AUGUSTA (AP) – Advocates chose Orono and Cape Elizabeth this week as locations for kicking off a campaign to promote passage of a $12 million land-preservation bond in statewide voting on Nov. 8.

Proceeds of the proposed state borrowing would recapitalize the Land for Maine’s Future program that has been used to preserve access to scenic lands.

The land bond ballot question is one of five questions proposing ratification of pieces of an $83 million borrowing that was approved by state lawmakers earlier this year.

The bond package earmarks $33.1 million for transportation projects, $20 million for economic development and jobs, $9 million for education, $12 million for land conservation and a working waterfront initiative, and $8.9 million for clean water, environment and health projects.

In late July, final Senate approval came on a tally of 34-1. The House of Representatives gave the measure final approval on a vote of 128-14.

But the lopsided margins failed to reflect months of discussion and disagreement over the desirability of using debt to bolster research and development and public education as well as to finance environmental and transportation projects.

The package went before the Senate and House as one proposal.

Question 5 on the November 8 ballot reads: “Do you favor a $12,000,000 bond issue to purchase land and conservation easements statewide from willing sellers for conservation, water access, wildlife and fish habitat, outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, farmland preservation and working waterfront preservation to be matched by at least $7,000,000 in private and public contributions?”

November voters will also being asked whether to repeal Maine’s pending gay rights law and whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would authorize tax assessments of waterfront land used for commercial fishing activities to be based on the land’s current use.

The “Vote YES on 5” campaign staged events Wednesday.