During a candidates forum Oct. 18, gun control marked the sharpest distinction between the four candidates seeking election to the Maine Legislature. The “Great State Debate,” held in the Boothbay Harbor Opera House, included state representative candidates Stephanie Hawke, the incumbent, a Republican who also represents Boothbay Harbor on the local school committee, and Wendy Wolf, an unenrolled candidate, who serves on the Boothbay Harbor Board of Selectmen and is co-chairman of the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Joint Economic Development Committee.

The two senate candidates were incumbent Chris Johnson (D-Somerville) and former Republican state legislator and Waldoboro businessman Dana Dow.

The candidates were asked about the six referendum questions on the November ballot. Hawke and Dow oppose Question Three which places more restrictions on private gun sales and transfers. Wolf and Johnson support the measure.

During citizens’ questions, Boothbay Harbor resident Linc Sample asked the candidates, if elected, whether they’d support amending or repealing the measure as legislators in January. The two Republicans indicated they favored altering Question Three if approved by voters. Their opponents would amend the law if they believed it necessary.

Hawke is troubled by both the referendum’s intent and origination. She believes gun violence isn’t a problem in Maine and is skeptical about the new restrictions making the state safer. Hawke is also concerned about Question Three’s out-of-state finances.

“Maine is the second safest state in gun violence, only Vermont is safer. We don’t have a problem with gun violence. This is all about a New York Mayor (former Mayor Michael Bloomberg) trying to scare people and grab everybody’s guns in the process,” she said.

Wolf believes if the new restrictions saved one life it was worth the added inconvenience to Maine gun owners. Hawke responded, “If saving lives is the main concern, government could infringe on other freedoms by banning alcohol, cars, tobacco and fatty foods, which all cause more Maine deaths each year than gun violence.”

Johnson disagreed. He stated that last year hand guns were involved in a significant number of domestic violence murders.

“Half are killed by their partners, then if that doesn’t matter to you, then I don’t want you as my neighbor,” Johnson said.

The candidates answered questions from moderator Peggy Pinkham as well as citizens. Pinkham, a former St. Andrews Hospital administrator, began the forum with a question about health care access. Wolf, Johnson and Dow all favor Medicaid expansion to provide greater access to health insurance. They support expanding Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act which would trigger a 90 percent federal match.

Wolf recently retired as the Maine Health Access Foundation’s chief executive. The foundation is the state’s largest private health organization. She also worked on federal health care policy in Washington, D.C. She believes Medicaid expansion will eventually make the entire health care system more affordable.

“As a physician, I feel it’s morally wrong for a country as wealthy as ours that certain people are shut out of the healthcare system,” Wolfe said. “Imagine how secure you’d feel if you were uninsured and had an accident. How would anyone deal with that?”

Johnson agreed, and believed federal money would eliminate future hospital debt and benefit the local economy. Dow would reluctantly accept the federal money. He believes improving the state economy is a better long term solution.

“What we really need is better paying jobs so more people can work and afford their own insurance,” he said.

As a legislator, Hawke voted against Medicaid expansion. Under Obamacare, the federal government would pay 90 percent of Medicaid expansion’s cost. Maine’s share would have been $220 million over five years. Hawke characterized the state’s portion as too expensive. The program also would have made thousands of childless, able-bodied adults eligible for Medicaid, she said.

“We (the state) didn’t have the money at the time, and I was concerned about them keeping their promises. Remember ‘If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor,’” she said.

Hawke also believed if the state had the money it would be better spent providing more health care for children and seniors.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea putting young, able-bodied people on the dole,” Hawke said.

The two senate candidates believe the state lacks a  future business plan. Dow, who owns a Waldoboro furniture store, believes state government has ignored businesses’ needs for decades. He used Verizon’s decision to relocate 200 employees in Bangor to other locations as a prime example.

“No matter who’s in charge, the state is neglecting the needs of businesses,” he said. “The state only reacts. We need to be more proactive. How about somebody contacting Verizon and asking what they needed before it’s too late.”

Johnson said state job creation would increase with more research and development investment. He said the state hasn’t invested in “R and D” for six years.

“The state has no economic plan,” he said. “Ask any business what they need and it’s an educated workforce and infrastructure. We’ve been deficient in those areas for years and other states spend six percent of their GDP (gross domestic product) on it. And Maine is spending next to nothing.”

Hawke believes the Maine economy will continue to struggle as long as business costs rise.  “The cost of living is high here, and as long as other states offer lower taxes and a friendlier regulatory structure then businesses will go elsewhere.”

Her opponent, Wolf, believes Maine is ready for economic expansion.

“I’m optimistic about Maine’s future.There are a lot of good things happening which has motivated me to run,” she said. 

Wolf and Hawke are running for a two-year term for House District 89 which includes Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Edgecomb and part of South Bristol. Dow and Johnson are running for a two-year term for Senate District 13 which includes all of Lincoln County and the towns of  Windsor, in Kennebec County, and Washington, in Knox County.