SACO — Political leaders need to have strategic plans to guide Maine into a prosperous future.
This was one of the messages shared Wednesday by Eliot Cutler, independent gubernatorial candidate, at a roundtable discussion at the Saco+Biddeford Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Cutler began the discussion by asking everyone at the table what they think are the challenges and opportunities in Maine.
Local public relations firm owner Mark Robinson referred to Maine as the “end of the economic pipeline,” and, like others at the table, said it was very challenging to make a living in Maine. He said the Saco-Biddeford area could be an economic engine, and mill development and entrepreneurship should be supported.
Cutler said he thought of Maine as having extraordinary assets, but said there are also big challenges and “a gross failure of leadership.”
Prior generations made investments in Maine for future generations, he said, knowing that the payoff wouldn’t be seen in their lifetime. He said the hopes, dreams and aspirations the past generations had for his generation are the same hopes dreams and aspirations he has for his children.
Today’s leaders are afraid to make strategic investments in which the payback isn’t generated until after their term of office, said Cutler, and if this thinking continues, the state will not raise money for infrastructure and make needed changes in the health care system.
Cutler spoke of Yarmouth independent state senator and economist Dick Woodbury and the bipartisan group he assembled to discuss tax reform. The group put a suggested plan on the table that addressed the unfairness in Maine tax structure, but the proposed plan was rejected by both Democrats and Republicans, which Cutler said was “a total absence of leadership.”
Cutler said there needs to be state tax reform and serious decisions on how to finance infrastructure, and a plan in place to pay for fixing roads and bridges. He said political parties have become narrow and more extreme, and are putting democracy at risk.
“I think the only way forward is straight ahead, not left or right,” said Cutler.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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