Upcoming elections prompt many letters of opinion

To the editor:
Once again we the citizens of Caribou, responding to our civic duty, must find our way to the polls and vote. Some of you may recall the editorials that I have submitted at about this time of year for the past few years, suggesting that soon you will be in the voting booth, casting your vote for your choice of candidates for the City Council. So, I ask the question, “How well do you know your candidates?”     Well? How well do you know the candidates? I suspect that many of you do know the incumbent candidates through reading editorials submitted by current or former Councilors … and I know that many of you watch the Council meetings and have formed your own opinions through your personal observation.
The Councilors whose terms end on December 31, 2008, are Mayor Miles Williams, Councilors Mark Goughan and Doug Morrell. Mayor Williams has decided not to seek reelection. Councilors Goughan and Morrell are seeking reelection.
On the Ballot, you will have the opportunity to vote for three, from an alphabetical list of six candidates. Although new to the political arena, Mary Kate (Welch) Barbosa, a formidable candidate, is a 1986 Caribou HS graduate, with a BA from Middlebury College, and is currently the Director of Student Support Services at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and has shown a great interest in local politics.
The other three candidates returning to the local political arena need no introduction. Chris Bell has a proven record as a former Councilor, having served two, three-year terms of which four were as Deputy Mayor. Philip McDonough II served a three-year term as Councilor, of which one year was a Mayor. Dr. Reginald Reed served five-plus years as a Councilor, of which two were as Mayor.
We should all be apprised that the Caribou City Council is our legislative body, and the decisions they make affect all of us as a community. Our responsibility as voters is to elect the three candidates whom in our judgment will best serve the city of Caribou as Councilors in moving forward, serving with integrity and in a professional manner.
While in the voting booth, have you ever looked through the list of candidates and found that you do not have any idea who they are and what their politics are? My point is that there is sufficient time remaining prior to Election Day to make yourself voter smart … and by all means, exercise your right to vote!
In closing, I leave you with these words of wisdom from Albert Einstein — “The problem with democracy is not bad people doing bad things, but that good people remain silent.”

To the editor:
I am writing to let everyone know that I support Wade McLaughlin in the race for House of Representative District 3. If you think it is time for a change and you want action, then he is the guy for you.
I’ve known Wade for a long time and when you ask something of him he gets the job done. Wade knows Aroostook County and has a passion to see our youth succeed. He has been involved with the area towns, with regionalization, and wants to see community growth.
I’ve seen and listened to the many miles that Wade has put on the road making sure that his voice is heard. I’m sure you have seen him at your doorstep and if you haven’t then please give him a call and I’m positive that he will answer, you may contact him at 540-9800.
It’s time for a change so please vote for Wade McLaughlin, House of Representative District 3.

To the editor:
I would like to respond to the Oct. 1 Viewpoints letter entitled “From a simple farmer’s point of view.” First, I would like to commend Mr. Goughan for a job well done over the past three years, and his efforts have been very transparent. I have watched the council closely and it has been extremely obvious that Councilor Goughan has strived to educate himself with the budget’s inner workings. Those of us who understand business do not see this as micromanaging; we see it as doing business, just exactly what we elected all seven councilors to do.
I have listened to two city councilor’s debate the other five councilors over the budget and the surplus monies that never get returned, and it is very obvious those who know how to do the city’s business and those who truly have no experience, and it shows in the other votes and limited explanations.
My wife and I have listened to the business philosophies Councilor Goughan and Councilor Morrell have tried to apply to the operation of the city. One of the many things that have impressed us is the fact that both councilors have been advising us, “the taxpayers”, that the city could and should tighten up its budget process, show some restraint over its ever-growing spending habits, and slow the growth of the municipal government’s growth. After all, having a “top heavy” local government does not equal economic/community growth. What does equal economic/community growth is private business and residential growth. Local government growth equals one thing: more tax burden for those of us who pay the bills. We are tax burdened enough for what we get.
We also compared their philosophies to where the economy is now. During the 2008 budget cycle I heard both of them say we should cut 5 to 10 percent across the board on all departments and referenced the economy and business climate at the time, but the majority just kept spending. You know the old saying, “it’s easy to spend other people’s money.” Low and behold the Governor comes out with a statement in October that directed all departments to cut their budgets 10 percent.
We have taken the time to speak with councilors Morrell and Goughan on their thoughts on where they feel the direction the city should be going. Though we don’t agree with everything, we do agree with the majority of their thoughts and feel that the city needs a change in management practices and direction.
We urge all the taxpayers of the city of Caribou to get out and vote and hope you will support these two councilors and their efforts this November.

