1. She's run the most interesting and exciting campaign. Rosa came from nowhere to deserve a spot on the stage with political veterans who have a combined 80 years of political experience. While her opponents started with a significant built-in organization and base, Rosa built a first-rate team from scratch and gained supporters all across Maine. She did it the hard way with traditional campaigning and a shrewd use of new media (nearly 15,000 views on her YouTube Channel alone). Even if you disagreed with her positions and tactics, you probably spent more time discussing her campaign than any of her opponents. Imagine what a snooze this race would have been without her.
2. She was the hands-down winner in the debates. Even those who don't support Rosa, including editorial writers who endorsed one of her opponents, had to grudgingly give her credit for her impressive performance in the televised debates. What does it say about someone who has never held political office, never given a speech and never taken part in a televised debate to have so outclassed her veteran opponents? More important, what does it say about those veteran opponents, two of whom have run twice for Congress? Rosa answered the questions, gave specific responses, knew her facts cold and showed real common sense. And she smiled.
3. Rosa proved the power of good ideas. Just take a look at her website (www.RosaForMaine.com). Lengthy, detailed, intelligent discussions and proposals on nearly every issue affecting Maine. Now check the websites of her opponents. Rhetoric, slogans, pabulum. Rosa proposed a Maine State Bank, the best idea for business growth and job creation in years. Can you name even one decent proposal from the other candidates?
4. Being governor is a young person's job. I hate to sound ageist, but having worked in the governor's office, I know that it's an exhausting 24-7 job that can age a person in a hurry. Take a look at a picture of John Baldacci in 2003, and look at him now. Or Angus King in 1994. There's probably a reason why the last governor we elected over the age of 50 died in office (Clint Clauson in 1959). Rosa is 40. If any of her Democratic opponents are elected, they'll be the oldest elected Maine governor in more than 50 years.
5. She'll be a great, attractive symbol for Maine. There's really only so much a governor can do when it comes to policy. The biggest impact a governor has on a state is more symbolic. The governor of Maine is its top salesperson - in Maine, across the country and even internationally. He or she becomes what Maine represents, the image of Maine. One of the reasons Angus King brought Maine out of the economic doldrums was simply the strength of his personality. He was alive, funny, open, accessible. You couldn't find 10 people who remember one major policy initiative during his tenure (with the exception maybe of laptops in schools), but his approval rating is still in the high 60-70% range. People just liked him, they trusted him, they believed he had the best interests of Maine at heart, and it made them feel good about their home state. And that feeling was infectious, particularly in the business community. More than any of her opponents, Rosa can do this for Maine.
6. Rosa wants to govern more than she wants to campaign. I've worked for a lot of candidates. The truth is some of them like running for the office a lot more than they like doing something once they get elected. I can't help but think that at least a few of Rosa's opponents see the job as simply a way to cap off their long political resume as they head toward retirement. Rosa sees it as a new beginning for Maine. She's a manager. That's what she does. She wants to go to Augusta to make a difference. How different? A good manager never would have spent most of the one-time federal stimulus money to pay for ongoing programs in the state budget (Maine is 48th in the nation for job creation with the stimulus money), and then borrow money to fix a few roads and bridges. That's how different.
7. She'll challenge the status quo. If you look at a list of some of her opponent's supporters, it's the same list of people who supported Baldacci. Heck, it's the same list of people who supported Joe Brennan. I'm not saying that either of these governors did a bad job, but can we really expect anything new and different from any of these candidates? We're entering an age of diminished resources, when major changes in the delivery of government services are needed. When you're trying to shake up and bring systemic change to a large organization, you don't hire from within. You bring in an accomplished outsider.
8. She's a Democrat. Because she talks a lot about making Maine more open for business, she gets accused of being a Republican. She's not. Never has been. My question is, when did the Democratic Party stop caring about growing jobs and helping business? When did they forget that businesses hire people, their constituents? On all of the social issues, she's a down-the-line Democrat. Being prudent and responsible with the taxpayer's money doesn't make her a Republican.
9. She can win in November. Right now, in a darkened room with candles burning, ersatz independent candidate Eliot Cutler is on his knees praying that Libby Mitchell wins the nomination. He has a second and third choice too, and neither of them are Rosa. Cutler, in my view, would be a disaster for Maine, and especially for the Democratic Party. Of the three Democratic candidates, Rosa is the only one who can appeal to moderate Democrats, independents and even Republicans, voters that any candidate needs to win a statewide race in November. (Some people feel McGowan has broad appeal, but it's overrated, and besides his connections to Baldacci, whose favorability ratings with the general electorate are not great, would be a factor in November).
10. She's going to win on Tuesday. And she'll make a great governor. Better get on the bus now.
Dennis Bailey is an advisor to the Rosa for Maine campaign. The views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the candidate.
PORTLAND - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candiate for governor, said today that she is the only candidate in the race to offer a detailed plan to raise teacher salaries in Maine.
"Maine ranks near the bottom of states in teacher salaries, and last in New England," Scarcelli said. "We can't expect to attract good teachers and get good results if we don't provide adequate pay for our teachers. At the same time, the state faces a $1 billion budget shortfall, and unfortunately education will not be spared in the next round of budget cuts.
