Letters to the Editor
Readers sound off on candidates and ballot questions
Time to restore
our freedom
To the Editor:
The United States Constitu-tion, a unique creation in the world of political history, guarantees a government that derives its power from the people.
It is only with the consent of the governed — “We the People,” that our federal government functions with specific and limited powers, and it is through the ballot box that our “voices” are heard.
This coming Tuesday, Nov. 4, once again gives us the opportunity to cast our vote. Your vote does count, it does make a difference and it can help define the state and nation’s direction and their future.
The unhappy and contentious events of the past six years will surely impact the ballot decisions we make on Nov. 4. We’ve heard the pundits, seen the polls and labored through too many analysts. It’s our turn now!
It was George Washington, on his way to the first American presidential inauguration, who noted that America’s people were the foundation of the nation’s future success and he said, “It appears to me that little more than common sense and common honesty, in the transactions of the community at large, would be necessary to make us a great and a happy nation.”
We’ve known both the greatness and happiness in the past and we can have it again. It will be your vote that can make the difference. Don’t pass up this chance. The nation’s future remains dependent on the same common sense and common honesty to which Washington referred.
Nov. 4 is our chance to exercise our power — to vote for people who recognize America’s unique greatness — people who will stand by our Constitution. Finally, it was again President Washington who in his farewell address wrote about the Constitution, “… resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect in the forms of the Constitution alterations which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown.”
It will be our collective energy expressed through our vote that will define who we are as individuals and as a nation. Don’t abandon your right. Take advantage of the privilege to continue to exercise the power bestowed on us by our Founders.
Whether by absentee ballot or in person, you can make Nov. 4 the day “We the People” reclaim our government and restore our Freedom. Vote!
Don Benjamin
Dover-Foxcroft
Dyer best choice for Sheriff
To the Editor:
The citizens of Piscataquis County will soon have the opportunity to elect a man for the sheriff’s position. Here are a few reasons why Dennis Dyer is worthy of your vote.
Dennis brings with him 42 years of law enforcement experience, both as an officer and for the last 30-plus years as Chief of Police in the county seat, Dover-Foxcroft.
Over the years, he has built a great relationship with all the law enforcement agencies throughout the state. At present there is no call sharing between the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s office and the State Police. This would change with Dyer as sheriff. To quote Dyer, “If your house is broken into and property stolen, do you care who solves the crime? Be it the Sheriff’s Department, local police or State Police, as long as it is solved? This job is not about who gets the credit but rather about providing the services to the county that everyone pays for.”
There are several areas of the budget that have been done the same way for years. It is time to update these areas and save the citizens of Piscataquis County money.
There are certain positions in county government that serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff and are his to fill as he sees fit (Chief Deputy, part-time deputies and civil deputies). However, the rumors that if Dyer is elected he will go in and clean house, could not be farther from the truth. If you are an employee who does their job and continues to do your job, then you have nothing to worry about. Why would anyone get rid of the people that have and continue to do a good job?
As for there being a difference between being a police chief and a sheriff, like with any job, no two are the same. However, everyone who does a good job, as a police chief as Dyer has done for Dover, is very much qualified to be elected sheriff. Remember, the current sheriff was at one time a patrolman. Did that mean he was not worthy of being a sheriff?
To the many people in the town of Dover-Foxcroft who have said they were reluctant to vote for Dyer because they did not want to lose him as Chief of Police, please keep in mind that this is what Dyer wants to do. He will still be serving the people of Dover-Foxcroft along with the other great towns in our county.
Please join me and many others in Piscataquis County, voting Nov. 4 for Dennis Dyer for County Sheriff.
Thomas Boone
Dover-Foxcroft
Double standard
To the Editor:
Motherhood – apple pie – don’t feed the bears! Disregard that last phrase. Contradictory to what we have been brought up to believe, in Maine we are told, by those who should know better, that some should be allowed to cater unbelievable amounts of ‘junk food’ to the bears in order to habituate them to it – at least for a few weeks.
Whatever your thoughts on voting “Yes” or “No” on Question 1, recognize the contradiction and the “double standard” involved (in baiting bears) for what it is.
Gordon Canning
Ripley
Thoughts on the Second Amendment
To the Editor:
I was recently asked again while running for Piscataquis County Sheriff how I feel about the Second Amendment. This is certainly an important issue to Mainers. I feel that the law of the land shall always be enforced. I have always been and remain a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. The law and court rulings as recent as 2008 clearly define the validity of the people’s right to “keep and bear arms” for “legal purposes” and that states shall not “infringe on these rights.” So, my job as Sheriff when you elect me is to ensure these rights.
