The focus of my “Leadership That Cares” campaign and my legislative efforts, once elected, is to reflect the concerns and needs of the citizens of Bangor and Veazie – for they deserve no less.

Over the past eight months, I’ve met with thousands of people throughout Bangor and Veazie. The following is a sample of that which they’ve told me:

Lack of access to affordable health care is causing great distress for senior citizens, working families and businesses. The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Healthcare found that 165,000 Maine citizens lack health insurance. Seventy-eight percent of these uninsured come from working families – mine included.

The state’s tax system needs to be revamped – in order to provide property tax relief, and a more stable revenue base. Everybody knows it, and the budget deficit figures prove it.

The Legislature doesn’t seem to be effective in dealing with our concerns (otherwise we’d already have developed a better business climate, affordable health care and a more reasonable tax structure).

Public interest and debate over the first two concerns listed continue to gain in prominence – including amid the discourse between our gubernatorial candidates. As state senator, I would continue my efforts, to address those important issues, with care and great vigor.

Regarding the latter constituent concern over legislative effectiveness, I offer the following facts for voter consideration:

In a recent Bangor Daily News feature commentary, my opponent, state Sen. Tom Sawyer, said that rather than focus on what is right and wrong with the state, he prefers to address the idea that Maine’s “Best and Brightest” – referring to our legislators (himself) – are working too hard.

Personally, I have a problem with this pronouncement on two counts. First: The fact that Sawyer chooses not to focus on what is right and wrong with the state tells me that perhaps he ought to look at getting out of the Senate – since addressing that which is right and wrong with the state is what a senator is supposed to do. Second: the fact that Sawyer is so detached from the public interest that he should think it appropriate to comment publicly in such a manner in the first place.

In Sen. Sawyer’s newsletter to the constituents – in perhaps an attempt to rationalize his lack of legislative activity – he makes a point to highlight his service to the state as being volunteer in nature.

Perhaps to him $9,000 a year qualifies as volunteer, but to most of us, $9,000 of taxpayer money is nothing to sneeze at. And to most of us, we deserve more for our money than what we’ve gotten from a state senator who at one time thought this volunteer job was so important that he spent $155,000, and Jane Saxl’s record was distorted in order to get it.

There has been one update to a Sawyer Web site since the 2000 election (two years ago!). It includes a survey of constituent concerns. His own survey there reveals that the health care crisis is a top concern for the people of this district. And yet, nowhere in his campaign materials does he speak to the issue.

Sawyer says he cares about the economy. What has he done in two years as a senator to demonstrate he can lead on this issue? He says he cares about the environment. How is it then that he ranks near the bottom of the list, with the Maine League of Conservation Voters, on environmental issues?

And Sawyer once again has resorted to distorting the record, as in his campaign materials, he implies that the Maine League of Conservation Voters supports his environmental record. When, in fact, the league, on the whole, does not.

Sen. Sawyer may think so little of the concerns of the people of the district that it is sufficient to run only on money, and the empty slogan “I’m a friend of Tom’s!”

In my opinion, Sen. Sawyer’s lack of attention to his (paid) service, and this campaign, boil down to this: He is out of touch with his constituency. Not only is he out of touch with his constituency – he doesn’t seem to care that he is.

I wish to thank Sen. Sawyer for four things: His generous philanthropic contributions to our community (though he probably could do more in this regard if he were not in the Senate … I’ve be happy to fill in for him!); his congeniality (he’s been very warm and gracious in his relationship with me); his campaign slogan (“I’m Voting for Tom!” – which couldn’t be more helpful for Tom Mooney); and his old Web site “Committee to Elect Tom Sawyer” home page letter – which encourages all his supporters to vote for him on Nov. 7 (Nov. 7 was Election Day in the year 2000; this year, it happens to fall on Nov. 5).

Thomas Mooney cares enough to ask for your vote on the right day.

Meanwhile, I happily join Sen. Sawyer in exhorting his friends to vote for him two days after everyone else votes for me.

Thomas Mooney, of Bangor, is the Democratic candidate in state Senate District 9.