PARIS – Taxes, education, health care and small business were all addressed at a local candidates forum sponsored by the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

The 12 legislative candidates shared similar views on most issues, agreeing that taxes are too high, health insurance is unaffordable and that small businesses face daunting costs in Maine.

All candidates agreed the Palesky tax-cap initiative, which would cap property taxes at $10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, possibly based on values in 1996-97, is not the way to curb government spending.

“The only message you send to the Legislature is you give us more power,” said state Sen. Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, speaking on behalf of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Bryant of Dixfield. Bryant was unable to attend Thursday’s forum.

Under the Palesky proposal, several candidates said, the Legislature would be forced to take control of problems brought about by resulting cuts in local government spending.

“I don’t think you want that,” Edmonds said.

Also, added Roy Gedat of Norway, Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives in District 95, second-home owners from out of state will see the most benefits from the cap, as taxes on their expensive properties drop.

“Those folks are all going to be getting four-figure bonus checks” at the expense of local taxpayers, he said.

Some candidates’ opinions differed in the area of education. While most supported the Maine Learning Results, candidate Kathleen Dougherty, a Democrat running for the District 100 seat in the House, said she is against testing as a way to measure school results. She’s also against some related videotaping requirements.

“To me, we need to trust our teachers; we hire them expecting that they’re going to teach,” she said.

Most of the candidates supported laptop computers for Maine students, but some said they should be purchased only if the money is available.

“We may have a filet mignon appetite but we’ve got a hamburger pocketbook,” said Republican candidate Bruce Hanley, who is running for a House seat in District 94.

The forum was held at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

Candidates attending included: Republican David Hastings and Democrat Marge Medd for Senate District 13, Republican Sawin Millett and Democrat Roy Gedat for House District 95, Republican Bruce Hanley and Democrat Terry Hayes for House District 94, Republican Jim Harper and Democrat Kathleen Dougherty for House District 100, Republican Richard Sykes and Democrat Margaret Reimer for House District 98, and Republican Rob Cameron and Democrat Bruce Bryant for Senate District 14.