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THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR

No discord on biotechnology funding

By Rebekah Metzler rmetzler@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

PORTLAND -- Research-and-development investment strategies and education reform took center stage as the five gubernatorial nominees appearing on the ballot addressed Maine's biotechnology industry on Friday.

The forum, held at the University of New England's Portland campus, was sponsored by the Bioscience Association of Maine and moderated by Alan Hinsey of Mainebiz Sunday.

All five said the state should make an effort to invest in the growing biotechnology sector of Maine's economy.

"One of the things state government needs to do is identify potential growth businesses or markets and make sure they have the infrastructure they need to grow when they get ready to," said Shawn Moody, an independent candidate.

Kevin Scott, also an independent candidate for governor, said Maine needs to look to outside its own borders for inspiration on successful industry-development models.

Waterville Mayor Paul LePage, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, said before investments can be made in the field, Maine needs to get its fiscal house in order.

"We need to get our regulatory system under control and lowering our stranglehold on the private sector and allow them to make a profit," he said. "It's all about being fiscally honest with the people of Maine, keeping your fiscal house in order, spending what we can afford to spend and allow the private sector to thrive."

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Libby Mitchell, also the Senate president, emphasized the importance of providing strong educational opportunities tailored to the industry as a means of growth, as did independent candidate Eliot Cutler.

"We have a disorganized public higher education system in the state of Maine; we're organized to fail and not to succeed," he said. "We've been underinvesting in public higher education in Maine now for 30 or more years."

Cutler said Maine should merge the community college and University of Maine systems to more efficiently provide education opportunities for Mainers.

"We're a state of 1.3 million people that has seven community college campuses and seven university campuses; each of them reporting to a separate CEO, each of them reporting to a separate board of trustees and each of them reporting directly to the governor and not anyone else in the state government. We are organized to fail," he said.

LePage said the state needs to toughen its educational standards.

"We want to give our students an option -- four years, you get a diploma or you can earn your associate's degree with collaboration between the community college system and the University of Maine system," he said. "It's going to be tough; the kids are going to have to work harder."

Mitchell said Maine schools need to emphasize science curriculum more.

"(We) need to make sure they get it and know that there's a future for them," she said. "Maine has a school of math and science, which has been very successful; but all of our curriculum needs to focus on that."

Maine needs to do a better job of matching up education and skill preparation with the available job markets, Moody said.

"(We need to communicate) what are the actual needs of the business industries are with how we are educating our young adults, so that they actually have jobs when they graduate," he said. "It seems to me there's a little bit of a disconnect."

Scott said he would seek to start pilot programs with individual school districts to focus on certain industries.

LePage, the Republican, has been the race's frontrunner, according to all recent polling.

Rebekah Metzler -- 620-7016

rmetzler@mainetoday.com