Dear Editor:

I’m an energy engineer and in the alternative energy business. The governor’s policies and actions have been very detrimental to my business and to the natural ecology of the state. He has vetoed our state's renewable energy incentive program, making us the only state in the northeast without an incentive program.

Gov. LePage is proud of vetoing the work of our state representatives and senators. Think of all of the work and man hours that went into crafting studies and research and the evolution of bills to correct deficiencies in state policy, which the governor just kills with his vetoes.

But that’s not the end of it. He has also sabotaged the $120 million offshore wind investment by Norwegian energy giant Statoil last year. (Statoil last month announced it will invest $1.5 billion into off-shore wind in Europe’s North Sea.)

He has cut taxes for the very rich, and cut school funding, championing charter schools and voucher initiatives. He once stated to students at York County Community College, “If you want a good education in Maine, and I get criticized by my opponents because I’m hard on education, but if you want a good education go to an academy. If you want a good education go to private schools. If you can’t afford it, tough luck. You can go to the public school.” Maine’s reputation around the country has suffered greatly from his rude and ignorant rants.

Last Friday, I was among the 200 professionals and the students assembled awaiting for the candidates for governor to speak at the forum at USM put on by the Energy and Environmental Technology (E2Tech) Council. He showed his lack of respect for the audience made up of environmental lawyers, energy and environmental professionals and students by looking for a reason not to address us, and canceled his appearance, after he was supposed to have been on stage. His actions and inaction, addressing energy and environmental policies, while in office, would have made his appearance difficult to defend in this forum of informed constituents.

Maine cannot afford another four more years of suffering through this administration’s missteps. Please help get out the vote for anybody but LePage; and if you have an extra dollar or two, consider helping the less fortunate that are preparing to face a long, cold winter. 

Michael J. Mayhew
Boothbay Harbor