KENNEBUNK — U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree told those attending the Democratic Caucus in Kennebunk that this year’s election is an important one for their political party.
About 150 residents from Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel gathered to listen to Pingree, as well as local candidates for the Legislature.
“This is going to be the most important election of our lives,” said Pingree. “This is truly a critical year for our country, and our communities and our state.”
Pingree shared the story of a conversation she had with someone while eating breakfast at a restaurant in Rockland. She said the woman at the restaurant thanked her for standing up for women in the recent federal contraception mandate. Pingree said back in 1999, she sponsored the contraceptive equality bill in Maine, which had support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Pingree said in Washington, people should be talking about universal health care, sustainable energy alternatives and taxing millionaires, but instead they’re “turning back the clock, again and again” and talking about abortion, getting rid of clean air standards and drilling for oil off the coast of Maine. These issues, she said,“stir people up and make them angry, and aren’t going to move us forward.”
She said it was important to re-elect President Barack Obama and get back the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Maine Legislature.
Democrats have good values, said Pingree, such as caring about the middle class working people, women receiving the same wages as men, good education for children, and the environment.
“We represent American values and common sense values,” she said.
Local candidates reiterated some of Pingree’s remarks and shared their goals.
Current State Senator Nancy Sullivan, who is running for state representative of District 137, covering Kennebunkport and part of Biddeford, said she was a state representative in 1999 when the contraceptive equality bill was passed.
“It’s hard to believe that we’re in 2012, and we’re talking about something that should have been settled years ago,” she said.
Sullivan said it was important to elect Democrats to the state Legislature, and that she’s worked hard for her constituents.
“It’s a full-time job if you’re doing what you need to do,” she said.
Alan Casavant, current state representative for District 137, is seeking re-election and vying for the seat. He said he’s very attentive to constituent issues and urged people with concerns to talk to him.
“I really try to be the voice of you and listen to everything that you’ve said,” he said.
Casavant is also the mayor of Biddeford, which has given him more insight on local constituents, he said.
“The jobs blend perfectly together,” he said.
Ed Legg, running for state representative in District 141, covering part of Kennebunk, said he was “really upset” and “fed up” with what’s going on in Augusta. Legg served one term as a representative from 2008-10. He said his website lays out his experience, while his opponent’s record is a “blank page.”
“Kennebunk deserves better representation,” said Legg.
He said members of the party need to convince people they can do better than “just going lock step with Paul LePage.” He said LePage has called himself a bully, “And I don’t take very kindly to being bullied.”
David Dutremble and Jim Emerson, candidates for Senate District 4, which covers Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and part of Biddeford, also spoke at the caucus.
Dutremble, firefighter for the City of Biddeford, said he loved helping people. Serving in the fire department, he has learned about compromise through negotiations with unions and management. He said he wants to run for Senate to continue to help people.
“I want compromise (in the Legislature), I want people there for the working people of Maine,” he said, adding that he is concerned about the economy and financial issues of the elderly.
Emerson is a former city councilor and current school committee member in Biddeford. He said he wants to serve in the Senate to make sure the needs of the district are heard, bring economic opportunities and livable wages, bring educational opportunities geared to the workforce of the future, and make sure “more money can stay in the pockets of hard working Mainers.”
He said he wanted to bring “practical, common sense cooperative and responsible activity” to the budget process on the state level, find efficiencies, and take care of natural resources and those who are vulnerable.
Adam Spey, candidate for state representative for District 140, representing Arundel, Dayton, part of Kennebunk and part of Lyman said he’s worked in the background of many campaigns, but this is a new role for him.
“I want to help the state and the district back moving in the right direction,” he said. He said he wants to create a level playing field where people have the tools needed to succeed, create jobs without sacrificing what makes Maine special, including the environment, the strength of communities and the independent spirit of the people.
He said the current government, which is proposing health care cuts for needy families, is not going in the right direction.
“This is going to be a difficult fight,” he said, “but together we can win.”
The town committees of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport merged into one town committee Sunday, but will continue to split for separate caucus procedures.
Patrick Briggs, vice chairman of the committee, said caucuses give people an opportunity to gauge the candidates, and by combining the three towns for the presentations, candidates got the chance to address a large crowd of people at one time.
“I think we’ve got a terrific slate of candidates,” said Diane Denk, chairwoman of the committee.
“I think the Democrats represent the ideology most like my own,” she said. “They offer hope and solutions to problems.”
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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