The race so far

Almost since announcing her bid for the U.S. Senate, Susan Margaret Collins has been running strong and, according to most polls, consistently leading her two opponents in the three-way Republican primary.

The GOP race plodded along from February to mid-May. Cape Elizabeth businessman Robert A.G. Monks spent in excess of a $1 million on television ads and crisscrossed the state in a Winnebago. Collins barnstormed southern Maine and emphasized her Maine pioneer roots and business background. W. John Hathaway, a Kennebunkport developer, racked up thousands of miles introducing himself to voters as the party’s most conservative candidate.

The contest picked up in mid-May after Hathaway won a straw poll in Lincoln. Later in the month, a NewsCenter Bullet Poll indicated that 41 percent of the 500 voters polled favored Collins, while 28 percent preferred Monks and 25 percent would vote for Hathaway.

The Monks campaign immediately focused its sights on Collins, staging personal attacks through faxed news releases and a television ad that described her as “a career bureaucrat.” Some campaign watchers speculate that while the tactic may have brought Collins down a couple of points in the polls, it also cost Monks, who may actually be running a point or two behind Hathaway as a result.

Collins’ performance at the Republican State Convention did nothing to dispel the impression that she continues to lead the other two candidates. But Hathaway rallied support at the event, suggesting at that point that he might be able to unite Maine’s significant bloc of conservative Republicans.

Profile

Focused, determined and ambitious, Collins portrays herself as the quintessential savvy businesswoman of the 1990s with strong organizational and leadership skills. Collins also has a reputation for treating people fairly and with respect. She expects the same from others and can be quite direct with those who fail to reciprocate.

A tireless worker, Collins will push herself up to 18 hours a day for a week at a time before finally taking a break to recharge her batteries. A healthy respect for the New England work ethic was ingrained in her while growing up in Aroostook County. She believes in helping those who cannot help themselves, but absolutely has no tolerance for people given to bouts of laziness or self-pity.

Accused by her opponents of being a bureaucrat for the years she spent working on staff for U.S. Sen. William Cohen and Gov. John R. McKernan, Collins can truthfully point to those experiences as golden opportunities to learn constituent work from the ground up. She seems to enjoy helping others gain access to assistance from densely structured agencies that are frequently mired in convoluted protocols.

History

Collins was born on Dec. 7, 1952, in Caribou. Her mother, Patricia, worked as a high school religious coordinator for the Holy Rosary (Catholic) Church and went on to serve as mayor on the Caribou City Council and as a trustee for the University of Maine System. Her father, Donald, is retired from the family-owned S.W. Collins Co., specializing in retail building materials. He also served as mayor on the Caribou City Council and in the Maine Senate and House.

After graduation from Caribou High School, Collins went to St. Lawrence University in New York, where she would receive her degree in government in 1975. In 1972, she volunteered to work on Cohen’s congressional campaign, and went on to work as an intern for the congressman in 1974. Cohen hired her as a congressional staffer after she graduated from St. Lawrence. Collins stayed on for 12 years before retiring as Cohen’s staff director.

In 1987, Collins joined McKernan’s Cabinet as commissioner of professional and financial regulations. She stayed on through 1992 and weathered the state shutdown of 1991, when passage of the state budget was linked to changes in the Workers’ Compensation insurance law. She was appointed in 1992 by President Bush as the New England regional chief of the Small Business Administration, and later took a job as a deputy treasurer for Massachusetts after President Clinton’s election.

She ran for governor in 1994, winning an eight-way primary with 21.3 percent of the vote. The campaign was a real baptism by fire for Collins, who reportedly alienated Robert Monks and his ardent supporter, McKernan, by refusing to back out of the primary to give Monks a clear shot at the nomination. Later, she was assailed by pro-life demonstrators for her pro-choice views on abortion. She was sued by a conservative Republican activist who questioned whether she met Maine’s citizenship requirements. During the race, she also received some indirect negative publicity when her brother was arrested in a major marijuana bust.

After Collins won the nomination, many Republicans peeled off in favor of Angus King’s campaign. The dissident GOP faction defended its choice, claiming Collins couldn’t beat her Democratic opponent, Joe Brennan. In the fall, Collins supporters believed the snub was in retaliation for her treatment of Monks and — to a lesser extent — the McKernan clique’s inability to guide the nomination process. Collins placed third with 23.3 percent of the vote behind Brennan’s 34.3 percent and King’s 35.8 percent.

