Hobart Endorses Smith

I would like to encourage all voters to support Ande Smith in the 1st District Congressional Primary on June 14. Ande is an extremely accomplished individual, and someone that we can trust. He is a true leader, and someone who will be an honest and responsible voice for our interests in Washington.

I’m supporting Ande because of his commitment to the people of Maine, and his willingness to tackle the tough issues. He has a comprehensive plan to deal with many of the problems we are facing – including rising healthcare costs, oppressive regulations, minimal job growth, and excessive government spending.

Ande is a dedicated and determined leader, and he would make an excellent Congressman. Quite simply, we need Ande in Washington looking out for us. I will be voting for Ande Smith in the GOP Primary on June 14. I encourage everyone to vote for Ande as well, and support the candidate who can help get our country back on track.

Maine House District 55 Rep.

Brian D. Hobart,

Bowdoinham

In Support of Holbrook for Congress

A three way race is on in Congressional District 1.

Chellie Pingree who is out of touch with the people she is supposed to be representing, Ande Smith, a lawyer who recently jumped into the fray and Mark Holbrook who has been on the campaign trail meeting and talking with people for months.

After watching Chellie’s antics as representative I find her quite lacking in the qualities I desire in the person who is supposed to represent me. Not to mention her distasteful legislative forays.

Ande Smith who boasts a pedigree and a resume, leaves me wondering why, if he wanted the seat, did he wait so long to begin a campaign. Perhaps he thinks he can win the race without much effort invested?

Then there’s Mark Holbrook. Mark is in touch with the lives of everyday people and the issues facing them. He is bold in plainly stating what he believes and will work for realistic goals. He has that golden combination of intelligence and common sense, is fiscally prudent, and has a heart for people. With that combination of attributes he will serve District 1 well.

Mark is the only conservative running who will stand against the establishment in Washington. He owes no favors to the RNC and he never will. Mark is the only candidate who is Pro-Life and will never support giving $500 million Taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood.

Mark started his campaign to win the 1st Congressional district seat 16 months ago. Unlike his primary opponent who regards his run for Congress as another step in his career path, Mark is motivated by his faith and a genuine desire to help preserve our American way of life. Mark believes our children deserve the same opportunities we had.

Mark’s is a very different campaign, with no paid managers, consultants, staffers or offices. Being fiscally conservative he respects the contributions of donors and uses every cent to get his message out to the voters, just like he will respect your tax dollars when he’s in Congress.

Mark will represent the 1st Congressional District with dignity, honesty and perseverance. A vote for Mark on June 14th will help put him on the November ballot. He has my vote and I encourage you to give him your vote too.

Gail Card,

Bowdoin

Vote for Neilson

In this dark night of national politics that has many of us despairing about where our country is headed, I am finding light on the local level and recommend others to find it in Will Neilson’s candidacy for House District 53 of the Maine Legislature. If you want your faith renewed in the commitment of good people to serve in government, pay attention to Will’s campaign and the fair-mindedness, integrity, and generosity that inform it. Fifteen years of knowing Will assure me of his abundant qualifications to be in public office. He is thoughtful and intelligent in his approach to things. He has experience in many different areas of life — business, law, non-profit management, community building, in entrepreneurship. Most of all, he is to be trusted — he is the real thing, an honest man. My husband and I have witnessed at close hand his dedication to church and community and the many ways he has striven to add meaning to whatever endeavor he embarks on. We should be so lucky to have a person of his fine character representing us in Augusta and making critical decisions to better the common good. Do consider giving Will your vote on Tuesday, June 14!

Diane Paterson,

Georgetown

‘Numbed’ by School Budget

For the past several weeks the town council and the school board of Brunswick have been arguing over inconsequential items in the budget increase requested by the school board. All the while they have overlooked the real culprit causing the budget increases, yearly increases in teacher salaries and benefits. If one examines the department’s budget the outstanding item is total salaries and benefits, rising from $15,099,671 in the last budget to $15,646,104 this year, an increase of 3.62 percent. It is the 16th salary increase since I have been keeping records (2000) and its likely this has been going on every year since the first union contract.

Who gets this increase and why? Is it because they have improved the performance of the students they teach? This cannot be the answer because roughly the same percentage of students makes the honor roll each year by their own measure. Statewide, national and international measures actually indicate the opposite is true. Is it because they have to teach more students? No, the actual number of students has decreased by 31 percent from 3,400 in 2004 to 2,333 today while the total number of teachers has remained at nearly the 2004 level and the total staff has actually increased. The decrease in students resulted from the closing of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Under Maine law the town was responsible for the education of military dependent children without any commensurate repayment of cost by the military. This same situation prevails today with dependent children resident in Brunswick Landing with no tuition paid to the town to compensate for the extra cost.

When I requested of the current Teacher’s Union Contract I was told it is still in negotiation. This is another skillful ploy because if they can get this increase by the voters they can build it into the next three year contract, making it fait accompli for the next two years and insuring a certain 3 percent tax increase in each of the next two years until they have to find another way to dazzle the voters and the town council yet another time.

This budget is up for approval by the voters on June 14 and will be most certainly approved because the voters who benefit, the school department staff and parents of children who are being subsidized by the system will turn out in force but those of us who have been numbed by it will not.

Fred Blanchard,

Brunswick