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House District 147: Three vie to replace Wells representative

House District 147: Three vie to replace Wells representative
Miriam Liddle  |  by pressherald.mainetoday.com. All rights reserved. 6.11 | 20:41

The departure of state Rep. Ronald Collins, R-Wells, has led to a three-way race in House District 147. The district encompasses part of Wells.

PERSONAL: Married, two children, five grandchildren
EDUCATION: Associate degree, University of Maine
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Wells Board of Assessors, 1988-1991
ON THE ISSUES: Chase, who was the Wells assessor from 1990 until this year, is a proponent of the ballot question known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. She said the measure will not force cuts in spending, but will place what she called a realistic cap on spending increases. "And it will force us to set priorities, and I think that's a good thing," she said.

Chase, who is running a privately financed campaign, would also like to see tax relief for long-term residents. She advocates allowing southern Maine communities such as Wells to keep some sales and lodging tax revenue, all of which is now sent to the state.
She opposes casino gambling in southern Maine but said she wouldn't necessarily take the same position on a casino elsewhere in the state.

Chase advocates a law that would require a minimum 25-year sentence for anyone convicted of abusing a child under the age of 12.
ON THE ISSUES: Cilluffo, who ran for the state Senate in 2004, said he wants to champion the cause of working families. He said he'd like to see a living wage paid to Maine workers, adding that some families are facing such financial hardships that they can afford only catastrophic health insurance.

"The working families are literally being pushed into the poverty level," he said.

Cilluffo, who's running a publicly financed campaign, opposes TABOR. He worries that if the measure passes, a small group of just 12 senators could block a spending increase that otherwise has broad political support.

As a way to spur economic development, Cilluffo favors tax incentives for businesses in what are known as Pine Tree Zones.
He also said he would oppose a bill to expand gambling in Maine.
OCCUPATION: Works in the real estate, painting and wallpaper businesses
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Has spent 15 years on the school board of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District; spent six years on the Wells Parks and Recreation Commission.

ON THE ISSUES: Fox supports TABOR because he believes government expenditures are out of control. He believes that the ballot measure may need to be fine-tuned, but said opponents are stoking fears that necessary services, such as education, will have to be cut.
The independent candidate, who's financing his own campaign, said he will be curious to see whether Massachusetts can save money by requiring citizens to obtain health insurance.

He said he would support giving incentives to health insurance companies to offer coverage in Maine, with the idea that increased competition will drive down costs. But he does not support the DirigoChoice program. "Personally, I don't feel that the state should be in the health-care business," he said.

Fox also said he would vote against a proposed casino in Maine.
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Keywords: House District, Political Experience
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