Regina Wilson recently posted a question about how I plan to bring jobs, incomes, and opportunity back to Downeast Maine — particularly to Washington County. Please take a moment to read Regina’s original question and my response.
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Regina Wilson: What is your vision for way down East Maine WASHINGTON COUNTY??? this is where the real help is needed, Past Governors can’t see past Ellsworth and Bangor. I am talking about the Eastport and Calais area’s where there is no work.
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Dear Regina,
Thank you for writing and for your question. My apologies for the belated response.
My grandfather came to this country at the age of 12. He had no money, spoke no English and had no family here. For the first eight years of his life he was a peddler, walking what is now the Airline between Bangor and Calais.
This state and this country provided to my grandfather’s family – including my mother and her two sisters and then to my brothers and me – opportunities that he could only dream of as a 12 year-old immigrant. That is why I am so committed to bringing jobs, incomes and opportunities back to Maine and especially to places like Downeast Maine, a part of state that is very special to me. My overall goals for Washington County will be to rebuild the region’s economy while keeping intact the region’s coastal and interior communities.
I intend to do this in several important ways:
I. Develop and export products from the region’s natural resources and increase development of the Port of Eastport as one of Maine’s three principal seaports:
A) Lower the cost of living and doing business in Downeast Maine by lowering the cost of electricity and health care. (Please see my proposals for an energy finance authority and a Maine Wellness plan on www.cutler2010.com). Doing so will make Downeast Maine a more attractive location for investment in facilities to process and add value to the region’s natural resources, including lobsters, blueberries and wood fiber.
B) Develop export markets for these natural resources products. In particular, we need a focused effort to develop Chinese and other Asian markets for the export of lobsters and blueberries.
C) Establish a profitable aquaculture industry in Downeast Maine.
D) Vigorously look for opportunities to increase activity at the Port of Eastport, particularly by improving railroad links into Easport.
II. Develop the region’s energy resources in a responsible manner:
A) Establish an LNG terminal in Washington County if it meets tough safety and environmental standards.
B) Support accelerated research and development of cost-effective technologies for the generation of electricity from tidal energy.
C) Investigate opportunities for additional cooperation between the Maine Indian Tribes and private sector developers on the development of wind energy projects on both surplus federal lands and other lands controlled by the Tribes.
D) Create the Maine Energy Finance Authority, so that we can bring down energy and electricity prices in Maine, so that we can keep open plants like the Domtar mill in Baileyville, and so that we can develop in Maine processing plants for fish, lobsters, blueberries and other Maine products.
III. Promote Downeast Maine as a unique and welcoming area for visitors and retirees:
A) Aggressively promote the unique natural beauty and culture Downeast Maine to visitors, retirees and potential year-round residents.
B) Develop additional snowmobile, cross-country skiing, hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking canoeing, and boating opportunities in Downeast Maine.
C) Investigate incentives for retirees to establish year-round residence in Downeast Maine communities.
IV. Provide equal opportunities for a quality education to all children in Maine.
V. Invest in high-speed Internet and telecommunications infrastructure across the state.
VI. Reform Maine’s tax system at levels so that communities like Eastport and Lubec are not unfairly penalized for being on the coast.
These efforts will require close cooperation among the state and every town, city, and county in Downeast Maine. I am committed to this effort and to making that happen.
Sincerely,
Eliot