"The good news is that in the face of this crisis we have a tremendous opportunity to make fundamental reforms that will help transform our schools into a truly world-class system of education," she continued. "But that's why we need to be much more creative and strategic than simply making across the board cuts. My plan identifies over $400 million in education savings, much of which can then be plowed back into the classroom and provide a pay increase for teachers."
Scarcelli said she is relying on a study by one of Maine's most pre-eminent education researchers, David Silvernail of the University of Southern Maine, who estimates that by simply bringing the state's average student teacher ratio to 13.5:1 from the current 11:1 ratio, the state would save $400 million annually. And Maine's class sizes would still be well below the national average of 15.3:1.
"Currently, Maine has one of the lowest student/teacher ratios in the country, yet rural states similar to Maine with higher student/teacher ratios are getting better test scores," she said. "The latest studies conclude that teacher quality - not classroom size - is the single factor that has the highest correlation with better learning results. That's why it's important to find to find savings that we can then use to raise teacher salaries, attract and keep better teachers, and in turn raise student achievement."
Scarcelli said other candidates talk about providing more money for education and teacher pay, but don't say how they will do it.
"We need to be realistic," she said. "No matter who becomes governor, changes will have to be made to the way we fund education. We need to find realistic, innovative ways to find efficiencies and cost savings that we can then reinvest in the classroom and in improving the quality of our teachers. We cannot turn out back on our students. Their future, and Maine's future, depends on providing a first class education to all Maine students."
For more information about Scarcelli's plan, see the Newsroom at www.RosaForMaine.com
PORTLAND - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, today proposed the creation of the Maine State Bank to keep state revenues in Maine available for lending to small businesses, farmers, student loans and other economic development projects.
Scarcelli said a Maine State bank would provide needed capital to businesses throughout Maine at a time when traditional banks are clamping down on loans and foreclosing on homes and businesses.
At a news conference today in Portland, Scarcelli said, "Each year in Maine, hundreds of millions dollars in state revenue - our money - is deposited into large out-of-state and foreign-owned banks. Those banks then lend our money to their customers, to create jobs mostly outside of Maine. The profits from these loans go to pay lavish banker's salaries, finance shaky derivative investment schemes and pay handsome returns to their shareholders in other parts of the world.
"The Maine State Bank would instead put our money to work right here at home, and in the public's best interest, not Wall Street's," she added.
Her initiative is modeled after the highly successful Bank of North Dakota, which was founded in 1919 in a state similar to Maine (rural, small population, large land area). But in part because of its state bank, North Dakota has been insulated from the economic downtown and banking crisis affecting the rest of the nation - its economy is growing, they have the lowest unemployment rate in the country and a state budget surplus this year of $1.3 billion.
Currently, nearly half of all state funds are deposited in a large Canadian bank. Much of the remainder is deposited in a Rhode Island bank in which the controlling stake is now owned by the British government.
Under Scarcelli's plan, all state revenue would be deposited in the Maine State Bank, which would then lend and invest the money here in Maine, keeping the profits here too.
"We'll keep control of our tax dollars and ensure they are handled sustainably and responsibly - no golden parachutes, no private aircraft, no lobbyists or political contributions," she said. "Just Mainer's money benefiting Mainers."
The Maine State Bank will make loans more readily available to small and medium businesses in Maine to get the state's economy moving again, she said. The bank will invest in economic development throughout Maine, particularly in rural areas, that will help keep and attract good jobs. It will also make student loans more available, invest in crumbling infrastructure and revitalize town centers across Maine.
Scarcelli emphasized that the Maine State Bank would not compete with traditional for-profit banks or credit unions, but will work in partnership with them to better compete with large national banks. She said the Bank would be divorced from politics, with a Board of Directors that includes independent, outside directors and an Advisory Council made up of experienced experts in the banking and finance fields.
"Tough times call for bold, innovative solutions," she said. "While we've seen the career politicians talk a good game, real leadership is about proposing concrete, workable solutions that will move Maine forward. It works for North Dakota and it can work here. Together, we will bring the best ideas forward to make Maine the best place to live, work and raise a family."
Maine Democrats have not held a significant primary of critical decision in sixteen long years. In 1994 Joe Brennan defeated 4 opponents with over half the votes in a primary contest of nearly 100,000 cast. That election was the high water mark of both recent primary participation by both voters and contestants. John Baldacci managed to receive about 72,000 votes in an unopposed primary as the preordained nominee in 2002. Both of the gubernatorial reelection bids of Angus King and John Baldacci, in 1998 and 2006 respectively, attracted lackluster turnouts in lackluster Democratic nomination contests in the 50,000 voter participation range.
Now in 2010 we have a wide open primary and four genuinely qualified candidacies that represent the many different layers and aspirations of Democratic activists, operatives, constituencies, and even geographic interests. Is there pent up pressure and energy that will draw in a large voter turnout and propel one candidate to a victory that launches that individual into the general election ready to battle with vigor a Republican that may be riding a faux populist tide and an Independent challenger that could limit the election victor to an unpredictable plurality win? It doesn't seem possible but the answer appears to be no. The signs are that we have a primary contest that may not be engaging to voters, that is too cautious in scope to inspire voters, and even seems invisible in terms of actual lawn signs.