To the editor:
Professor Frary should put out a statement that ties American energy independence to economic security and national security. If we aggressively develop U.S. domestic energy resources and stop the flow of $700 billion a year to Middle Eastern oil countries, some that support terrorist activities, we will achieve an economic energy boom in the United States, providing economic security that leads to national security.
If we’re to get through this crisis, we must take the shackles off free market development of all forms of energy. Government intervention and control doesn’t work and leads to socialism which leads to tyranny and the loss of individual freedom.
The fact that a few so-called capitalists at the top of the housing crisis abused the financial system only underscores the relationship between freedom and responsibility. Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. If free men, driven by greed and power instead of morality, are not restrained by being held accountable for their lack of responsibility, our economy and our individual freedom will continue to be at risk.
The answer is not more government; it is less government, less government spending and less taxation. Unfortunately, we are at or near the “tipping point” where more people are living off government programs than are paying for them. When this happens, those who are living off government programs will control more votes than those who do not; they will vote for the candidate who offers them more government money. This is classically called the Road to Serfdom: eventually the so-called have nots outnumber the so-called haves who are then taxed to death; their numbers diminish until eventually there is no more money to pay for all those government hand-out programs. The government then prints more money which has no intrinsic value, and the value of the money goes down, our purchasing power is diminished as prices move higher and higher.
Inflation is nothing more or less than taxation without representation; we don’t vote for or against inflation. What happens is that the government, to support ever increasing costs of government programs, prints money that only lowers the value of the money already in circulation.
This is the slippery slope to socialism. Professor Frary should forcefully, aggressively, clearly, consistently and constantly make these point s from now until election day. If he does this, he could win.

To the editor:
Election is coming on fast and the competition in Caribou is getting real hectic. The public service candidates have inundated the election to try to unseat those that won’t go along with their spend, spend, spend policies. These are past councilors who were instrumental in causing the problems we have today with runaway taxes in Caribou and coming back to recreate their past spending attitudes.
The problem is that the October surprise that caused the economy to go south thoughout the nation may be too much for them to overcome if they get elected. How are they going to justify more spending on the local level when it was always leveraged with outside funding by the state and federal governments that will come to a halt because of lack of funds in their respective areas and we’re mandated to fend for ourselves. Our already bloated property taxes cannot be embellished by more local property taxes from the private sector. Also the inequities between those who pay more than they should and those who don’t pay their fair share is a travesty of justice and must also be corrected now because the burden is on those who can least afford to pay.
If there was ever a time when we need councilors like Mark Goughan, Doug Morrell and Phillip McDonough, who have repeatedly tried to bring transparency to the budget process and rein in spending, it is now. They are the only ones in the past who correlated what the needs of the community with what the property taxpayers in the private sector could afford. Being in the minority on the council this fell on deaf ears and taxes always went up because of the “yes” crowd who always dominated the issues with ignorance.
Case in point. I once served on the council with those who have now thrown their hats in the ring at the behest of the public servants who clearly want to dominate the issue relevant to them and their special interest. These are the same people along with the city manager who could not come up with what the school budget was for that year nor what the state provided for funding toward our educational system when I brought the question up in public forum. A bloated budget which they voted for just two weeks before without blinking an eye. So much for the thought process on how to spend you money folks.
Does anyone believe that that these same individuals would really care about your hard earned tax dollars and how they would spend them? Not realy, they’re still the same old sheep in wolves’ clothing and their mindset hasn’t changed. Is this the kind of mentality we need during these trying times? I think not.

