Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

GOVERNOR'S RACE: Libby Mitchell proposes merger

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
State House Bureau

LEWISTON -- Democratic gubernatorial nominee Libby Mitchell proposed Friday to merge the Department of Economic and Community Development and the State Planning Office to create a new office that will focus on job creation.

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Libby Mitchell

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Mitchell, at a Democratic Party office in Lewiston, said the Governor's Office of Strategic Initiatives and Job Creation will employ "business advocates" who will help business owners navigate state regulations.

"Everything that I've been trying to talk about around the state has been about job creation," she said. "Part of that is to have a government that is ready for the 21st century."

The new office would report directly to the governor. She said the merger will save money and that she will be able to reduce the state workforce by getting rid of duplication.

Mitchell is one of five people who will be on the Nov. 2 ballot. She faces Republican Paul LePage, mayor of Waterville, and independents Eliot Cutler, Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott.

Former Democratic state Rep. Jeremy Fischer, a Bernstein Shur attorney who served as chairman of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, said while there's a need to reform government, it does ensure clean air and water, and provide services to those who need it. He served as a co-chairman, along with business consultant Elizabeth Reuthe of Vassalboro, of a Mitchell campaign subcommittee that looked at ways to make government more transparent, efficient, effective and responsive to citizens.

"There are people in this race who say we need to destroy government," Fischer said. "We don't need to destroy government. We need to improve it and reform it."

Mitchell is also proposing to require all state contracts to have a "claw-back provision" that would allow the state to save money if a contractor doesn't meet certain requirements. And she wants to expand best management practices to all state agencies to streamline government.

In addition, Mitchell wants to require licensing and regulatory boards to broadcast proceedings over the Internet to increase transparency and require political appointees to file "more detailed financial disclosure forms."

Another reform would allow businesses to go to regulatory boards with suggestions of different ways to comply with state rules.

"We need government to do our roads and make sure everybody has an adequate education," she said. "What is it we can take away to make sure businesses do not have unnecessary barriers?"

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@mainetoday.com