Editor’s note: In an Oct. 24 Voters’ Guide, we reported that Rep. Raymond Pineau is running unopposed for the House District 87 seat, representing Chesterville, Jay, Mercer, New Sharon and Starks. That race is not unopposed. Jesse Crandall is challenging Pineau for the seat.

State needs less government

If the people vote to support Palesky next week, Jesse Crandall “can’t see doing anything else” but forcing its implementation by the Legislature.

“I think it’s needed. I think it has a lot of problems, but there is nothing else on the table” and Mainers are demanding – and entitled to – tax relief.

Crandall is seeking election to make what he believes are “needed cuts in Augusta.” During the last session, lawmakers were forced to make cuts to satisfy a growing deficit.

Crandall doesn’t believe any cut was too deep to recover from, and does believe additional cuts could still be made.

In fact, the Department of Human Services “is the first one coming to mind” in considering further cuts.

Maine must “get the budget in line,” Crandall said, because Mainers are suffering from a government that has gotten too big and too expensive. “I like less government,” he said.

He’d like to see government get out of the marriage business “and put it back in the religious business and let religions decide what they want to do” about same-sex marriage. The state, he said, “doesn’t need to be involved in this.”

He would support a local-option sales tax, but only if people in each town vote to enact their own.

He doesn’t think it’s particularly beneficial to businesses, but would understand if people wanted to adopt such a tax.

He is not in favor of further consolidating schools because “there are other ways of cutting costs without jeopardizing the students’ riding time,” such as trimming the number of administrators.

Name: Jesse Crandall

Hometown: Mercer

Occupation: Construction worker

Political Party: Republican

Community Organizations: None

Personal: Married to Debi, five children and 3 grandchildren; enjoys hunting and 4-wheeling

Years in the Legislature: 0

Clean Election Candidate: No