Dear Editor:

Again, our governor showed he is not up to facing his opponents. Under the guise of what he calls lies about his view of Social Security as being welfare, taken from his own news release, he says he will not engage in debates that include Michaud.

This despite his own supporters running a charge that Michaud supports welfare for "illegal aliens" that is a lie — Michaud does support General Assistance for immigrants who are not authorized to work while their petitions for refugee status are being considered by immigration authorities. These folks are "undocumented" pending the decision, not "illegal."

LePage's response is the same action as what he did at the "Energy and Environmental Technology" conference on Sept. 12, an opportunity to discuss positions on that subject — not a debate — but one that had the three candidates on the same stage.

Michaud and Cutler showed up and did what the program called for while LePage showed up but refused to go on-stage. This is typical of the "playground bully" that LePage, in my opinion, is.

LePage, I believe, is desperately hoping that 2010 replays with the majority vote splitting between two other candidate while he slips in with his 35-40 percent vote. LePage, with his politics of division and 1950s solutions to 21st century challenges to our state, is simply not qualified to be a governor.

He is an outdated "Theory X" individual. His conduct in this election and specifically with regards to the debate question is that of a coward. Perhaps his political advisors will succeed in changing this most recent "ready, shoot, aim" tactic, but LePage's posture remains clear both in this election and if elected again, his conduct in the coming four years — do what I demand or I'll veto it.

I continue to encourage voters to consider one of the two qualified challengers to LePage, unite behind one on election day and vote for better and positive governance of our state in the coming four years.  I continue to support Michaud, but will vote for either qualified candidate to defeat LePage.

Mike Loewe
Boothbay