For every prediction, there currently seems to be a plausible counter prediction. For every pathway to the nomination there are roadblocks. Yet we will have a nominee and here are four completely fictitious fantasy news reports for June 9, 2010. Each contain a bit of campaign speculation about how the headline might get written; I hope all four candidates simply take such conjecture as one more request for a more specifics driven effort to reach voters.
It's the Maine Democratic Party Convention, and let's face it, the emphasis is on "party."
Having been to a few more of these than I'd like to remember, my recollection is that most of the fun happens Friday night when the delegates from every corner of Maine wander around with their buttons and hats looking for the best hospitality suites.
I'll make one bold prediction: Rosa Scarcelli will have the best hospitality suite, by far. For one thing, she had the good sense of having it at a local bar (Holly's Own Restaurant and Deli in Auburn) instead of in one of those hotel rooms with bad lighting and dogs-playing-poker artwork on the walls.
For another, she got a live band (get ready for a shameless plug). Yes it's true, The Bob Band will playing the Scarcelli Hospitality Suite (find them on Facebook at The Bob Band). This is a four-piece band that recreates the spirit and vibe of America's greatest singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Ok, it's a tribute band. But it's appropriate. The times they are a changin' indeed.
Rosa will be spending most of Friday doing the meeting and greeting stuff. I'll be honest. When she first decided to begin this endeavor many moons ago, I had my doubts. Only because I've worked with several candidates who were convinced they should be the next governor, congressman, senator, whatever, only to discover after just a few weeks on the campaign trail their blood pressure just couldn't take it. They found out the hard way that the skills you need for governing are a far cry from the skills required for campaigning. Only rarely do you find the two talents in one package. Angus King, for one, but even he would admit that he didn't know that going in. He found out much later that not only did he like campaigning, he was good at it.
SCARCELLI TV AD TOUTS MAINE ROOTS, BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
PORTLAND - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, began airing a 30-second television ad this week that touts her roots in Maine and experience as a businesswoman, factors that separate her from her rivals in the race for governor.
Called "Signs," the ad is running statewide on network and cable stations (except WGME in Portland). It is also available on YouTube and Scarcelli's website RosaForMaine.com
PORTLAND - Democratic candidate for governor Rosa Scarcelli said today that the official platform adopted yesterday by the Maine Republican Party "lowers an iron curtain of intolerance" around Maine and moves the state backwards.
"The principles established by the Maine Republican Party reflect the beliefs of right-wing extremists instead of the hopes, dreams and values of middle-class families in Maine," Scarcelli said. "My campaign for governor is about moving Maine forward using the best ideas, Democrat or Republican. Unfortunately, the platform of the Maine Republican Party takes us backward, further back than any reasonable Mainer would expect. Not only are the proposals extreme and out of touch, but they have little to do with improving Maine and more to do with promoting an intolerant national right-wing agenda.
"I find it curious that a party platform that claims to find its values in the Constitution doesn't mention the word 'democracy' even once," Scarcelli added.
"I invite all reasonable Mainers, regardless of party, including all the candidates running for governor, to reject these extreme ideas and have a healthy debate about issues that are actually relevant - growing our economy, educating our children, and making Maine the best place to live, work and raise a family."
About Rosa Scarcelli: Scarcelli, 40, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities and employs 100 people. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli said she wants to use her business skills to help create a better climate in Maine for job creation and growth. She lives in Portland with her husband Thom and their three children ages 13, 10 and 9. For more information, go to www.RosaForMaine.com
[The following letter was written yesterday to all the Democratic candidates running for governor]
Dear [Candidate],
There are times when it is necessary to put personal and partisan interests aside for the good of our state and our nation. This is one of those times.
I am inviting you and all the Democratic gubernatorial candidates to attend a special unity news conference in Portland Thursday morning, prior to the arrival of President Barack Obama, to demonstrate our support for his leadership and vision on reforming our nation's broken health care system.
The purpose of the news conference is not only to show respect and support for what the President is attempting to accomplish, but to call for calm, rational discussion of his plan, instead of the vicious, hate-filled rhetoric that has characterized much of the debate. As candidates for Maine's highest office, we can demonstrate the importance of coming together, despite our differences, to help lower the temperature of the debate and discuss openly and fairly the facts of the President's health care plan and what it means for Maine families and businesses.
This is an important moment in our nation's history. Please accept this invitation to attend the unity news conference. We will provide details once we know more about the President's schedule.
LEWISTON - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, today enjoyed coffee and eggs with diners and supporters at Simones' Hot Dog Stand in Lewiston to kick off "Rise and Shine with Rosa," a statewide tour to meet and talk with voters at diners, coffee shops and restaurants.
"The first thing someone running for office should do is listen to the people," said Scarcelli. "That's what I'll be doing three or four mornings a week - sitting down at diners and coffee shops and finding out what's on the minds of Maine people and what they think state government can do to help create jobs and improve their lives and their communities."
Scarcelli also announced today that former Lewsiton Mayor Kaileigh Tara, along with Lewiston native and local businesswoman Linda Sherwood, will serve as co-Team Leaders in Androscoggin County for the Rosa for Maine campaign.
"I am very pleased to have both Kaileigh and Linda on my team," she said. "They are very well-known, active memebers of this community with a great deal of care and compassion for the people who live and work here, and they will be a tremendous help in reaching out to people in Lewiston-Auburn and throughout Androscoggin County. Their endorsement and support means a lot more to me than any endorsement from some out-of-state politician."
