UPDATES
Watch Eliot’s latest TV ad “Independent. Just Like Maine.” Then become a fan on Facebook!
The Bangor Daily News reports that independent Eliot Cutler’s poll numbers are “jumping” at the expense of the party candidates.
The Portland Press Herald notes that polls show a “surge” for independent Eliot Cutler and declines for the two major-party candidates.
USA Today mentions Eliot’s campaign for governor in a new piece about the appeal of independents in the upcoming election cycle. Here is an excerpt:
“Gubernatorial candidates Cutler, Chafee and Tim Cahill of Massachusetts promise straight talk and tough love in a year when both parties are viewed unfavorably by most Americans. Sixty percent of those surveyed in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll say they are very or somewhat likely to vote for an independent candidate this fall”
You can read the complete article here.
The following op-ed appeared in the Bangor Daily News on July 1st, 2010.
Libby Mitchell got the endorsement of the teachers’ union last week, and she should have. The union that represents teachers in Maine — the Maine Education Association — recently interviewed four candidates for governor. Since the room was full of teachers, you would have thought that the questions would be about improving education, preparing young people for the future, growing Maine’s economy, rewarding good teachers, stretching our education dollars and so forth. But you would have been wrong.
Throughout four pages and eight long questions, the word “student” appeared twice in just one question, and even then only in asking whether teacher evaluations should be based upon measures of student performance (of course they should, but the teachers’ union says no.) There was not another mention of students or any reference to parents, taxpayers or creating jobs.
Here is what the MEA wanted to talk about: raising taxes, protecting the union’s first-class health plan, easing working conditions, higher teacher salaries (regardless of competence and performance) and a tax exemption for retired teachers.
There was one other question: Would I support or oppose the establishment of charter schools in Maine? I strongly support charter schools, but the teachers’ union has used its clout to block them in Maine. We are just one of a handful of states that don’t allow public charter schools, and it is one of the principal reasons Maine schools have been denied a share of the hundreds of millions of dollars in the federal “Race to the Top” education reform program.
At a time when we need to be focused on growing the economic pie in Maine so that our kids will have a future here, the MEA’s only concern is how to grab for themselves an even bigger slice of a pie that already is much too small.
Without Libby Mitchell at the helm in Augusta for much of the last 30 years, the MEA never could have succeeded in driving the costs of public education in Maine higher and higher, blocking public charter schools, preserving tenure and lock step salary increases for teachers and sidetracking other needed public education reforms — all while student enrollments and performance have been falling.
So take the MEA endorsement of Ms. Mitchell with a grain of salt and a heavy dose of caution. The endorsement was paid for upfront by years of steadfast support from Ms. Mitchell for higher taxes, more spending and opposition to reform. Unfortunately, it is our children who will foot the bill.
I am convinced that the leadership of the teachers’ union does not reflect the views of thousands of dedicated, hardworking Maine teachers. More than anyone, our teachers have been marginalized and their professional status compromised by the failure of their own union leadership.
Teachers should have a prominent role in setting educational policy. But they don’t, because the MEA is more concerned about propping up a political party in decline.
Good teachers should be paid more than mediocre ones, as in other professions, and student achievement should be somehow reflected in compensation. Teachers should help design the system that rewards excellence with compensation and advancement. But the MEA wants to make sure that every teacher, regardless of effectiveness, is treated the same.
Good teachers should be free to innovate, and we should make more clinical and professional training available to help them do that. But the MEA wants to keep every teacher in the same narrow box.
I had hoped to be able to talk with the MEA about important issues like education reform, ensuring that every child — wherever they live in Maine — has access to a quality education, improving student performance and operating our schools more efficiently as enrollments decline.
Instead, the meeting turned out to be one more example of the kind of special interest politics that we simply can’t afford any longer.
So, if you like things the way they are and want to continue paying more and getting less, cast your lot with Libby Mitchell and the MEA. If you want change and reform, I hope that you will join me in creating an education system in Maine that is innovative, affordable and focused on results — a system that truly respects our teachers as professionals and gives every Maine child an equal opportunity to succeed.
Eliot Cutler is an independent candidate for governor. Learn more at www.Cutler2010.com.
Foster’s Daily Democrat features an article about Eliot, saying that “[he] is one to watch” in the upcoming general election. The article also praises his “impressive resume” and “plain-speaking, no-nonsense” approach to campaigning. Here is an excerpt:
That’s because Cutler boasts perhaps the most impressive resume of any candidate, Independent or not.
He has served, at various times, as a top White House adviser, business leader, lawyer, and education official.
After graduating from Harvard, he worked for former Maine Senator Edmund Muskie. He went on to serve in four presidential campaigns, and was a top energy official for former President Jimmy Carter.
