Dear Editor:

In last week's Register, a well written letter supported Mr. Cutler. I believe both of LePage's opponents are well qualified and I will end up voting for whichever candidate is best positioned to defeat him.

LePage has been a disaster for this state and its reputation. He has a litany of rude insulting remarks against anyone who opposes him or represents something he doesn't favor. He has done great damage to Maine's international reputation by his cancellation of the Statoil contract, costing Maine at least $200 million in investments, hundreds of high skill (and paying) jobs, potential business for other Maine firms like BIW. Statoil turned to Scotland with an estimate $2.5 billion wind energy project. This also resulted in reducing Maine's opportunity for a $50 million federal grant to develop wind power to "also ran status."

Additionally, domestic international firms are on notice that Maine can't be trusted when signing contracts for fear that the state will cancel such agreements for political reasons. LePage has a long history for "ready, shoot, aim" comments like Social Security is welfare, state middle management employees are corrupt, school superintendents don't represent their students, the NAACP is an interest group not to be met with while meeting with radical groups demanding the "execution" of Democratic leaders.

While there is more, the final point here is LePage's claim to be leading the state out of the recession with 20,000 new jobs — still 10,900 fewer jobs than before the recession and prior to his election, despite the fact that the U.S. has regained all of the jobs and New England has gained 27 percent more jobs than existed prior to the recession. Maine ranks near the bottom of the country in economic growth and as a place to do business. 

From my perspective, LePage's only hope for reelection is to repeat of the 2010 division between the 61 percent that did and still do oppose him — his approval rating has never exceeded 40 percent as best as I know. For that reason, while I support Michaud as my first choice, I will wait to see who is most likely to defeat LePage prior to voting.

Mike Loewe
Boothbay