Halloween and the midterm elections approach, and Republicans are proposing enough cutting and slashing to fill a “Friday the 13th” movie.

But rather than a chain saw rampage on Maine’s budget, we need careful surgery by legislators who are capable and compassionate wielders of the fiscal scalpel.

In the Senate, such a legislator is Deb Simpson, who worked with colleagues to slice nearly $1 billion from state spending while preserving vital services. She worked for health care cost controls, a 20 percent reduction in income taxes (opposed by Republicans), and saved taxpayers millions by increasing child support collection from deadbeat parents.

Her “constructive surgery” included tax incentives for businesses and investments in community colleges to train our future work force.

She values Maine’s pristine environment and traditional pastimes; she’s been endorsed by both the Sierra Club and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

Maine doesn’t need Freddy Kruger think-a-likes. Maine needs Deb Simpson.

Mary McNulty, Poland