Bill Maloney, Wiscasset Republican Committee chairman, opened the Sept. 28 Wiscasset meeting at The Cubby Hole with the Pledge of Allegiance. The first topic was the staffing of the second and newest County Headquarters. The Republican Committee is opening a second headquarters to better serve public demand. Several of the Wiscasset Committee Members volunteered their time and support.

Following was a general discussion of what the attendees believed to be the most pressing issues affecting them and our state. Of general concern was inflation and even with the slight decline in oil costs how Mainers could afford the fuel to heat their homes. The increasing interest rates are a real burden to people with credit card debt as the monthly payment goes up even as purchases fall. It is hard to see how people can cope with this. As reports come out about the unintended consequences of our COVID shutdown it appears our children have suffered not only from the isolation and lack of socialization but the modest education gains of the last decade have been reversed and test scores are plummeting. Of paramount concern in the group is the increasing power of the state and federal governments and actions that have been taken both at the state and federal level to punish parents who try to have their voice heard by an education system that does not want to listen. There is a strong belief that the state and country are going in the wrong direction, power is being consolidated in Washington and Augusta, spending and regulation are out of control, and the pace is accelerating.

Ed Polewarczyk, candidate for House District 47, then spoke and answered questions. Ed again started with his campaign message, “I believe in a brighter future – one with lower costs, better jobs, and great public schools.”  As a scientist, engineer, a key manager in the NASA space program, and with the experience of managing large teams and projects he believes he has the background to listen and make informed decisions on the many issues affecting our state. He believes that Maine’s biggest issue is lack of businesses. High taxes, over regulation, high electricity costs, retroactive laws, and government apathy if not hostility are crushing our industries and keeping businesses away. With few good jobs in Maine our children leave the state to find work and often never come back. This has a compounding effect; fewer businesses mean higher taxes for the remaining full-time residents and less opportunities for our young. Unless things change, businesses, like the Jay paper mill, will shut down and businesses will continue to go to more friendly states. The good news is this can change with a Republican pro-business government and a change in attitude. It is up to the voters in Maine to make that choice.