Cutler had a hand in crafting both the Clean Energy Act and Clean Water Act. He then started a law firm focusing on environmental litigation while heading several businesses specializing in manufacturing and mortgages, among other fields.
“It’s incredible,” said University of New England political scientist Brian Duff. “He’s a charismatic, well-respected Independent who portrays himself being above partisan politics.”
You can read the full article here.
I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend and that you took some time to honor those brave men and women who are defending our country today, and those who have given their lives so that we may live in freedom.
I have been spending a fair amount of time over the past week in meetings with staff, consultants and supporters, preparing for the post-Primary campaign. We enter a whole new phase of the campaign after next Tuesday and it will be good to know who my partisan opponents are going to be. I am ready to take them on and to offer Maine voters a strong alternative to politics as usual.
I was pleased to be profiled in the Portland Press Herald last Wednesday, and I had a great time participating in their live online chat. It was a great way for people all over the state to come together and ask me questions. You know that I never shy away from answering tough questions, so keep them coming! You can submit additional questions to our website here.
Yesterday, I spoke with a group of seniors at the Atrium, a retirement community in Portland. My mother lived there for a while, and loved every minute of it. Many of the folks I met remembered my mom — one even beat her at Bridge (which was rare) — and I was grateful for the opportunity to visit with them. The staff at the Atrium does a great job, and we would all be lucky to live in such a caring place when we get older.
I have another busy week coming up, with stops in Augusta, Hallowell, the Greater Portland area, and on up to Mount Desert Island for a ”meet and greet” on Saturday. Can’t wait!
See you out on the campaign trail.
P.S. Have you donated yet? You can do so online here.
Ron Bancroft, a highly respected business consultant and weekly columnist for the Portland Press Herald had some words about Eliot is his column this week, “With Election Day Looming, Some Views on Voting Preferences.”
“I should also note that my choice in November, based on what I have seen of the candidates so far, is Eliot Cutler, an independent, and therefore not subject to a public vote on June 8. I believe Cutler has that combination of insight, political savvy, and intellectual resilience to address the formidable challenges Maine faces.”
Eliot once again received national press coverage this past week as the momentum for the independent movement continues to build. Noted Pollster, Doug Schoen, mentions Eliot in his NY Daily News commentary on the growing strength of independents:
The entire article, “The Center Can Hold — And Prevail, Even in the Empire State, Independents will Decide Elections” can be found here.
As a privately funded campaign, we are depending on you to help us raise the funds we need to be successful. Please contribute online today or mail your check to Cutler 2010, P.O. Box 15277, Portland, ME 04112. The maximum contribution is $750, but every contribution helps.
Our website allows you to make contributions automatically every month. Some of Eliot’s most loyal supporters have chosen this as the best way for them to support the campaign, with contributions of just $10 or $20 a month. That’s a great way to help the campaign!
Thank you.
You can follow Eliot’s campaign on our website, www.Cutler2010.com and on our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
If you want to get in touch with the campaign, please give us a call at 207-699-4401 (toll free, 877-213-5112) or email us at campaign@cutler2010.com.
In advance of the upcoming party primaries, Ron Bancroft looks at the remaining party candidates and notes that unless something changes, he will be supporting Eliot in the November general election. Here is an excerpt:
I should also note that my choice in November, based on what I have seen of the candidates so far, is Eliot Cutler, an independent, and therefore not subject to a public vote on June 8. I believe Cutler has that combination of insight, political savvy, and intellectual resilience to address the formidable challenges Maine faces.
You can read the full article here.
Noted Pollster, Doug Schoen, looks at Independents and the strength of the Independent Brand in his most recent political column for the New York Daily News. Below is an excerpt in which he mentions Eliot:
Less well known, but equally important, are three independent candidacies for governor in New England – each of which has a real chance to succeed: Eliot Cutler in Maine, Tim Cahill in Massachusetts, and, probably, the strongest of them all, former Sen. Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island, who holds a narrow lead.
You can read the full article here.
The Portland Press Herald profiles Eliot in its Gubernatorial candidate series, looking at his breadth of experience in business, law, and politics, and his plan to turn Maine around. Below is an excerpt:
“I have little patience for drivel, and slogans. I’ve been around the track too many times, for one thing. When I’m asked a question, I answer it. I try not to indulge the audience,” Cutler said. “The importance of what’s at stake for Maine now is so great, so fundamental, that we need to be clear about what we think we need to do. We need to be strategic about it, we need to be focused.”
You can read the full article here.