Tara said several candidates in the race approached her for support, but she decided to join Scarcelli's campaign after meeting with the candidate. "There are a lot of good people in this race," she said, "but after meeting with Rosa, I came to believe that she is the only one who will bring a new perspective to the issues and problems we face, and we need that now."
Linda Sherwood, a Lewiston native and businesswoman who co-founded the Androscoggin Chapter of the Women's Action Network, said, "It didn't take much convincing for me to see that Rosa has the experience and the knowledge to be our next governor and bring real hope to Maine. Rosa is a person who actively listens to the concerns of Maine people, and she is also receptive to receiving advice from others, regardless of their gender."
The "Rise and Shine with Rosa" tour will take Scarcelli to Auburn and Biddeford next week, with more stops to be announced shortly. Supporters can follow the tour and get updates from the campaign on their cell phone by texting "Rosa" to 47647.
"I want people to e-mail me or text me and tell me where the best places are in their towns to have breakfast, and I'll be there," she said. "This will be the perfect way to start my day, to discuss important issues with Maine people, and enjoy great eggs and pancakes at the same time."
About Rosa Scarcelli: Scarcelli, 40, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities and employs 100 people. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli said she wants to use her business skills to help create a better climate in Maine for job creation and growth. She lives in Portland with her husband Thom and their three children ages 13, 10 and 9. For more information, go to www.RosaForMaine.com
I realize times are tough and budgets are tight in Augusta, but my jaw dropped when I read an article recently in the Bangor Daily News that said the state planned to realize $8.2 million in "net savings" by delaying payroll payments to state workers for three days at the end of the fiscal year and pushing the payments off to the following fiscal year.
What? That's no savings at all. That is like someone failing to make a car payment this month and claiming that he's "saved" enough money to buy a new TV.
This is the "Wimpy" school of economics - the character from Popeye who always offered to "gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Delaying expenses only delays the inevitable and digs an even deeper hole of debt that someone - in this case the next governor - will have to solve.
The next shortfall could add up to a billion dollars due to unfunded pension liabilities, lower Medicaid-Medicare reimbursements, flat growth and no federal stimulus money to close the gap. No amount of fiscal gymnastics and gimmicks will avoid this day of reckoning.
And what makes these fiscal gimmicks even worse is that we've traveled this discredited road before. During the budget difficulties of the early '90s, the state used the payroll push and other gimmicks to "balance" the state budget. These gimmicks, which wouldn't pass muster in an Accounting 101 class, were widely criticized and became a key factor in the 1994 governor's race that saw independent Angus King elected to office. He pledged to unwind the gimmicks from the state budget, and the voters handed him the keys to the Blaine House to get the job done.
So here we are in 2010 and once again we're balancing the state budget with gimmicks like the payroll push, temporary borrowing and one-time federal money. And once again, Democrats are being roundly criticized. They are not only threatening the state's credit and bond ratings, but they are also threatening to take our party down to another 1994-style defeat in November.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Democrats in Augusta need to get real. They need to apply some basic business and accounting skills and draft a budget that doesn't invite ridicule. They need to make some very tough decisions and then communicate the extent of the state's true fiscal problems to the public. And they need to make bold, structural changes throughout state government rather than just paper over the inefficiencies and redundancies that got us into this problem in the first place.
There's another important step they can take. They can strengthen the Maine Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability. This 5-year-old nonpartisan watchdog agency was established - over the objections of many elected leaders - to analyze state programs and find savings and efficiencies throughout state government. Despite efforts by some leading Democrats to close it, OPEGA has recommended changes that could result in over $20 million in savings - if they had been adopted. Unfortunately, only about a third of OPEGA's recommendations have been adopted by the Legislature.
As a businesswoman and a professional manager, I know how fundamental to success it is to measure every program. How else will we know if our time and money are getting the results we expect? OPEGA needs more teeth. It needs more independence from the Legislature and more staff. In states that have done this right, they've realized enormous savings. We don't need a new commission or blue-ribbon study to find savings in state government. We just need to use the resources we have more wisely. That means expanding and fully empowering OPEGA to fulfill its mission.
As I travel across the state listening to the concerns of Mainers who are suffering, I often say that we cannot bring our state into the 21st century world economy with a 19th century way of governing. No less than our success or failure as a state rests on whether, and how, we embrace the values of efficiency, accountability and transparency as we begin to move Maine forward.
Maine people deserve to know that each and every penny of our hard-earned money is being well spent by those they entrust in state government. Maine people deserve to know that our leaders have basic common sense and the experience necessary to responsibly manage critical functions in a more "businesslike" manner.
Maine people deserve a governor who will change our approach from blind across-the-board cutting to one where we cut only programs that are not working, rework those that deserve to be saved and make smart investments in the future success of our state.
In short, Maine people deserve better.
Democrats lead on so many important issues of fairness, equality, compassion and care. It's time for Maine Democrats to lead on fiscal management, too.
Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management, which provides affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli lives in Portland with her husband, Thom, and their three children. Find more at her website at www.RosaForMe.com
I don't believe in a 'no new tax pledge.' It's too simplistic, it's pandering, and given the track record of most politicians who take a 'no new tax pledge,' I don't think the public even believes it. It's one of the reasons why the public has become so cynical and distrusting of its government.
