Editor’s note: In an Oct. 24 Voters’ Guide, we reported that Gordon Fuller Sr., who did not respond to the Sun Journal’s requests for information on his campaign platform, is running unopposed for the House District 99 seat, representing Baldwin, Cornish, Denmark, Limington and Sebago. That race is not unopposed. Rep. Phil Cressey is seeking re-election to the seat.

Government can cut spending

Rep. Phil Cressey believes state government, the actual cost of operations and services, can “easily” be cut by 20 percent.

“Most of the new spending programs enacted in the past four years need to be eliminated,” he said, and “forking taxpayer money to special interest groups and political payoffs needs to be halted immediately.”

Unhappy with state spending and government’s inertia in reforming Maine’s tax structure, Cressey said tax reform is his highest priority.

If the Palesky initiative passes in November, he is convinced it will face court challenges. However, if the law is ultimately upheld, the Legislature should implement it. “Right now, I see too many ambiguities and contradictions by those who support the cap and those who are opposed to it. The Legislature will either have to bail out many communities or permit municipalities to become unorganized territories.”

He does support a local option sales tax, capped at 1 percent, but only if the statewide sales tax drops to 4 percent and only in communities with populations of 5,000 or greater.

Confident he can “provide a positive impact in Augusta by cutting taxes and spending, and providing property tax relief,” Cressey said he will fight for western Maine to receive grants and be labeled a Pine Tree Development Zone.

He is opposed to further consolidation of schools to reduce costs.

“Why has the Democratic-controlled Legislature and the Democratic governor refused to pay 55 percent of education and 100 percent of special education costs as outlined in state statute? Here in western Maine, further consolidation will mean busing our children for an hour or more to the next school district.”

Cressey supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Name: Phil Cressey

Hometown: Baldwin

Occupation: Production worker at Poland Spring Water

Political Party: Republican

Community Organizations: Deacon of East Limington Baptist Church, former member of Saco River Corridor Commission and Sacopee Valley Health Center

Personal: Married to Pretrea, five children (one deceased); enjoys spending time with family, reading history and politics.

Years in the Legislature: 4

Clean Election Candidate: Yes

Committee assignments: Labor, Utilities and Energy; former member of Insurance and Financial Services, State and Local Government