Roads, finance dominate debate Governor hopefuls fence over ‘other Maine’ transportation needs

BANGOR – New or improved transportation links were among the economic antidotes cited by three of the state’s four gubernatorial candidates to stop the bleeding of jobs and residents from the northern two-thirds of the state.

But during an almost two-hour debate Monday at the Bangor Civic Center, the three candidates who participated in the program differed on just what is the proper transportation cure to heal the economically bruised “other Maine,” especially given the state’s projected $1 billion budget deficit.

Well before Monday’s debate, the candidates were informed that the business community in this region favors the construction of an east-west, limited-access highway that would travel from the Maritimes through Maine to Quebec and the rest of New England. And the candidates knew that businesses support an extension of Interstate 95 from Houlton north.

Each candidate received a list of questions in advance of the debate, but transportation was highlighted by the debate’s sponsors as being “vitally important to the economic prosperity of the northern two-thirds of Maine.” The sponsors, Maine Development Foundation and the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, asked if the candidates’ economic plans included “immediate development” of the two major highway systems.

Republican Peter Cianchette and Democrat John Baldacci both said the east-west highway and the I-95 extension were necessary to spur economic development, and both projects would be paid for with a combination of federal and state funds. Cianchette said he would “take this region on as its own separate economy” to push for the building of the highway systems.

Baldacci, though, said the region known as “the other Maine” is not a separate entity but part of a larger international economic corridor that’s currently devoid of any major transportation system. He said he envisions an improved intermodal system that promotes the use of the port of Eastport; the port of Searsport; and rail, air and road routes to drive the passage of goods in and out of the country and Canada.

Green Independent candidate Jonathan Carter, however, said construction of an east-west highway or an I-95 extension at this time is too costly when compared with the economic benefits that would come from either project. He said Maine currently has a $100 million fiscal gap in its transportation budget, and a $1.3 billion backlog in transportation repair projects. Current intermodal systems, he said, first need to be fixed, including an expansion of rail traffic because it’s “cheaper and more efficient.”

Also, Carter said, residents of smaller towns that line a proposed east-west highway route don’t agree with the project, stating that it will take away business from their stores.

Independent candidate John Michael did not attend the debate.

On federal financial support for Maine’s transportation projects, Cianchette and Carter used the hometown stage of the race’s front-runner, Baldacci, to criticize him for not using his eight-year tenure as congressman to bring money home sooner to fix or build roads in Maine.

Both Cianchette and Carter said that Baldacci had ample opportunity during the last eight years to steer federal funds for transportation infrastructure to Maine’s 2nd Congressional District while he was a member of the House transportation committee.

Baldacci, however, countered that he has made the necessary contacts in Washington, D.C., and throughout New England to advance the progress of major transportation projects in Maine, such as the east-west highway and the I-95 extension.

Carter was the first to criticize Baldacci on transportation, noting that Maine was 48th among the states in receiving federal money to improve or build new highways. Later in the debate, Cianchette said Maine was 49th in how much federal money it receives for roads.

To that, Baldacci laughed that if he sat there long enough, Maine would be at the bottom of all the states. Then he defended his record, and mentioned that the federal government currently is undertaking a feasibility study on the construction of an east-west highway.

The issue of transportation was one of five questions given to the candidates before Monday’s debate on topics which would have a specific, targeted impact on northern Maine, according to the sponsors. The other four questions tackled the broader subjects of taxes and the business climate, the state’s budget shortfall, health care costs and higher education.

But one member of the audience of more than 200 people wanted to know more about specific plans to boost economic development in all areas of Maine other than Cumberland and York counties, and the candidates’ answers had to be given in less than 60 seconds.

Baldacci said he supports “aggressive investment” in the creation of an international business development district that promotes mutual growth and trade between Maine and Canada, and he seeks a 25 percent increase in Maine’s international trade by 2010. He said he wants to identify more empowerment zones, tax-free areas such as those in Aroostook County and Lewiston that are marketed as location sites for businesses that will bring in good-paying jobs.

Cianchette also supports tax-free business development zones, but calls them enterprise zones. He said he plans to cut state spending by 20 percent in the next five years and restructure state government for efficiencies. He said he wants to increase investment in research and development projects by building capacity at the state’s university system and private research institutions.

Carter, who is known for his support of a national park in Maine’s north woods, said a feasibility study showed that a national park and preserve could create 4,000 to 6,000 jobs with “livable wages.”