Does that mean I want to raise taxes? Absolutely not, especially not during a recession when so many people I've talked to across the state are hurting, when too many people are out of work or struggling to pay their bills, and so many small businesses are closing their doors.
We can't continually raise taxes to pay for services, as one of my opponents has proposed, but neither can we be fooled into thinking that we can just cut our way to prosperity. What we need is a change in the way Augusta does business because the old ways aren't working.
As for a 'no new tax pledge,' frankly, I'm more concerned with the old taxes, the ones we're paying right now - how do we lower Maine's overall tax burden, raise the incomes of hard hit Mainers, make Maine more competitive and create more jobs? Who is holding Augusta accountable for making sure every penny of taxpayers' money is being well spent today? Does anybody really know if we're getting the most bang for the buck?
Why aren't all the candidates taking that pledge?
I think Maine voters deserve more than cheap political gimmicks. I've heard over and over from folks that they're sick and tired of politics as usual and they are ready for real reform. I am too. People want to hear serious ideas for a change from each candidate, and they're looking for someone with the experience and courage to carry them out. That's why I'm running for Governor.
Instead of an empty pledge, I will give voters a real commitment - a clear set of goals for my first term in office. And if after four years they think I haven't made enough progress in achieving these goals, they can vote me out.
We impose learning results on our students; it's time to require results from our elected officials too.
So here's my pledge:
• I pledge to create 50,000 new jobs throughout Maine, across all 16 counties. I'll do that by taking effective steps to lower the cost of energy; to dramatically expand and make affordable health care coverage available to all Maine people; to vastly improve our education system with greater use of technology and innovation; to bolster our small family businesses that are the backbone of Maine's economy.
• I pledge to turn around this state. To make sure every taxpayer dime is being spent wisely and is fully accounted for.
• I pledge to end the era blue ribbon commissions and task force studies that go nowhere in Augusta. I will hold a summit at the beginning of my term to map out the strategy, priorities and direction of our state government - and then take decisive action, with proper structures in place to assure accountability, monitoring and transparency as we move forward.
• I pledge to hire only qualified, capable, experienced people in my cabinet - no political payoffs, no cronyism.
These are not empty promises made for a 30 second TV commercial. I've begun to lay out my specific and detailed plans to achieve every one of these very serious commitments, and will continue to expand on them in the months ahead as I continue to campaign across the state. (See Maine Rising at www.RosaForMaine.com)
To only address the issue of new taxes in Maine completely misses the point. We will breathe new life into our economy by making Maine a more attractive and affordable place to live and do business by growing jobs, lowering the cost of doing business and making sure we have an efficient, well-managed state government. And I pledge to never use tired campaign gimmicks because Maine people deserve better -much better.
---Rosa Scarcelli
Since it's been in the news recently, I thought I would clarify my position regarding the Clean Elections Fund.
I am not an opponent of the Clean Elections law. I support the principle of getting money and influence out of politics. Unfortunately, statewide political campaigns aren't cheap, and while we've tried over the years to reduce the amount of money people can contribute to political campaigns, the cost of campaigning continues to go up. And the Clean Elections law does little to curb independent expenditures by special interests that want to curry favor with whatever candidate they choose.
When I decided to run for governor, I considered the Clean Election Fund as a way to finance my campaign. In the end, I decided against it. I decided to take the much harder path of raising money traditionally, in increments of $750 or less.
Why didn't I choose to take taxpayer dollars to run? Because in this past legislative session Maine faced a huge budget shortfall. We are now seeing our second round of cuts in this budget that are approaching half a billion dollars. We are cutting everything from school programs to health care and human services in an effort to close this gap. These are very difficult choices, and it's forcing us to set priorities. Because of our tough economic times, our state simply doesn't have the money to provide the level of services it has in past years. I could not in good conscience take tax dollars to run my campaign knowing that every dollar I received was a dollar that wasn't going to support our schools or provide care for the elderly, or repair roads and bridges. If times were different, perhaps my decision would be too. But in light of current economic circumstances, I decided to fund my campaign the old fashioned way.
The decision is a personal one. My opponents can speak for themselves regarding their choices.
I do take exception, however, to some of their comments last week claiming that the Legislature is bound to adequately fund their campaigns because that's what the voters wanted when they passed the Clean Elections Law in a statewide referendum. The candidates said that the Legislature has a "responsibility" to fund their campaigns even when state finances are tight because voters "didn't just enact it for the good times."
Fair enough. But while voters approved the Clean Elections Fund in the referendum and may continue to support it public opinion polls, many Mainers are voting with their wallets on this issue. Actual support on the income tax check-off continues to decline, from 67,000 contributors in 2007 to just 22,000 contributors in 2008. And that's a very small fraction of the more than 700,000 income tax filers in Maine.
Voters also overwhelmingly approved LD 1 in a statewide referendum. This requires the state to pay 55% of K-12 education costs. So has the Legislature been as faithful in fulfilling the voter's wishes when it comes to education funding and property tax relief? No. That 55% level of funding enacted by voters in 2005 has been ramped down to where we started, roughly 43%. Gov. Baldacci has proposed even further cuts, and an editorial last week in the Times Record said if the cuts are approved, the Legislature "risk[s] breaking faith with Mainers who embraced LD1." I'm sure the voters didn't just enact LD1 "for the good times."
