My Issues: Education, Energy & The Maine Economy

The focus of my campaign will be on "The 3 Es:" education, energy and the Maine economy.  I believe that Maine will become a leader in the renewable energy industries and new jobs will flow to our state if we focus on education innovation.

Education

Providing public education is perhaps the most important role that state government plays today.  How we educate Maine children today will dictate the success of our entire state in the future. 

We have a great public school system with small schools that have technology well integrated.  But I want us to be the best.  To be the best, we must keep innovating:

• I support incentive and merit pay systems of teacher compensation.  We must reward the best teachers for implementing the best possible instruction, and replace teachers who are not serving our kids effectively.
• I support public charter schools.  Public charter schools serve important educational needs, and they are engines of educational innovation.  Communities should have the right to build a public charter school if they choose. 
• If Maine does not allow for public charter schools, it will be much more difficult for Maine to qualify for President Obama’s $4 billion “Race to the Top” Fund, which awards state education departments that are developing and implementing educational best practices.  In economic times like these, such a missed opportunity is unacceptable.
  

When people think of Maine, I want them to think of educational innovation and educational excellence.  We are already well positioned to make that happen, and if elected, I will do everything I can to make our system a model for the country.

Energy

Maine is well positioned for the future of renewable energy, particularly with regards to offshore wind power.  Maine must become a national leader in renewable energy resources.

• I will work to support the consortium led by the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center to develop deepwater offshore wind turbines for the Gulf of Maine.
• I will work with the Maine Community College System to continue establishing programs to train Mainers for jobs in the “Green Economy.”
• I will work to attract businesses for research and development projects at the four new offshore wind power research stations.

Maine is well positioned to be a leader in the renewable energy industry.  If elected I will do everything I can to keep the trend moving forward towards energy independence in Maine.

The Maine Economy

Maine is one of the oldest states in the nation because our young people are leaving.   Our state is hemorrhaging young talent because they cannot find jobs.  “Maine brain drain” is an unfortunate reality in 2010.

I will work to make Maine a place where our best and brightest have opportunities to stay, work, innovate, and become entrepreneurs.  We need to bring new jobs to Maine to give our young people the option of staying and working in their home state.

We can create jobs for our young people if we decide to become a leader in renewable energy.  Investments in renewable energy will help Maine become the national industry leader.  This in turn will bring businesses and jobs to our state.

We can create jobs for our young people if we continue to lead in educational innovation.  Maine’s public educational system can produce leaders with the digital skills necessary to start 21^st century businesses right here in the state.