is that the growing economic crisis will become even more difficult to resolve unless there’s a thoughtful and cooperative effort put forth by those who serve us in government.

Partisan politics continue to get in the way of finding creative solutions by preventing a constructive dialogue. I’m running as an independent Maine Senate candidate to make it clear that I want to be an effective advocate for all of the residents of District 12, not to represent the agenda of either party.

If elected I will engage in a thoughtful dialogue on behalf of citizens, not driven by special interests or party doctrine. To that end, I would advocate for a state and national economic recovery program that will create jobs, stimulate our consumer-driven retail economy, while repairing our failing infrastructure. Large problems often require broad initiatives to resolve them. I will embark on a mission to advocate for “nation building,” this time at home. We’ve found the financial resources to support costly wars and financial sector bailouts. It’s time to focus our attention on repairing and improving our roads, bridges, transportation systems, schools, manufacturing facilities, energy resources and hospitals. We need to provide incentives for keeping and creating jobs here, not exporting them to other countries. In the process of employing countless Americans in this effort, we will collectively move our state and nation to a better place. History has proven that when Americans work together in a cooperative effort anything is possible: from winning world wars to walking on the moon, from responding to natural disasters to finding innovative medical cures and advanced technological accomplishments.

3. Do you support same-sex marriage? Please explain your position.

Yes, I support same-sex marriage. Maine has a long tradition of supporting the rights of the individual. Our national Pledge of Allegiance proclaims “with liberty and justice for all.” Same-sex couples engaged in loving committed long-term relationships should be afforded the same rights and responsibilities under the law. The current inequity that prevents those individuals from having access to the same opportunities as heterosexual couples is unjustifiable. They pay the same taxes, raise their children in responsible and loving households, and contribute to their communities. The civil rights movement and resultant legislation of the 1960s should resonate in this current debate. To paraphrase our American doctrine: “That all men (and women) are created equal and have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

While there are clearly many who have religious beliefs that conflict with this initiative, let’s remember that as a nation of laws, not a religious state, we should all enjoy equal protections under the law. Fairness prevails when no one is subject to the ideology or personal philosophy of those who would deny rights to others based on their background, ethnicity, or lifestyle.

Our diversity, as Americans, is what makes us strong and sets us apart as an example to others who yearn for our freedom and opportunities. When we deny those opportunities to our own citizens based on their sexual preference, gender, or orientation it makes us weaker as a nation.

Gary Plummer

Party affiliation: Republican

Age: 66

Town: Windham

Occupation: Retired teacher

Political experience: Windham Town Council, Cumberland County Commissioner and Maine State Representative

1. What do you think the three most important issues are? Please identify at least one of those issues specific to your district.

*Jobs

*Excess Regulation

*Taxes

As I have knocked on doors and talked to people in the Senate District 12, I have talked to many people who can’t find a good paying job. Many of those who are finding work must do two or three jobs to make ends meet.

2. What do you think the solutions are? Be clear and specific.

We must first acknowledge that most new jobs must be created by the private sector. In this region that is small businesses. Government needs to do the things that we can do to make it possible for those businesses to succeed and prosper.

In talking with business owners around Senate District 12, I have heard again and again how difficult it is to deal with the mire of regulations in order to start or expand a business. They are not asking us to eliminate all regulation, but they are advocating for a clear, concise and streamlined process. Whether the answer is “yes” or “no,” they should be able to get an answer in a reasonable amount of time.

I know why people don’t want to hear “I am from the government and I am here to help.” Over my many years as an elected official, I have heard from countless people and businesses who believe they were treated disrespectfully by government officials. I do investigate each complaint to get both sides of the story and have found that sometimes officials have acted inappropriately. Governments must make customer service a priority and always treat the public with respect.

When new jobs are created, government will not have to be concerned about raising new taxes because the people who are working will pay taxes, new to the system, and will not require as much government assistance.

Another area that we, as a legislative delegation, must continue to work on is funding for road repairs. Senator Diamond, Representative Bryant and I have worked as a unified team to attain funding for the River Road. The new delegation will need to keep the pressure on the Transportation Committee and the Department of Transportation to be sure that this area of the state continues to receive our “fair” share of the limited recourses that are available.

3. Do you support same-sex marriage? Please explain your position.

I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, therefore I, personally, cannot support same-sex marriage. With that said, if the people in the area that I am elected to represent do vote to support it, I will accept their decision.

Election 2012Gary Plummer
Martin Shuer