I realize the Legislature faces many difficult budget decisions. But if the decision is between funding K-12 education and property tax relief vs. financing gubernatorial campaigns by career politicians, that doesn't seem too difficult to me.
I have written letters to Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins urging them to immediately support efforts to use part of the returned federal bailout money for job creation and small business assistance in Maine and other states.
Last year, Congress authorized up to $700 billion for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to shore up financially troubled banks and investment firms. About $290 billion has been distributed under the program.
Now, several banks have repaid, or will shortly, about $116 billion. Another $317 billion is left unallocated.
While deficit reduction is an important goal, some of the bailout money, I believe, should be directed at job creation here in Maine.
American taxpayers, the true victims of our economic downturn, have waited patiently while billions of their tax dollars were handed over to some of the very institutions that got us into this fiscal mess.
Simple fairness should now suggest that Maine workers, contractors, small business owners, homeowners and farmers deserve some bailout money, too. Our dire economic situation demands it.
While Maine did receive about $436 million in federal stimulus funds earlier this year, the number of jobs created by these funds was small, especially in comparison to other states.
In fact, according to the Web site recovery.gov, Maine ranks 48th in the nation for the number of jobs created or saved due to the stimulus money.
Over half of Maine's stimulus money was used to cover shortfalls in the state's Medicaid program. Another $85 million went to pay for unemployment benefits. The remaining $121 million went for road and highway repairs, and education costs.
This was repeated elsewhere. According to Governing magazine, states devoted 63 percent of the stimulus funds to Medicaid and 13 percent to their general-fund budgets.
In other words, much of the stimulus acted to preserve existing programs instead of fostering new job creation.
In Maine, the stimulus money created fewer than 3,500 jobs. But since the beginning of the recession, nearly 30,000 jobs have been lost.
Every major sector has seen a drop in jobs, with manufacturing, construction, retail trade, and state and local government accounting for nine in 10 of the jobs lost.
Meanwhile, wages and salaries in Maine have fallen an unprecedented $1.3 billion - a 5.3 percent drop at a time when employment was dropping 4 percent, meaning that wages and salaries were dropping even faster than jobs.
That's why another injection of federal stimulus money, directed toward job creation, is warranted.
I would recommend using some of the money to create a large-scale energy efficiency and weatherization program. Such a program would have the dual benefit of creating good construction jobs while helping to lower electricity bills for Maine residents and businesses.
Lower energy costs are essential if we are going to keep and attract new jobs in Maine.
My own experience shows that an energy efficiency and weatherization program works.
My company, Stanford Management, was the recipient this year of $25.5 million in federal funds for capital improvements and weatherization of our affordable housing units.
With these funds, we employed hundreds of workers here in Maine, bought thousands of dollars in materials from Maine companies like the Mathews Brothers, window manufacturer in Belfast, and helped lower heating costs for residents of our facilities.
Therefore, I'm urging Maine's congressional delegation, and our two senators, in particular, to support efforts by President Obama and members of Congress to use some of the federal bailout funds for job creation, here in Maine and elsewhere.
Maine's recovery from this awful recession will be slow, and without their help, it will be even slower.
DEC. 9, 2009 - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, today urged Maine's two Republican senators to support efforts to use a portion of the returned federal bailout money to create jobs here in Maine.
In letters to Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, Scarcelli said funds from the previous stimulus package went mostly to prop up existing programs in Maine, such as Medicare and unemployment benefits, and created only a handful of jobs compared to the nearly 30,000 that have been lost in the current recession. In fact, Maine ranks 48th in the nation in the number of jobs saved or created from federal stimulus money, according to the website recovery.gov.
Now, with banks and investment firms returning hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout money to the federal treasury - the so-called TARP funds - Scarcelli believes some of that money should be used to create jobs here in Maine and elsewhere.
"While deficit reduction is an important goal, some of the bailout money, I believe, should be directed at job creation here in Maine," Scarcelli wrote. "American taxpayers, the true victims of our economic downturn, have waited patiently while billions of their tax dollars were handed over to some of the very institutions that got us into this fiscal mess. Simple fairness should now suggest that Maine workers, contractors, small business owners, homeowners and farmers are deserving of some bailout money too. Our dire economic situation demands it."
Scarcelli suggested that the funds be used to create a large-scale energy efficiency and weatherization program in Maine.
"Such a program would have the dual benefit of creating good construction jobs while helping to lower electricity bills for Maine residents and businesses," she wrote. "Lower energy costs are essential if we are going to keep and attract new jobs in Maine.
"My own experience shows that an energy efficiency and weatherization program works. My company, Stanford Management, was the recipient this year of $25.5 million in federal funds for capital improvements and weatherization of our affordable housing units. With these funds, we employed hundreds of workers here in Maine, bought thousands of dollars in materials from Maine companies like the Mathews Brothers in Belfast, and helped lower heating costs for residents of our facilities."
Last year, Congress authorized up to $700 billion for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to shore up financially troubled banks and investment firms. About $290 billion has been distributed under the program, but banks have repaid, or will shortly, about $116 billion. Another $317 billion is left unallocated.
"I urge you to support efforts by President Obama and members of Congress to use some of the federal bailout funds for job creation, here in Maine and elsewhere," Scarcelli wrote. "Maine's recovery from this awful recession will be slow, and without your help, it will be even slower.
