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Our endorsements

Election 2009
By PORTLAND PHOENIX STAFF  |  October 29, 2009

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Statewide referenda

NO ON 1
We might just say “Duh” and leave it at that, but it’s not enough. It is, in fact, kind of sad that we actually need to explain our support of protecting equal rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Civil marriage is a legal institution whose rights and responsibilities should be extended by the government to everyone. Religious marriage is a spiritual and clerical tradition whose undertaking should be administered by each congregation and faith according to its own beliefs. The law passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor allows for both of those things, and should be upheld. Anything less is separate and necessarily unequal. We should not repeal equality.

NO ON 2
While this appears to reward people for buying newer and more-efficient cars, it will actually mean that people who can afford to buy new and hybrid cars won’t have to pay their fair share of taxes. We applaud the idea of supporting improved efficiency in our state’s vehicles, but this method of doing so will deprive cities and towns of money, requiring them to raise property taxes to make up the difference.

NO ON 3
To teach our children to succeed, Maine’s schools need more and better teachers and equipment, not more administrators. School-district consolidation, while admittedly difficult for some communities, is a way to reduce administrative and overhead costs without affecting teachers or students.

NO ON 4
State and local spending should be limited to what makes sense, and should be restrained by practicality. This proposal, more commonly known as “TABOR II,” would limit government spending according to outside factors which have little relation to local realities. And anytime the people’s elected representatives wanted to consider spending a little more, all taxpayers would have to foot the bill to have an election about it. If you don’t like government spending patterns, we already have elections where you can express your views. We don’t need more elections.

YES ON 5
Marijuana is an effective drug for some patients, and people whose doctors want them to be on marijuana should not be treated like criminals for it. This will establish a system by which legitimate patients can acquire and possess their medication, without being hassled by police or hauled into court.

YES ON 6
While borrowing more money during a recession may seem counter-intuitive, it actually makes good sense to do it now. Not only do we need the additional spending these bonds will allow to support jobs and improve our state’s transportation network, but the cost of borrowing money is low these days.

NO ON 7
Municipal clerks do sometimes struggle with their workload during the couple of weeks a year when citizen petitions are turned in, but amending the state’s constitution to accommodate their needs goes a bit overboard.

Portland local races

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DONOGHUE FOR CITY COUNCIL
Kevin Donoghue’s public-policy experience will be crucial as the city deals with complicated economic, crime-related, and development issues. Donoghue is nothing if not dedicated, and his ubiquitous presence at local meetings and events speaks to his commitment to fostering community.


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BRYAN FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ed Bryan is an involved parent with lots of hands-on professional knowledge about school budgets and education funding. His energy and expertise will be invaluable as the city’s schools face continuing budget struggles.


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LEVINSKY FOR WATER DISTRICT
Ken Levinsky’s interest in reducing the interflow of human waste and stormwater runoff, which results in contamination of Casco Bay, is admirable, and correctly identifies one of the major water-quality issues our region faces. And his desire to protect the high-quality water supply we have at present should not be discounted.
Related: Pot Edward Island, Unchecked power and secrecy — not gays — are the church’s problem, Question 2 backlash heats up, More more >
  Topics: This Just In , Elections and Voting, Politics, Public Finance,  More more >
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Comments
Religion Is Irrelevant
Bravo Phoenix for standing for equality! Whether or not the State of Maine should issue a marriage license to a couple of the same sex is a civil rights matter and has nothing to do with religion. One-by-one, our country has revisited its intentional exclusion of certain citizens from the rights enjoyed by others. In 1967, the US Supreme Court declared that it is an offense to our Constitution for a state to prohibit the marriage of interracial couples. This decision reversed the state judge’s finding that “the fact that [God] separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.” Such a perspective seems abhorrent when viewed though our more enlightened eyes, but in truth, it sounds eerily familiar in Maine today. In this 1967 case, the nation’s Highest Court lifted the fog of religion which had, until then, occluded the human rights of the few by bowing to the prejudice of the many. The Supreme Court endeavored to undo this wrong by declaring that “marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man’” and “cannot be infringed by the state.” Access to civil marriage was and remains a civil rights issue separate from the sway of religious mores. I emphatically agree that we need to fight to defend marriage: our Constitution demands it. Vote NO on 1. - Rich Taylor, Bethel, ME
By theverdict on 10/28/2009 at 6:12:31

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ARTICLES BY PORTLAND PHOENIX STAFF
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  •   OUR ENDORSEMENTS  |  October 29, 2009
    Statewide referenda and Portland local races
  •   TWO CANDIDATES FOR PORTLAND WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES  |  October 28, 2009
    Two people are vying for a vacant one-year term on the Portland Water District Board of Trustees. We asked each of them to write a few words about the importance of the water district.
  •   WHERE TO GO TO VOTE  |  October 28, 2009
    Polling hours November 3, 7 am-8 pm
  •   PORTLAND SCHOOL COMMITTEE CANDIDATES  |  October 28, 2009
    While the District 1 and at-large races are uncontested (with a newcomer in the former and a one-term incumbent in the latter), we offer here those candidates’ answers, as well as those of the two candidates vying for the District 2 seat being vacated by Robert O’Brien.
  •   PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES 2009  |  October 29, 2009
    While the District 2 and at-large races are uncontested, we offer here those candidates’ answers, as well as those of the candidates vying for the District 1 seat, incumbent Kevin Donoghue and challenger Charles Bragdon.

 See all articles by: PORTLAND PHOENIX STAFF

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