She took a job as executive director of the Family Business Center at Husson College in 1994, giving her the opportunity to build on her base for a possible run in the 2nd Congressional District. When Cohen announced his retirement in January, Collins seized the opportunity for a shot at the Senate.

Collins is a Roman Catholic who has never married.

Education and social policy

Would support a gay rights law at the state level but not at federal level because she believes it is a state issue. Is pro-choice on abortion, supports federal funding of abortion and supports a ban on late-term abortions as long as there is an exception for occasions when the health of the mother is in danger. Would abolish the U.S. Department of Education, but retain Pell grants and other student loan programs. Recommends providing as much computer training and access for children as possible. Opposes gun control and supports the right of law-abiding Americans to own firearms. Would revamp welfare so that able-bodied individuals who can work would be required to do so. Would also place a two-year limit on benefits for those able to work while providing training and educational programs to enhance employment skills. Opposes quotas and most programs that give preferential treatment to minorities and women. Does not oppose programs that ensure equal access to government contracts. Favors a policy that would allow for school choice among public schools to make schools more competitive.

Health care

Supports the Kassebaum-Kennedy bill to increase the portability of health insurance and to prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against individuals with pre-existing conditions. Wants reforms to prevent an insurance company from canceling a policy because of poor claims experience. Supports changes in current law to allow small businesses to form voluntary purchasing cooperatives to boost their bargaining power. Supports tax incentives for people who buy long-term care insurance because such foresight will ease the burden on tax-supported medical programs.

Trade and economy

Supports a “free but fair” trade policy that would require President Clinton aggressively to fight the trade barriers implemented by the Canadian government, including the provincial sales tax, unfair subsidies and harassment of cross-border shoppers by Canadian customs officials. Would overhaul the current tax system to provide greater simplicity, fairness and stability. Does not support a flat tax because deductions for mortgage interest and charitable donations need to be preserved. Developed a plan that would help Maine’s family businesses by: reducing the federal estate tax, requiring federal regulations to be in “plain English,” making it easier for Congress to reject regulations, requiring federal regulations to expire every seven years, putting federal regulations on the Internet, increasing access to capital using the Internet, and helping businesses find new markets.

Energy and environment

Will adopt an approach to environmental policy that reflects her commitment to preserving the nation’s natural heritage for future generations, basing her decisions on common sense and scientific research. Would seek to preserve the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that benefits many Maine families. Favors elimination of the U.S. Department of Energy, but would want the department’s responsibilities, including oversight, for nuclear waste cleanup transferred to another department.

Military and foreign affairs

Supports a strong national defense, but also would scrutinize the defense budget for areas of possible savings. Seriously questions President Clinton’s decision to renew “most-favored nation” trade status to China amid allegations that the Communist government has supplied parts for nuclear weapons to Pakistan, armed American street gangs, and violated current trade agreements by pirating American computer software, videos and compact discs for cut-rate resale prices.

Government

Supports term limits and has vowed to serve no more than two terms as senator. Supports voluntary limits on overall campaign spending and the amount candidates may contribute to their own campaigns. Has developed a campaign spending reform package, which would limit political action committee contributions and would provide incentives to candidates who agree to limiting their spending. Supports a constitutional amendment to balance the budget.

Top three priorities if elected

Creating more jobs for Maine; balancing the federal budget; and reforming the national welfare system.

Hobbies and special interests

Collins enjoys reading, cooking, ice skating and water sports. Her favorite book is “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett, and the book she most recently read was “Primary Colors” by Anonymous. Collins’ favorite movie is “Casablanca.” The movie she last saw was “Mission Impossible.” Her favorite musicians are Hootie and the Blowfish, Rod Stewart and Linda Ronstadt.

What others say:

Rep. Debra D. Plowman, R-Hampden: “Her experience with the Small Business Administration qualifies her to know the specific needs of Maine businesses. She knows the state. She’s hard-working and she understands what public service is all about.”

Lincoln businessman Lee Rand: “I can’t support her stands on abortion and gay rights. I think she’s out of the mainstream of the emerging conservative movement within the Republican party here in Maine.”

Yarmouth businessman Charles Stickney: “She’s extremely conscientious; she’s a dedicated Maine citizen. Like Olympia Snowe, she can go to Washington and do some good work. Susan will do an excellent job down there.”