About Rosa Scarcelli: Scarcelli, 39, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli said she wants to use her business skills to help create a better climate in Maine for job creation and growth. She lives in Portland with her husband Thom and their three children ages 12, 9 and 8. For more information, go to www.RosaForMaine.com
Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, today urged holiday shoppers to buy as much as they can from local businesses that provide Maine-made products and services.
Scarcelli has created a list on Twitter of 51 Maine companies to make it easy for her followers to find local shops and businesses that make everything from pastries and cheese to furniture and jewelry.
"One of the best things we can do for Maine's economy right now is to buy holiday gifts from local businesses and producers," Scarcelli said. "If every family spent just $10 on Maine grown food or products, it will put millions of dollars in the hands of Maine business people. It's a way to have our own stimulus package under this year's Christmas tree."
Scarcelli is circulating her Twitter list (https://twitter.com/rosascarcelli/maineproducts) that groups 51 producers of Maine-made products as a reminder to her 400 followers on Twitter to buy local.
"The variety of Maine-made products is truly amazing," she said. "Everything from high-end electronics to hand-crafted jewelry and toys. You can easily find great gifts made right here in Maine without going too far from home. And I'm sure my list just scratches the surface. I'm hoping other Twitter users will recommend more Maine companies to add to the list."
Other made-in-Maine businesses and farms can be easily located on the web, she said. "Buying from Maine businesses and producers this holiday season is a twofer," she said. "You'll get high quality gifts and help Maine businesspeople through these difficult economic times," Scarcelli said.
Scarcelli recently released the first chapter of her book, Maine Rising, Creating Jobs, Moving Maine Forward, an action strategy for creating 50,000 jobs in Maine that includes proposals to aid the creation of small businesses and encourage more locally produced farm products. It is available on her website at www.RosaForMaine.com
About Rosa Scarcelli: Scarcelli, 39, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli said she wants to use her business skills to help create a better climate in Maine for job creation and growth. She lives in Portland with her husband Thom and their three children ages 12, 9 and 8.
For over twenty years I was "in the box." I reported on Maine news and newsmakers. As an anchor and reporter at WABI, WCSH, WGME and Maine Public Television, I had the privilege of interviewing hundreds of interesting people, including Walter Cronkite, astronaut Christa McAuliffe and photographer Bernice Abbott. I most enjoyed covering political campaigns and conventions and interviewing national leaders including Maine Senators Margaret Chase Smith, Edmund Muskie, George Mitchell, William Cohen and Olympia Snowe and Representatives Mike Michaud, Tom Allen, Bill Hathaway and Tom Andrews.
Now, I've made the leap into politics as the campaign manager for Rosa Scarcelli, and I want to tell you why.
Like many women my age, I balanced an active, busy career while raising a family. Remember? We could do it all, and we should all be proud of the differences we've made along the way. We helped open doors and paved the way for more opportunities for our daughters, nieces, granddaughters and great granddaughters. And now it's time.
Being "under 60," I now more than ever understand the timing and importance of younger women becoming our next and new leaders. I've had many opportunities to work for candidates in the past, but made the decision to support Rosa because I am confident that she is the right person at the right time to lead our state. Rosa is an intelligent, trustworthy, bold, innovative and compassionate businesswoman, mother, wife, friend, and daughter. She also has the exemplary leadership and fiscal management skills that are badly needed in Augusta right now to lead Maine through its economic problems. She will make a real difference in the lives of all Maine people. I have no doubt.
Last week, we were thrilled to learn that Rosa had earned the endorsement of the Women Under Forty Political Action Committee (WUFPAC), the nation's only non-partisan organization that identifies, encourages, and supports women 40 years of age and under running for local, state and federal office. It was a strong affirmation of Rosa's candidacy and her great potential for leading Maine in the years ahead.
Over the next many weeks and months as you come to know Rosa, I think you'll understand why I am so excited about her campaign - and why the WUFPAC endorsement is so RIGHT! With your help, she will be the first Democratic woman to be nominated for governor of Maine - and she will go on to become Maine's first female governor, and the youngest serving female governor in the country.
So please, help us make history. Find out more about Rosa by going to www.rosaformaine.com and if you're ready, please donate what you can.
by Rosa Scarcelli
Democratic candidate for Governor
Last week, Maine superintendents floated an idea to schedule a series of school shutdown days as a way to erase a hole in the state school budget.
For a state that already has one of the shortest school years in the country, there has to be a better solution.
That we're even considering a plan to balance the state budget on the backs of school children and their parents with one-time, quick fixes like school shutdown days clearly shows how bad our state's budget problems have become. And it shows why we need a change of direction in Augusta.
As a businessperson, I know the importance of making good investments and smart decisions for the long-term. Shutting down schools and sending kids home to save money is wrong on BOTH counts. And as a mother of three school-age children, I know I'd rather have them in school learning than sitting at home watching SpongeBob.
In many states, school years are getting longer, not shorter. That's because there is a direct correlation with time spent in the classroom and higher achievement. These states know that competing in the global economy requires a well-educated, capable work force, and that means a longer school year. Just look at countries like China or India that have school years much longer than those in the US.
A shorter school year in Maine will send the message that we are falling even further behind the rest of the nation and the world.
