News

A closer look at gubernatorial hopefuls

Posted on Oct. 28, 2002, at 12:00 a.m.

John Baldacci:

John Baldacci, the Democratic candidate, has served on the Bangor City Council, in the state Legislature and has been Maine’s 2nd District representative in the U.S. Congress for the past eight years. He lives in Bangor with his wife Karen and 11-year-old son Jack.

Among his political priorities, Baldacci wants to create a non-profit health insurer along with the Maine Health Care Plan, which he has said will help Maine consumers. He wants to increase availability for higher education by transforming Maine’s technical colleges into a community college system and then lower tuition to the national average. To balance the budget in Augusta, Baldacci wants to bring tax restructuring and spur economic development to deprived areas.

Peter Cianchette:

Peter Cianchette is a Republican from South Portland. Most of his career has been in the business community where he worked for Dragon Products Co. before he started his own business, Cianchette Enterprises Inc. In 1996 he began serving as a state representative in Augusta and he was reelected again in 1998.

Cianchette believes Maine must solve its budget crisis before improving state agencies and programs. His economic plan calls for lowering tax burdens on Maine people and keeping government spending at the level of personal incomes. On health care, he believes insurance prices should have premium incentives to lower overall costs and that pricing for insurance should be available to consumers before they go in for treatments.

Jonathan Carter:

Jonathan Carter, the Green Party candidate, has been an educator at various Maine high schools and the University of Maine at Farmington as well as for the U.S. Forestry Department. Carter lives on a farm in Lexington Township with his wife and two children.

Promoting a single-payer health care system is one of Carter’s priorities. He also promotes sustainable, community-based economies. If elected governor, Carter will help to increase Maine citizen’s disposable income. He believes in giving tax relief to the “average” Maine citizen to help stimulate the economy. He also has said education will be funded 55 percent by the state instead of 44 percent if he is elected, he has said.

John Michael:

John Michael is an Independent from Auburn. He has served as a representative for District 74 in the state Legislature for 14 years.

Michael believes Mainers should not have such burdensome taxes and does not support gambling casinos in the state. He also wants health care reform and would revamp the current system to fit the needs and financial budgets of Mainers.

Campus Currents: John Baldacci