To the editor:
Should the city complete the construction of the Caribou Wellness Center?
My emphatic response is it’s an absolute must! The construction is only a third completed! The remaining two phases needs to be completed as one phase. It is the best action to take for our community. A completed Wellness Center will enhance tremendously our “quality of life” of all our citizens from the very youngest citizen to the community to continue to grow and to prosper! We must ask ourselves, how can we attract new families, especially medical professionals, as well as new employees that will move to our special and unique community as new high paying jobs are being developed at Loring? The answer, I strongly believe, that perspective citizens who are considering living in our community will want to know how good is the education system, how well developed and maintained is the Cary Medical Center and finally, especially new young professionals, will ask what does this community have to offer for recreational These questions are asked over and over again, I have been told by the Cary administration, by perspective doctors and other medical candidates who are researching our community as they give very serious and important family consideration on becoming a member of the Cary medical staff. They, as we do, want the best for their families and you cannot blame them!
A fully completed Wellness & Recreation Center with comprehensive programs will help make their decision much easier as those professionals will be making a family decision not just a professional decision to move and stay in Caribou! This comprehensive facility may truly make the difference! As a current member of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Commission, I am very confident that the Commission will provide a facility, with input from all concerned, that will include a community focus indoor pool as well as additional space for current and future program needs.
The pool, along with the rest of the facility, will provide numerous healthy activities for every age but especially for year round usage. Just check out the gym phase and you can see how much that facility is used and enjoyed by all ages and you will have your answer for justification for completing this very important project! The difference the pool brings, however, is an opportunity for families with very young infant and toddlers to have bonding and sharing of being in the water together as a family for the first time together. What a glorious family experience for the parents and
child to experience and to share with the grandparents as well! It does not take much imagination to visualize that kind of happening!
Water exercises for our senior citizens and for those with limited mobility who are physically dependent on others there could be no better joyous activity. Just think of what it means to provide a facility to help improve this population’s quality of life and, in some cases, extend some level of comfort and happiness for some portion those remaining years of life!
All of our public school age children could be enjoying swimming as part of their physical education and as well as swim team competition. Just imagine how many lifetime activities a person can enjoy if only they can learn how to overcome a fear of water in their youth! The positive ramifications are endless if we can allow ourselves to be open to that one perspective!
Would I be willing to vote in favor of bring a construction referendum for a public vote in 2009?
Yes! This is one of the major reasons that is motivating my desire to return to the Caribou City Council! I was a member of the council when the gym went to referendum and now in 2009 it will be 99% paid off. In fact, it could possibly be totally paid off in 2009! Nevertheless it is, I believe, the fact that the city’s payments are ahead of schedule thanks, in part, to many generous donors who again, I believe, will step forward with pledges and memorials.
Caribou residents have the perfect right to have the privilege to decide in the privacy of the voting booth whether or not they want to complete this project at his time. It is my opinion that we supporters to complete this project for a fully comprehensive Wellness & Recreation Center that our job is not finished!
The responsibility of the Caribou City Council membership respectively, and with a majority council vote, is to provide justification for a public vote on a construction referendum. The council must present a sound, reasonable and understandable referendum proposal for the voters to act upon in a democratic way.
It is all too true and a regrettable fact, that the longer the City Council decision makers take to make the decision to allow our local citizens to vote, the more it will cost if the decision is in favor to construct. The first responsible decision council will need to make is to vote to have the engineering completed in order to prepare a bond, hold public hearings and consequently to bring a referendum to the voters following a public hearing .to receive citizen’s opinions.
I believe that this completed operational facility (all three phases) will enrich our beloved community and its citizens, not only in a healthy way, but it will enrich and broaden, for the long run, our property tax base with new home construction thus providing a stimulus for positive growth. Homes built in Caribou because it is a community that is a positive place to live in and raise and a family.
I will do everything within my ability, if so chosen to be a part of Caribou’s new 2009 City Council, to see this project is brought before the voters in 2009 as a referendum question hopefully as early as June! Could there a better way to celebrate and recognize our 150th anniversary!
If you, as a citizen of Caribou, believe as I do and wish to see this project go forward to its completion, then I strongly encourage that you support Chris Bell, Mary Kate Barbosa and myself in the November election. I strongly believe that this issue is just one of several that separates our candidacy from some of the other candidates that are seeking to return to the city council for the next three years! I wish it would not be so, but I am afraid it is! I leave it up to the voting public to decide as you vote for three new council members on November 4th . I encourage you to add new council members that can successfully work together with the other councilors for the betterment of the Caribou. community.