Consider the ramifications. Parents will have to take time off from work or find childcare for their children. Low-income families that rely on the school lunch program will pay more to make sure their children get enough to eat. The interruption in classes will be difficult for teachers too, who are already hard-pressed to find the time to comply with state and federal mandates.
So what can we do?
First, we need to recognize that educating our young people is an investment in Maine's future. Reducing that investment will cost even more money, and cause more problems, in the years ahead.
Second, we need to think long-term and far more strategically. There is no reason to assume that this year's budget hole is a one-time occurrence. Next year's deficit could be just as bad, or worse. And then what do we do? Cut the school year even further?
We can't rely on a band-aid approach. We need strong financial management and more creative, bold thinking. Have we truly looked at all the options? School officials say shutting down the schools for a few days a year will save on heat and electricity costs. Maybe local school districts should consider more vacation time in the winter when heating costs are high and extending the school year into the summer.
There are no easy solutions. Longer school years and shorter summer vacations may not be the most popular thing to do. But it might just be the right thing to do.
If you agree with me that Augusta needs to better manage its finances and take bold steps to solve its budget problems, than please join my campaign. Together, we can build a brighter future for all of us.
Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, announced today that veteran Maine journalist and public affairs consultant Patsy Wiggins has been hired as campaign manager.
Wiggins, a resident of Scarborough, will leave her position as a consultant with the Government Affairs Practice Group of Eaton Peabody, the 70-year-old Maine law firm with offices in Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick and Ellsworth. She joined the firm in 2008 after more than 20 years in television news covering the Legislature and Maine politics for Maine television stations including WCSH and WGME in Portland. She also served as the host of MPBN's MaineWatch program after the previous host, Angus King, Jr., was elected governor.
"Patsy brings a wealth of experience, skill and know-how to my campaign at a time when we are really beginning to gain momentum," Scarcelli said. "She is exactly the type of person I want on my team and who I hope to attract to my administration, someone with a deep commitment and knowledge of Maine but who brings a fresh, outside perspective."
A graduate of the University of Maine, Wiggins co-founded and was president of a multi-media company in South Portland where she videotaped and edited stories for various programs. She has served on several state boards and commissions, including Maine Maritime Academy, the Maine Irish Heritage Center, the Maine Center for Creativity and the Wayside Soup Kitchen.
During her career she has produced documentaries and conducted interviews with such luminaries as Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, Edmund S. Muskie and Richard Nixon. Wiggins received an award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for her special "Walter Cronkite, At Anchor in Maine."
"Leaving a job you love is always difficult," Wiggins said, "but this was a lot easier because I believe Rosa will be a great governor and I want to be part of the team that helps get her elected. She will bring the exceptional business and financial skills to the job as governor that the state needs right now while protecting the special qualities and traditions that make Maine so special.
"I was frankly flattered to have been asked to join as campaign manager, which I've never done before, but my years covering Maine politics and Maine politicians, and being involved public policy and the decision making process, have prepared me for this challenge. It's a very interesting time for Maine and Maine's future, and this will be a very exciting campaign."
As campaign manager, Wiggins will be in charge of the staff and day-to-day implementation of the overall campaign plan and strategy.
About Rosa Scarcelli: Scarcelli, 39, Democratic candidate for governor, is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities. A native of Wilton, Scarcelli said she wants to use her business skills to help create a better climate in Maine for job creation and growth. She lives in Portland with her husband Thom and their three children ages 12, 9 and 8.
For more information and a press kit including bio and photos, go to www.rosaformaine.com or http://pitch.pe/25980
This week, I sent my three children off to their first day of school, which is always a day of renewal and hope for the year ahead. But this year was different. We witnessed a new low in partisan politics as President Obama faced severe criticism for delivering a simple pep talk to returning school students.
What should have been a great opportunity for the President of the United States to inspire students to achieve their dreams by pursuing a good education instead became an ugly lesson in fear, cynicism and malicious distortion by partisan extremists, some of whom hold elected office.
Using school students as a political football to achieve cheap political points at any cost illustrates exactly what's wrong with politics as usual. And it shows why it's time for a change.
Have we really reached a point where the President can't talk openly and honestly with students about the importance of staying in school, studying hard, respecting their parents and having a can-do attitude without being accused of "indoctrinating" young minds?
Disagreements over education policy are one thing, but when the president urges kids to do their homework and not spend so much time watching TV or playing Xbox, or telling them to wash their hands to avoid the flu, he shouldn't have to face absurd accusations that he's hatched a socialist plot.
It's sad. Maybe the president's message to students about being responsible should have been directed at the adults.
If you were as appalled as I was at this ugly display, than you know as well as I do that things have to change, on the national level as well as here in Maine. That's why I'm running for governor.
Investing in education, finding new and creative ways to stretch school budgets, achieving results and ensuring that most of our education dollars are spent in the classroom and not on administrative overhead should be everyone's concern. We need to tone down the partisan rhetoric and find ways to work together - Democrats, Republicans and Independents - to ensure that Maine students are getting the education they need to fill the jobs of the future.
If we fail at this, we will fail an entire generation of young people.
Please join me in my campaign for change, for renewal and the future of Maine.
Best,
Rosa
P.S. I would love to hear your thoughts! Log on to my fan page on Facebook at Rosa for Maine and let me know how we can keep moving Maine forward. Or go to my website at www.rosaformaine.com
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