FORT KENT – It’s hard for a newcomer to politics like Republican Cathy Bouchard Martin to overcome 30 years of legislative and governmental history. Incumbent Sen. John L. Martin’s ability to come up with names of programs and statistics was a clear advantage in their debate Tuesday night.

It was a face-to-face confrontation for the two Martins, in front of about 100 people in the University of Maine Fort Kent Nadeau Hall Conference Room. Sponsored by UMFK and the Fort Kent Business and Professional Women, the debate for the Senate District 35 candidates is part of the American Democracy Project aimed at engaging college students in the political arena.

Many of the questions involved programs that John Martin, a Democrat, was involved with at the ground-floor level.

Bouchard Martin just did not have the information he had.

“I want to be your voice,” Bouchard Martin told the group at the outset. “I am a new direction.”

“I’ve helped and worked with many people in my years in Augusta,” Martin said. “I’ve had many endorsements … and the most pleasing was from the Council of Senior Citizens praising me for my work on their behalf.”

They both said they supported family and medical leave legislation, and that they would work to make it even better.

They also both supported funding the nursing program at UMFK and its expansion into a master’s program. He said more state money was needed, and she wondered aloud why it had not yet come.

They disagreed on what they would do if the tax cap question passes next month.

“I would veto it, repeal it,” Bouchard Martin said. “I don’t support the Palesky question.”

“I would look to reform it,” Martin said. “It should not be repealed by the Legislature if the people of the state vote for it.”

They both agreed the tax cap would devastate Maine municipalities.

“Choices need to be made,” Martin said on the state’s budget problems. “To survive this mess, we have to understand we can’t cut the budget and keep programs.

“No matter what the costs, we need to make choices,” he added. “Social programs are necessary, no matter what the costs.”

“I’ve sent out a survey asking people what they want,” Bouchard Martin said. “Raising taxes is not the answer, and cutting programs is not the answer.

“People’s ideas will assist me in my decisions,” she said. “We need to cut state spending, not programs.”

Maine farmers have been assisted by the state, but more needs to be done at the federal level Martin said. He brought up the recent $750,000 potato growers received for dumping potatoes. He said the North American Free Trade Agreement is devastating Maine farmers.

Bouchard Martin lashed out, saying the $750,000 was a pittance. “I am not impressed with what the state did for farmers,” she said. “The farmers’ plight is sad. I would break my back to help farmers.”

On the tough question of a north-south highway north of Houlton, she urged more community involvement, and he said the problem demands leadership from state and federal officials.

The two will meet later this week in central Aroostook County.