The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Great Weather For Collecting Signatures

And that is exactly what you will find one of Maine's Independent Candidates for Governor, Kevin L. Scott doing. The Independent party has until April 1, 2010 to turn in 4000 signatures in order to 'get on' the November Ballot. Twice as many needed than those of main stream party candidates I recently had a chance to sit down and 'have a chat' with him. It was short and pretty much to the point. The typical 'chitter/chatter' quickly turned to the 'meat & potatoes' for our time allotment.

{More on the deadline from Kevin:

The signature deadline is May 25th but that is a false deadline.

April 1st was my target for folks each getting 45 - if you had three people (including you) get 45 plus my 20 day March effort I would be done by April 1st.

The issue is this - the sooner I am officially on the ballot the sooner TV, newspaper, etc... start to cover my events, press release, etc...

May 25th is false because the signatures need to be verified by each municipal registrar of voters by May 25th. Needless to say you do not walk into any little town office and say "here, do all these now okay". So, with April looming I need to get signatures into town municipal offices for verification - then they must be recorded at the State immediately after.

So, April 1st is a target for small individual efforts - that obviously can go to to April 15th or so now but not much more.}

First and foremost what anyone will notice about Kevin is his Energy. Readers, he is similar to a ''ball of energy' unlike anything that I have never seen'. He is articulate, poised, determined and experienced. His understanding of the current events in Maine are very close to mine and many others that I know. Without getting into specifics, cause lord knows how one can get going on that, most of us are experiencing some uncertainties with happenings around us. We you actually read and listen to Kevin Scott it doesn't take long to see that his approach is refreshing.

He has a wonderful story to tell about his experience with issues in the Public's business environment. He is a "breath of Fresh Air to Maine's Political Climate". Kevin needs help collecting signatures right here in the Lisbon Community. If anyone can help him collect at least 45 signatures please contact: lisbonreporter@hotmail.com and let them know. They have signature blanks and can make arrangements to get them to you. And with all this nice weather is sure does make it a nice time to sit at the transfer site and collect signatures for local petitions. Been there, done that!

Our dialogue jumped right into context with politics and I asked what "his" thoughts were on the following issues on the table for anyone to ask.

1. Guns

2. Abortion

3. Medical Marijuana

4. Gay Marriage

5. Casino in Maine

Kevin L. Scott in his own words, responded openly and honestly with the following.

1. Guns - right to bear arms is a constitutional right, period.
2. Abortion - tough one.
3. Medical Marijuana - all for it, regulate the product. No doctor I know will write a script for marijuana if it is not appropriate.
4. Gay Marriage - tough one.
5. Casino in Maine - I am all for engineering jobs, I am a little anti gambling. I say enact State legislation allowing gambling of the casino resort bring 100 electromechanical technicians, SW engineers, or mechanical engineers with it. Slot machines are manufactured and repaired, I want that as part of the deal.

Todd, I find it interesting that these "social issues" continue to dominate our voting "litmus test" These are religious issues, moral issues, local issues, or privacy issues that National or State government should not be involved with.

We have reduced out voting population to a bunch of people being taxed to death, over regulated, privacy deprived, and welfare burdened. Add to that an irresponsible foreign policy and monetary policy. Yet, as voters, we focus a great deal of our energy on what our neighbor is doing in their own private life?

Obviously the conditioning that the party system has done over the years has moved voters away from what is "our business as voters" and into other peoples private business. This conditioning has succeeded and continues to make us more and more divided and at each other personally and not focused on our government and civic responsibilities.