Paula Benoit

Daniel Stromgren

Eloise Vitelli

From Maine Republican Party website: “Paula Benoit has spent her life working in small business and being an active community volunteer for Sagadahoc County. “In Augusta, Paula will continue her common sense, consensus building approach to help solve the tough challenges facing our state. “She lives in Phippsburg with her husband of over 35 years, Joe Benoit. They have three grown children.”

From campaign Facebook page: “Getting ready to go door to door again today. I had a great day yesterday catching up with folks in my home town of Phippsburg. They are always willing to share their stories, good and bad, and I appreciate their raw honesty. We need more of it these days! On with the day!!!”

Wednesday in Richmond:

“I live on the water. I pay a huge amount of taxes. In my community, there are people who are third- or fourth-generations that live in that community on the water, a fishing village, and they’re on a fixed income. … They are land and house rich, and financially poor by all standards. So it is a serious concern. It affects people in ways we don’t really know.”

Going door to door, “you really see how people live. You see the needs that are there. The problem that I see, is that financially, our finances are just stretched so far. If you could just imagine a rubber band that had just lost all of its elasticity. There is no place to bounce back, and people that have money are leaving the state, and we have more people coming in that are enrolling in programs that are costing all of the citizenry money.”

Benoit said as she went door to door, she would sometimes find people home in their pajamas at 1 in the afternoon, watching TV.

“Why are they not working, when you’ve got an elderly person that lives right down the street the could easily lose her farm? There has to be a balance. We have to stop spending more than we’re taking in, and until we do that, it’s going to be very difficult to get money out of Augusta, because there isn’t any money to get out of Augusta.”

For more: https://www.facebook.com /BenoitForSenate/

News release:

“Volunteers for Green Independent State Senate Candidate Daniel Stromgren distributed fliers in Bath and Topsham this weekend to rebut the recent entrance of the Maine People’s Alliance, with their money and manpower, into the race for the Senate seat.

“The flyer included a statement from Stromgren that read:

‘It used to be that candidates offered their policy ideas and platforms and these were the basis for endorsements. This campaign has revealed that endorsements have become contracts that require the recipient to be beholden to special interests with specific promises. These nonprofit special interests and PACs have become no different than corporate influence. For this reason, in maintaining freedom to act in the best interests of the residents of District 19, the Stromgren for Senate Campaign has chosen to remain free from special interests by refusing to seek endorsements from any group.’

‘The people of Maine are the only contributors to Stromgren’s run for office; they will be the only people he is beholden to after his election.’”

“I will hold monthly town hall meetings with the residents of District 19, not hold court with special interests.”

Wednesday in Richmond: Regarding a person home at 1 p.m. in their pajamas smoking a cigarette: “There’s a variety of reasons that that may be and it’s not my place to put that judgment there.” “I believe that development begins at the community level and one of the things that we need to do is communicate better with our communities.” “I’ve heard district residents say, ‘I’m willing to pay my taxes, if they’re spent right.’ “ “So what you find is the unusual Green candidate who’s going to tell you that I believe in smaller government that’s more efficient, and that we can regain some of our losses that way.” “We need to hold the banks accountable for the foreclosures that they’re creating, for the people they’re putting out on the streets but also for maintaining those properties.” “I’m a Green who believes in smaller government.”

For more: www.mainegreens.org/mee t_ daniel_ stromgren

From campaign Facebook page: “Knocked on doors in Topsham again today! Then attended Leadership Maine Alumni dinner in Freeport . (Beta class, 1994-95). First time out of the district in weeks!”

On accepting the endorsement of the state teachers’ union: “Investing in our students, teachers and classrooms is a key priority for me. We know that a healthy economy and a strong state begins with the foundation of our education system and our children. I am proud to have the full faith and confidence of Maine teachers. If elected, I look forward to ensuring proper funding of our public education system.”

Wednesday in Richmond:

“It’s important the state keeps to its promises (on funding 55 percent of local school budgets) and I think we need to recognize that the revenue sharing would have been a lot worse” had Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget passed.

On the 55-percent schoolfunding mandate: “It’s been set up, and it’s a goal, and it’s one of the ways that towns can look to keep their costs down and keep their schools going.”

“I’ve worked with Seth Goodall on numerous bipartisan work bills.”

“I have experience passing legislation to create jobs … the 1998 Maine Enterprise Option Program supported by some in the Republican Party.”

“We can’t just say, straight out, we can’t raise taxes. It’s a complicated question.”

On health care: “We need to give serious consideration to single-payer health care. Expanding access to health care is the right thing to do.”

Her Twitter page: “Sign @ChelliePingree’s petition and tell John Boehner: Protect Maine’s clean air, water & economy!” “Registered as clean election candidate SD19. $5 contributions needed !” “Oregon just launched the world’s most twee Obamacare marketplace.” “All in! The race for senate seat 19! Thanks Seth and Seth. More to come.”

For more: https://www.facebook.com /VitelliForSenate