Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio recorded by: Meaghan LaSala
A gubernatorial candidates forum on the topic of Maine’s quality of place, was held on September 21st at the Bangor Opera House. The event was sponsored by several Maine-based nonprofit organizations, including: the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, GrowSmart Maine, Healthy Community Coalition, Maine Conservation Voters Education Fund, Maine Development Foundation’s Downtown Center, Maine Downtown Coalition, Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Preservation, Maine Rural Partners, Trust for Public Land and the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine.
The candidates for governor were asked for their views on the future, and how they would protect and promote Maine’s natural and cultural resources. We are bringing the audio from this event to you in 2 parts, so we can include as much of the forum as possible. In this first segment that you will be hearing today, the candidates were asked:
What they see as the state’s role in protecting quality of place and capitalizing on the Maine “brand” in job creation?
Their opinion regarding funds for economic development being tied to the impact the development would have on quality of place?
How would they balance public access with private landowner’s rights?
How would they encourage more “smart growth” and encourage bicycling, walking and public transportation?
And how development and job creation can be promoted, without creating
sprawl?
In attendance were 4 of the 5 candidates who will be appearing on the ballot for Governor: Democrat, Senator Libby Mitchell; and Independents Shawn Moody, Eliot Cutler and Kevin Scott, Republican Paul LePage was invited, but did not attend
The forum was emcee’d by Carol Coultas, editor of Maine Biz
NOTE: Part 2 will air on “Voices” at 4pm on Tuesday, September 28tg