There are two lines not to be crossed. The first, for “legal purposes,” is important and self-explanatory. The second, the court ruling in 2008, reinforced the state’s right to prohibit felons from carrying arms — and I support this!
I have been in law enforcement for 42 years beginning as a patrolman then working for the Division of Special Investigations for the State of Maine, a Deputy and Dispatcher for the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department, and now Chief of Police where I was recognized as Chief of the Year. During my experience in law enforcement, I have investigated gun crimes, and I am telling you, there is a clear distinction between felons and “legal purpose.” Felons who do not receive special permission from the state must not be permitted to own or carry weapons.
I shall continue my commitment to safety and our community including family, youth and our way of life.
Dennis Dyer
Dover-Foxcroft
We have ‘seen this movie before …’
To the Editor:
On Thursday evening Oct. 23rd I attended the “Candidates Maine Event” at the Center Theater in Dover-Foxcroft. It was great to see candidates from three different parties having an open dialogue on the East-West Corridor proposal and various other issues.
The event started off with an excellent unbiased documentary video done by Mathias Deming, a high school student from Maine. He attended the event and answered questions from the audience. I encourage anyone who has access to a computer to view this video at: http://vimeo.com/99246765.
As a member of Friends of The Piscataquis Valley, I am aware that throughout the process of getting this event to come to fruition, there was a lot of controversy with other organizations against the EWC. They felt that the parties arranging this event were setting a tone of compromise on this issue and so therefore a number of folks from other groups were basically against this event.
In spite of their negativity this event did take place. It was well done and a real opportunity to make your voice heard directly and uncensored. There were people from Argyle, Garland, Charleston, Medford, Orneville, Hallowell and I understand even as far away as Dixfield. Unfortunately the attendance was low particularly from the Dover-Foxcroft community.
I must say folks that chose not to attend for whatever reasons missed out on a rare opportunity and there was never any sense of compromise from anyone. I believe the message was loud and clear from everyone that we do not want this EWC.
It is important for citizens to take a stand on issues that will have long-term effects on their lives. This proposed EWC by the Cianbro Corporation is going full steam ahead and unless people take part and make their voices heard they will squish us like bugs. Don’t be fooled by the fact that Cianbro is not divulging their plans and that the press continually does very little coverage on events regarding the EWC even though they are always notified.
As one attendee who is originally from California said “I have seen this movie before and it has a bad ending”. Wake up people, pay attention, get educated and become involved.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to everyone who was involved in this event for all your efforts and hard work. Keep up the good work.
Carol Gorecki
Orneville
Question 4:
Don’t leave cures
in test tubes
To the Editor:
As a cancer survivor, I know how important cancer research is to finding a cure for a disease that touches so many. In 2014, over 9,000 Mainers will hear the words “you have cancer” and more than 3,000 Mainers will die from cancer. That is too many lives lost to this disease; lives that could be saved if we had adequate funding for research projects.
Too often, promising research that would save lives is left in test tubes due to lack of funding. On Nov. 4, Mainers have the choice to fund cancer research here at home. Ballot Question 4 will give us the opportunity to build a state of the art research facility that will focus on genomic research. It will also help fund the research that facility will perform, and in doing so, help save lives.
On November 4, I will be voting “Yes” on Question 4 and I ask you to do the same. Together, we can ensure that a lifesaving treatment for cancer isn’t left in a test tube.
Karin Howe, Volunteer
American Cancer Society
Caribou
Yes on 2 for Maine’s wild blueberries
To the Editor:
Maine’s iconic wild blueberries have been commercially harvested since the 1840s. Today, Maine is the largest producer of wild blueberries in the entire world, with approximately 60,000 acres of wild blueberries growing naturally in fields and barrens from the coast to the state’s southwest corner.
Thanks to research and development based at the University of Maine, Orono, wild blueberry growers are leaders in using an integrated crop management system to produce this important Maine agricultural crop. To support this collaboration, the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine encourages voters to support Question 2 on November’s ballot that issues a bond to support Maine agriculture, facilitate economic growth in natural resources-based industries and monitor human health threats by creating an animal, plant, and insect laboratory administered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Maine wild blueberry growers have a long history of collaboration with UMaine Cooperative Extension. The Commission will continue to support agricultural research in integrated pest management of disease insect pests. The proposed lab will enhance our knowledge about emerging pests and disease and provide Cooperative Extension with tools and data to help us monitor and successfully sustain the health of Maine wild blueberries. Please join us in voting “Yes” on Question 2 to support agriculture and economic growth in Maine.
Patricia Kontur
Director of Programs
Wild Blueberry Association