The Kennebec Journal profiles Eliot in its Gubernatorial candidate series, looking at his breadth of experience in international business, law, and politics. Below is an excerpt:
“China is going to be the biggest market in the world during our lifetime. It ought to be one of the biggest markets for Maine products — seafood, agriculture, pulp and paper,” Cutler said. “Not to understand China the way I do, in my view, would be a shortcoming. I think I can do more for the state of Maine by virtue of what I know about the rest of the world.”
You can read the full article here.
Another great week! Campaigning continues to be exciting and fun as I meet with people around the state and the support for my Independent candidacy continues to grow exponentially.
I kicked off last week with stops at two Maine colleges: University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College and Central Maine Community College. Whenever I am at one of Maine’s institutions of higher education, I feel even more strongly that our state has been doing our students a disservice. We have been steadily disinvesting in our colleges and universities for decades, and we have to reverse that.
While in the Lewiston/Auburn area I also met with Jonathan LaBonte, who is a great example of a younger generation Mainer (well, younger than me) who has stayed here to focus on serving Maine people. Jonathan serves as a County Commissioner for Androscoggin County and is also the Executive Director of the Androscoggin Land Trust. He has great ideas and a passion to incorporate conservation into the economic development of the region.
I concluded my time in LA last week with a long conversation with Somali community leaders. When you see the string of Somali-owned businesses opening up along Lisbon St. in Lewiston (along with Eric Agren’s great new restaurant Marché), you can’t help but to say to yourself, “Hey, this is the way it’s supposed to work.” I have long believed that immigration is one of the great pillars of economic growth in Maine and in America. As the state with the oldest population in America, Maine should welcome enterprising immigrants. We need to pay close attention to meeting the needs of immigrant families in the areas of education, employment and family reunification.
I also took an early morning off from campaigning to go salmon fishing on Sebago Lake with good friend and supporter Dick Spencer. There are few things more relaxing than trolling as the sun comes up, and I love that Maine is a place where you can leave the crowded city and within 20 minutes be out fishing. We caught four nice salmon and kept the two best for supper!
In addition to Lewiston and Auburn, I also had stops last week in the Greater Portland area, Windham, and Wells.
I began this week early Monday morning in Bangor where I was the guest of George Hale and Ric Tyler on WVOM for an hour. George, of course, is a broadcasting legend, and I deeply appreciated his kind words about my late father, Dr. Larry Cutler.
Later that day I visited Bushmaster in Windham at the invitation of President and General Manager John DeSantis. More than 100 skilled workers are employed at this successful Maine company and I was especially pleased to learn that they source 50% of their precision components from other Maine companies. Good for them!
I also got to tour Shipyard Brewing Co. with owner Fred Forsley yesterday (no free samples). What a great company and great product!
Today it’s off to Lincolnville for the Maine Tourism Association Annual Meeting. These folks do a great job promoting our state and its biggest industry. It’s always a pleasure to spend time with them.
I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.
P.S. Another reporting deadline is right around the corner. Please help us show the strength of our campaign by donating today.
Facebook is a powerful channel for spreading word of Eliot’s campaign. It’s effective because so many people use it and people trust the information they see from their friends. We want to reach 1,000 fans by the end of the month.
Here’s how you can help us reach that goal:
1. “Like” Eliot (become a Fan). Go to www.Facebook.com/EliotCutler and click the “Like” button at the top of the page. If you’re already a Fan, simply “like” our updates. Both help.
2. Suggest that your friends “like” Eliot. Under the picture of Eliot on the left-hand side of the page, click the “suggest to friends” link. Then, Facebook will walk you through inviting your friends to be Fans of Eliot.
3. Write on Eliot’s wall. Every time you write on our wall or “like” one of our posts, it’s helpful. Your friends see your support of Eliot and it builds momentum for our campaign.
4. Upload a picture. You can take a photo with a Cutler 2010 button or Bumper Sticker, and upload it to Eliot’s Fan Page or send it to jon@cutler2010.com with a short description and we’ll post it for you.
If you want visual step-by-step instructions for the above, please visit:
http://cutler2010.com/2010/05/facebook-upload-instructions/
As a privately funded campaign, we are depending on you to help us raise the funds we need to be successful. Please contribute online today or mail your check to Cutler 2010, P.O. Box 15277, Portland, ME 04112. The maximum contribution is $750, but every contribution helps.
Our website allows you to make contributions automatically every month. Some of Eliot’s most loyal supporters have chosen this as the best way for them to support the campaign, with contributions of just $10 or $20 a month. That’s a great way to help the campaign!
Thank you.
You can follow Eliot’s campaign on our website, www.Cutler2010.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
If you want to get in touch with the campaign, please give us a call at 207-699-4401 (toll free, 877-213-5112) or email us at campaign@cutler2010.com.