As the election draws near, voters have the ability to change the direction of this state. During the past four years, voters told the state to pay 55 percent of the cost of education. Gov. John Baldacci set aside two of the votes and then, on the third vote, accepted the people’s will with the condition the funding would be phased in over two years.

He, with other legislators, passed LD 1, which imposes a tax cap on all cities and towns, but not state government, and dictated minimum salaries for teachers. Now each town or SAD’s ability to negotiate with the funds they have available has been taken away. Guess what has to give up services to stay within the tax cap set by LD 1.

Free enterprise? He dictated how much oil companies could charge their energy assistance customers.

Baldacci raised the homestead exemption from $7,000 to $14,000. What he didn’t tell voters is the state is only reimbursing half, with the towns covering the rest. Baldacci is against the Taxpayer Bill of Rights because his administration cannot live within a budget, and because it would reduce property taxes and control state spending.

When I went to school, government was for the people, of the people and by the people – not the government. Voters have a choice about Maine’s future – the way life should be or the first state with no local control.

Craig Stickney, Chesterville