Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of profiles about Maine’s gubernatorial candidates, their views on the issues and how their plans will impact York County.
In 1980, a third-generation paper mill worker from East Millinocket made his first bid for state office and was elected to the Maine House of Representatives.
Now, he is looking for his next political milestone. Democrat Michael H. Michaud, 59, the second of six children, wants to become the state’s next governor.
U.S. Rep. Michaud first ran for the state Legislature because he was concerned about pollution in the Penobscot River near his home, and he wanted to clean it up.
He won that election, and has been in politics ever since.
Michaud, who is single, spent seven consecutive terms in the Maine House of Representatives. He was first elected to the Maine Senate in 1994, and in December 2000, he was unanimously elected as the president of the Maine Senate.
Then, in January 2003, Michaud ”“ the first recognized Franco-American from Maine to be elected to federal office, a 29-year veteran of the Great Northern Paper Company and a United Steelworkers union member ”“ became Maine’s second district congressman.
After more than 10 years serving in the U.S. Congress, the Democrat wants to return home and serve his state’s residents more directly by becoming their new governor.
He is running against the Republican incumbent Gov. Paul LePage and independent Eliot Cutler, who is making his second bid for the state’s highest elected office.
Economics, education and the environment are among his top priorities, said Michaud. Others include equality and civil rights, supporting Maine’s farms and fisheries, health care and expanding Medicaid to 70,000 Mainers and support for veterans, workers and for women’s rights ”“ including the right to equal pay and the right for women to make their own health care-related decisions.
Michaud also announced he was gay last November. Other than the initial headlines at the time, his sexuality has not been raised as an issue during the campaign.
The centerpiece of Michaud’s platform is his “Maine Made” plan, which details his ideas on business and investment to create jobs in the state.
This is a “realistic economic plan,” said Michaud, that “focuses on our strengths.”
He noted that 97 percent of Maine businesses are small business, with 50 or fewer employees.
His plan calls for a $36 million investment to bring job creation up to the national average ”“ from 21 percent to 38 percent ”“ and add 31,000 more jobs to Maine’s economy.
“My Maine Made plan’s $36 million investment is a modest amount, but it’s focused on growing the economy,” said Michaud in an interview Friday.
One of the ways to create jobs and grow businesses is through the creation of the Maine Domestic Trade Center, which would be designed to help Maine businesses export their goods and services to other states.
Building on the state’s existing tourism business is another part of Michaud’s plan.
“Maine is known as Vacationland,” he said.
In addition to attracting more tourists, said Michaud, he wants to find ways to encourage visitors to take a piece of Maine back home with them by purchasing locally made products.
More support for farmers and fisheries is also part of Michaud’s agenda.
“I want to make Maine the food basket for New England,” he said.
Another area for investment, said Michaud, is clean energy, such as wind and solar power. This is good for the environment and a good way to create jobs, and it will help the state from being so oil-dependent, he said.
Research and development in the biotechnology field and other areas, roads and other infrastructure and education, from early childhood through college, are some of the other areas where further investment is needed, said Michaud.
Regarding how to ease the burden on the state’s property taxpayers, Michaud said he doesn’t think new ideas are necessary “if the state just lived up to its commitments.”
Under LePage, state revenue sharing with Maine cities and towns, state aid to education, homestead exemption for homeowners and the Circuit Breaker program, which provides rebates to renters and homeowners based on their income, have all been reduced, he said.
Michaud said he supports full funding of these programs.
All the programs and investments he supports will help York County as well as the rest of the state, he said.
Not only does Michaud have a plan to improve the economy and other areas in the state, he said he also believes he can actually get things done.
“I’m the only candidate that has a proven track record of working across the aisle,” he said.
Both as president of the Maine Senate and in the U.S. House of Representatives, he said he has worked productively with Republicans.
He hopes voters will support him on Tuesday in the gubernatorial race.
“I have the vision as to how we can move Maine forward in a very positive direction,” he said.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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