FARMINGTON – Ray Richardson has a one-word answer for Maine’s economy: Leadership.

That was the message he brought to share Wednesday at a Franklin County Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Farmington.

Richardson, who discusses and shares his ideas with listeners on WLOB’s Fox Morning News, brought a perspective from his life and experiences in other states to speak to the issue.

Addressing two questions about the Maine economy, what ails it and how to fix it, his answer included leadership on the state, business and citizen levels, he said.

Too high taxes, costly health insurances and the regulatory process are causing problems for the economy because no one stands up for reform, he told the audience. Not every other state is dealing with this, he added

Leadership is also the solution, he said as he related a lesson taught by his father, who told him that he didn’t have a problem in the world that there isn’t a solution for if one is willing to work hard enough.

On his radio/television morning show, Richardson said, talk has centered on an economic vision for several weeks. While some naysayers have responded to the discussion, Richardson told the group, “We’re Americans. We can do anything.”

But leadership needs a three-prong approach including elected officials, business people and average citizens, he said.

“While Maine legislators listen to whomever squeaks the loudest and their natural instinct is to want to help them, they don’t always think through the help,” he said as he discussed taking money from the state’s rainy day fund for the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program.

Other parts of the solution, Richardson said, include cutting taxes and an independent audit of the state’s finances as he spoke of redundancy within the state government, which needs to be cut down, he added.

More equitable health insurance, better infrastructure and better technology through access to broadband and cell phone reception were also addressed by Richardson.

“We need to find out what we need to do rather than focus on a $200,000 shortfall,” he said. “We need to keep one eye on today and the other on tomorrow as we can change tomorrow.”

Acknowledging that businesses can be punished for taking a stand, he encouraged chamber members and businesses to stand together.

Richardson, a small business owner in addition to his role on the morning show, also writes newspaper columns. He is a former president of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce.