FARMINGTON — Local residents nearly filled North Dining Hall at the University of Maine at Farmington early Wednesday morning to meet and greet several local candidates for the Maine House of Representatives and Senate.

The breakfast gathering was sponsored by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.

Responding to questions drawn from a hat and posed by Roger Lambert, each candidate got a chance to share their views on issues ranging from welfare and tax reform to education.

Candidates attending included: Larry Dunphy of Anson, House District 88; Lance Harvell and Yvette Robinson of Farmington, House District 89; Russell Black and Irv Faunce of Wilton, House District 90; Jarrod Crockett, Bethel, House District 91; Matthew Peterson, Rumford, House District 92; and Tom Saviello of Wilton and Ann Woloson of Belgrade, Senate District 18.

Most related campaign tales of visiting homes where they met frustrated residents concerned about the future of the state.

The need for welfare reform was clearly seen by the candidates as an issue but when asked about applying a residency requirement to welfare or Medicaid recipients, candidates explained that by federal law, states cannot impose a requirement on the federally supported program.

Imposing a waiting period was suggested by Saviello after relating a story of a local resident needing to be homeless to receive help, while someone moving into the state could receive immediate help. He said he was told of the situation by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Peterson suggested the application process should be more thorough, while Crockett said he sees a need for re-examining all programs. Faunce said he wants to see efforts to help people transition back to life. Black voiced a need to get people back to work.

Woloson said she wants an effort to end fraud and abuse but was intent on helping people who need it, as some may come through the hard times to lead successful, productive lives. Robinson also said she wants to work to find better ways of helping people transition out of poverty.

Incumbent Harvell proposed charging a co-pays for emergency room visits that can be replaced with physician visits.

Candidates agreed they would support funding education costs at 55 percent as Mainers voted, but to make that happen is going to take work and change.

“The people have spoken,” Peterson said on the issue. Faunce said he believes 55 percent is a reasonable goal to work toward.

Black agreed the people have spoken but also doesn’t want to see more school funding falling back on individual towns.

As it’s worded, Woloson said she would support it, but questioned how to get there. It’s not just a matter of voting against the budget, she said.

The reality, Harvell explained, is that there will either have to be cuts made, taxes raised or the 55 percent cannot be met.

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