Economy is key in District 140 election > Hopefuls Clark, Scarano debate taxes, Question 2

Economic development and the controversial forestry referendum are the major issues facing House District 140, according to the two Millinocket men who are running for that legislative seat.

Joseph E. Clark, the Democrat, cited the forestry referendum as the single major issue facing the district.

“With the wrong vote, this community would be in a set-back where as it needs expansion and growth to succeed in the future,” Clark said.

Mark V. Scarano, the Republican, cited the lack of economic development as the major issue.

“You can see problems developing in the high property taxes. If we had more economic development our property tax revenues would be going up, said Scarano.

Part of Scarano’s six-point plan includes keeping taxes low and making sure regulatory agencies are flexible according to individual situations.

“We still need a viable way of trading with the rest of the world,” said Scarano, who would like to see the Sears Island cargo port issue reconsidered.

Both Clark and Scarano will vote for 2B, the forestry compact on Nov. 5.

With another deficit of between $350 million and $400 million predicted for the next two-year state budget, Scarano and Clark said they would not support a tax increase.

“Our taxes are the second highest in New England,” said Scarano, a 27-year-old history instructor at Husson College.

“Keeping taxes low allows small business people to stay afloat, to maybe buy that extra piece of machinery or to maybe hire that extra person,” he said.

“We pay enough taxes as it is,” said Clark, a 26-year-old store clerk at Great Northern Paper Co.’s East Millinocket mill. Clark said it would be very difficult to find money to balance the state budget, more difficult than it was for the 117th Legislature.

Both candidates said they had no specific plan on where cuts could be made to balance the state budget. Before deciding on cuts, they want to review the governor’s budget proposal.

Clark would freeze or flat-fund the state subsidy for education to balance the state budget, but only for a limited period of time. He believes the state needs a new funding formula that will provide equal funding to every school system in the state from Kittery to Madawaska. Clark would like to be appointed to serve on the Legislature’s education committee.

Scarano believes a greater percentage of the state budget should be spent on education.

House District 140 includes the towns of Millinocket, Mount Chase, Stacyville and the unorganized township of Indian Purchase.