Bright red signs all pointed to Pratts Island, where a procession of Mercedes-Benz, Jaguars and BMWs snaked its way through dirt roads to Paul Coulombe's sprawling estate.

Those wearing suits and dresses greeted the guest of honor, Sen. Susan Collins, who had come to Southport on August 7 to raise funds for her reelection campaign.

While driving down the Boothbay peninsula, Collins said she couldn't help but notice all the “Save St. Andrews” signs that lined the road. She said she read about the controversial decision to shut down the hospital's emergency room.

When asked which is more valuable to the region, an emergency room or an urgent care center, Collins said it was not her role to weigh in on the issue.

“I'm happy to pass on comments to the medicare agency if people wish, and act as an intermediary, but that's something that the local communities in Lincoln County are going to have to decide for themselves,” she said.

Collins, who has served as Maine's Republican senator for 16 years, is known for her moderate stance on issues, and her willingness to reach across the aisle. In recent years she has worked to secure federal funding for Bigelow Laboratories and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

Collins acknowledged that many younger people are choosing to leave Maine to find work, but said the Boothbay region has the ability to attract more jobs and younger people to the peninsula.

“I think Bigelow Lab will attract young scientists and oceanographers and others to come do their work here, and I think that it is a tremendously positive asset,” Collins said. “The Botanical Gardens is also important in terms of providing an attraction to an area. I love the children's part of the garden, and think that is a real asset as well.”

Collins commended Hodgdon Yachts for its work on composite boats for the Navy. She said she thinks Boothbay's boatbuilding industry will help bring more engineering jobs to the area.

In Maine and across the nation there has been a push to produce more college graduates with engineering degrees through the federal and state funded science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs called STEM classes.

In recent months the Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has shown its support of STEM classes to help fill what is believed to be a statewide skills gap for high-tech jobs.

While Collins said she was unfamiliar with any specific proposals from LePage, she said she thinks STEM education is really important.

“I can't tell how many businesses that I visit in the state that have job openings and they can't find the trained workers they need,” Collins said. “I think we need to work with the University of Maine system and the community colleges, as well as with our high schools and technical schools to make sure people have the skills that they need.”

According to a Maine Jobs 2020 report, which surveys over 600 job categories, new jobs projected though the year 2020 will mostly be in the food and service industry, and will likely not require a background in science, technology, engineering and math.

However at Boothbay Region High School, STEM classes have proven to be very popular amongst many students who now plan to pursue college degrees in engineering. Some students have taken internships at Hodgdon Yachts and Bigelow Laboratories.

While this reporter’s interview with Collins was brief, she said this event was her biggest guest list she has ever had. With nearly 200 donors, Collins said, “I'm really thrilled with the turnout.”

The event raised $56,000 for Collins’ reelection campaign, according to her staff.