News

PORTLAND, Maine – Independents, Republicans and Democrats from across Maine have joined the campaign of Independent candidate for governor Eliot Cutler. The Cutler campaign today announced its leadership team as the race for governor heads into the final month.

“I am honored to have the support of leaders who are so highly respected in their communities and around the state,” Cutler said. “They come from different parts of Maine, different walks of life, and different political parties, but they all agree that Maine desperately needs strong, new leadership.”

“For me, this race goes beyond party labels and is about who can get the job done,” explained Campaign Co-Chair Marge Kilkelly, a former state legislator from Dresden; “I have always voted my conscience and put the interests of Maine first. Eliot Cutler is the one candidate with a real plan to create jobs and balance the budget.”

“We need to turn to an Independent governor again to get our state back on track,” said Sam Zaitlin of Biddeford, a long-time Independent and key supporter of former Governor Angus King. “The two political parties that got our state into this fiscal mess are not going to get us out of it. Eliot gives moderate Maine voters a real choice and someone to vote for this year.”

“Eliot Cutler is simply the best candidate for governor,” said Capt. Bob Peacock of Eastport, a Republican and city council president. “He understands the challenges we face in Washington County and throughout Maine. He’s got a sound plan and the experience to back it up. That’s more important to me than any party label.”

The complete list of Cutler’s campaign leaders includes:

Campaign Co-Chairs

Meg Baxter, Cape Elizabeth
Sen. Dennis Damon, Trenton
Tim Hussey, Kennebunk
Marge Kilkelly, Dresden
Clare Payne, Holden
Bob Peacock, Eastport
Rep. Leila Percy, Phippsburg
Sen. Elizabeth Schneider, Orono
Sam Zaitlin, Biddeford

Androscoggin County Co-Chairs

Jack Clifford, Lewiston
Mayor Larry Gilbert, Lewiston
Lucien Gosselin, Lewiston
Jonathan LaBonte, Auburn
Kathie Leonard, Auburn
Jim Wellehan, Auburn

Aroostook County Co-Chairs

Chip Beckwith, Fort Fairfield
Tanya Pasquarelli, Hodgdon

Cumberland County Co-Chairs

Penny Carson, Falmouth
Corky Ellis, Freeport
Jon Fitzgerald, Falmouth
Penny Jordan, Cape Elizabeth
Jana LaPoint, Falmouth
Don Russell, South Portland
Richard “Dick” Spencer, Portland
Frank Strout, Cape Elizabeth
Kim Volk, Portland

Franklin County Co-Chairs

Stephanie Flanagan, Farmington
Tom Hildreth, Kingfield

Hancock County Co-Chairs

Nancy Alexander, Ellsworth
John Bradford, Orland
Skip Greenlaw, Stonington

Kennebec County Co-Chairs

Greg Farris, Gardiner
Carolyn Manson, Hallowell
Stan Moody, Manchester
Jim Nicholson, China
Delaine Nye, Augusta
Gordon Smith, East Winthrop
Jeff Romano, Hallowell

Knox County Co-Chairs

Bob Baines, South Thomaston
Sue Baines, South Thomaston
Mac Deford, Spruce Head
Zehra Deford, Spruce Head
John Hanson, Camden

Lincoln County Co-Chairs

Doug Baston, Alna
Joe Murray, Dresden
Dan Sortwell, Wiscasset

Oxford County Co-Chairs

Al Bancroft, South Paris
Mary Alice Bancroft, South Paris
James Wilfong, Stow

Penobscot County Co-Chairs

Richard Blanchard, Old Town
Carol Epstein, Bangor
Andy Hamilton, Bangor
David Mahan, Old Town
Jim Page, Old Town
Wendy Polstein, Millinocket
John Rohman, Bangor
Richard Stone, Bangor
Sue Stone, Bangor
Miles Theeman, Bangor

