Dear Editor:

Maine has been completely controlled by Democrats for the last eight years. They own the Governorship, House of Representatives, the Senate, and the three constitutional offices of attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer. Elected Republicans could have stayed home, and it would have made no difference

After eight years and thousands of new bills are Mainers better off? How does Maine compare with the other states? Maine is near the bottom in infrastructure at #47. Maine’s economy is #48 and Mainer’s income is #47. It isn’t just Augusta’s business friendly climate at #35 that keeps industries out of Maine, add in corporate income tax at #5, and electrical costs at #4 and companies stay away. Another concern is the performance of our schools. Maine’s education is ranked #41 and fourth grade reading proficiency is at #43. Worse still is Maine’s decline of education performance ranked at #2. For the homebuyer, the percentage of people priced out of homes is ranked #3 and for the homeowner, the Tax Foundation ranks Maine #5 in property-tax collections as a percent of personal income.

During the last eight years total state spending has increased from about $8.5 billion to about $14.5 billion, up 71%. With declining enrollment, Maine’s education spending increased 42%. In some cases, people’s property tax increased by double digits in a single year. This is a shocking and unacceptable report card. If the trend continues it will be a challenge for many to continue living in Maine.

Democrats are running for office promising to fix Maine’s problems. They have had eight years to get things right. Janet Mills, Troy Jackson, Shanna Bellows, Hannah Pingree, Mathew Dunlap, and a cast of Democrat Maine House and Senate members spent years running Maine and now many are campaigning on the message that Maine is broken and they can fix it.

Eight years is not a trial period. It is the record. This election is simple, a Republican vote for change or a Democrat vote to stay the course. Republican or Democrat?  Change or fail? Your choice.

Joe Grant

Wiscasset