KENNEBUNK — Gov. Paul LePage was welcomed to lunch at Duffy’s Tavern & Grill on Friday for the culmination of a visit to Kennebunk, part of a weekly effort to speak with business and community leaders about various local concerns.

LePage, who has been visiting a different municipality each week since early in the year, made Kennebunk his first stop in York County during his ongoing tour of the state, which he expects will continue until just before Election Day.

“It gives him an opportunity to see the smaller businesses in the state, and what the issues are in that particular area,” said LePage spokesperson Adrienne Bennett.

The governor began the day by attending a presentation by local business leaders, which he said was “helpful in showing us some of the things they’re planning on doing. It helps me to see what’s going on.”

An important part of the itinerary, he said, was meeting with Town Manager Barry Tibbetts. While declining to divulge the specifics of the meeting ”“ “It was business,” said LePage ”“ he said that speaking with Tibbetts was instrumental in learning how Kennebunk may benefit from a number of policies currently being considered by his administration.

Indeed, it was an eye toward policy that prompted LePage to take a tour of various businesses in Kennebunk’s downtown, working his way down the Route 1 corridor. In recent years, the area has been the focus of both aesthetic and economic improvement by town officials ”“ including Tibbetts, who has argued that a vibrant downtown is instrumental in fostering a businesses community conducive to a strong economy.

Among LePage’s stops was the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, & Wells Water District, where he said its leadership suggested certain policy options that they claimed would help their business grow.

“You’re able to see first-hand what the issues are, and what they’re looking for in legislation,” said LePage. “It helps me understand what the concerns are of the business community.”

To date, the governor has visited such towns and cities as Presque Isle, Cape Elizabeth and Bangor, and said that while he may not make it to each and every municipality, he’ll do what he can to make sure that he covers all regions of the state before voters take to the polls on Nov. 4.

“I will tour the whole state this year,” he said.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.