Piscataquis County Co-Chairs

Tom Lizotte, Dover-Foxcroft
Dave McDermott, Dover-Foxcroft

Sagadahoc County Co-Chairs

Bill Foster, Phippsburg
Marilene Foster, Phippsburg
Bill Haggett, West Bath

Somerset County Co-Chairs

Richard LaCasse, Skowhegan
Elizabeth “Betsy” Tipper, Smithfield

Waldo County Co-Chairs

Chris Groden, Belfast
Jim Robbins, Searsmont

Washington County Co-Chairs

Shannon Emery, Eastport
Jeanne Peacock, Eastport

York County Co-Chairs

Gary Beers, Kittery
Bonita Pothier, Biddeford
Steve Workman, Kittery

The Portland Press Herald reports that the five candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot for governor talked about the state’s business climate and other topics this morning at the Portland Regional Chamber’s Eggs & Issues breakfast. Here is an excerpt:

During a moderated debate, the candidates also exchanged a few criticisms, with independent Eliot Cutler challenging Waterville Mayor Paul LePage, a Republican, on his city’s high school dropout rate. Cutler also accused LePage of “made up stories.”

You can read the full article here.

In a Letter to the Editor in the Bangor Daily News, Chuck Roundy of Palmyra expresses his support for Eliot Cutler. Roundy praises Cutler’s reasonable approach to the state’s fiscal problems.

Democrat for Cutler

I returned home in 1964 from a tour of duty in the military and joined the Democratic Party at the tender age of 22. With the exception of a three- month flirtation with registration as an independent in 1974, I have been a Democrat for 46 years.

I cannot vote for Libby Mitchell for governor, for I have personally witnessed — and felt — her bullying and vindictive ways as a politician.

I cannot vote for Paul LePage for governor for, despite his admirable personal story of overcoming early hardships in life and making something of himself, I disagree with him in far too many policy areas.

I will be voting for Eliot Cutler for governor of Maine come November. I have followed his career over the years and have carefully listened and read about his reasonable approaches for dealing with Maine’s difficult fiscal problems and also because, to date, he has not engaged in any negative campaigning in the race for the Blaine House.

Chuck Roundy

Palmyra

The Portland Press Herald published an op-ed piece by Ron Bancroft grading the proposals of the three main gubernatorial candidates. Eliot Cutler, Republican Paul LePage and Democrat Libby Mitchell were graded on their plans to address the economy and unemployment, the state’s fiscal situation, as well as their plans for higher and K-12 education. Cutler received the highest marks of the three in all categories. Bancroft concluded that:

“On this report card there is only one clear choice for governor – Eliot Cutler.”

You can read the full article here.

Eliot often receives wonderful emails from supporters, but last week he received a particularly inspiring and timely message from Adam Patterson, a recent graduate of the University of Maine and a new voter.

I want to share Adam’s email with you because it reminds us of what we’re voting for:

Dear Eliot:

I am a recent graduate of the University of Maine with a major in Public Management focusing in economic planning and a minor in political science.

I am living and working in Portland, ME, and upon registering to vote today, I cast my absentee ballot for you. Having an education and direct municipal experience in the budgeting process (in Veazie, ME), I am most assuredly confident that you are the leader that this state needs. Every time I speak to someone who says “Well I don’t like Libby Mitchell, but she is better than Paul LePage,” I stress to them that the lesser of two evils is no way to cast a ballot.

It is vitally important for our state now and in the future to elect you as the next governor of Maine. I would like to help in any way with your campaign, I am championing your cause in my own personal and private life but would love to do so in a public forum to help you win this election.

Thank you so much Eliot for bringing sensibility into the discussion for the gubernatorial election. Please contact me if in any way I can help you win.

- Adam Patterson, Portland

Thank you, Adam, for reminding us that the only wasted vote is a vote for someone you don’t really believe in.

I hope that you, too, are inspired by Adam’s message and that you will share it with your friends – especially those who are still undecided.

Thank you.

Campaign Manager

Democratic mayor of Lewiston, Larry Gilbert, has announced his support for Cutler in the Maine gubernatorial election stating that Cutler is the best choice for the Twin Cities.

Gilbert, a Democrat, said Friday he was supporting Cutler because Mitchell was the “embodiment of what’s wrong in Augusta” and LePage was a tea party candidate who is “too far to the right.”

You can read the full article here.