Senate contenders Tom Allen, Susan Collins and Herb Hoffman. (photos/The Fuge; courtesy Hoffman)
Voters’ Guide: U.S. Senate and House
By Chris Busby
What do Tom Allen, Susan Collins and Chellie Pingree have in common? Well, Bollard reader, among other things, none of them care to talk to you.
They’re obviously anxious to talk at you — littering your mailbox with junk propaganda and further polluting your TV with inane commercials. But none of them considered it worth 20 minutes or so of their time to answer our Voters’ Guide questions. In fact, their campaigns wouldn’t even call us back. We placed three calls to each candidate’s media contacts, beginning in early September, and didn’t get a single response.
By contrast, it was easy to set up an interview with Republican House candidate Charlie Summers. Herb Hoffman, an independent running a write-in campaign for Senate, answered the phone himself and agreed to be interviewed on the spot. Say what you will about their politics, both Summers and Hoffman are classy, approachable and responsive politicians who treat local, independent media with respect.
As for Pingree, Collins and Allen, screw ’em. It’s not like we’re gonna cancel our Voters’ Guide because they feel too entitled to talk to you. We noted which candidates refused to respond, then did our best to figure out where they stand from other sources, like their voting records, past interviews and answers to other candidate questionnaires. Special thanks to Project Vote Smart (votesmart.org), the bipartisan, voter-education organization that also gets blown off a lot.
You’ll find additional election coverage, including guides to Portland city and state legislative races, on our Web site, thebollard.com, throughout October. Resurgam!
Do you support any further restrictions on abortion?
Tom Allen: Refused to respond. Has voted against further restrictions.
Susan Collins: Refused to respond. Claims to be pro-choice; voted to confirm anti-choice Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito Jr., a supporter of further restrictions.
Herb Hoffman: No.
Do you support any additional gun-control measures?
Allen: Refused to respond. Voted to increase the waiting period for background checks on gun-show purchases from one day to three.
Collins: Refused to respond. Told PVS she does not support any further measures.
Hoffman: Yes: favors more regulation of gun-show sales; would consider further restrictions on automatic weapons.
Should gay and lesbian couples who want to marry have the same rights and benefits as heterosexual married couples?
Allen: Refused to respond. Voted against a resolution to amend the Constitution to limit marriage to hetero couples.
Collins: Refused to respond. Told PVS she opposes same-sex marriage and believes states should decide the issue.
Hoffman: “They should be allowed to marry, legally… and enjoy the benefits and distractions that come with marriage.”
Should our country’s reliance on nuclear power be phased out, expanded or maintained at its current level?
Allen: Refused to respond. Told the AP this September he is “open to considering nuclear energy… as one of the options for achieving energy independence and lowering our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Collins: Refused to respond. Told PVS: “I support the development of … nuclear reactors as an energy source if the local community supports it and the proper environmental protections are put into place…”
Hoffman: Phased out, “unless there can be a solution to disposal of waste.”
Do you support reducing or eliminating federal prison sentences for non-violent, drug-related crimes?
Allen: Refused to respond; has strong +20 rating from the NORML.
Collins: Refused to respond. Told PVS she opposes reducing prison sentences for non-violent crimes of any type.
Hoffman: “Yes, absolutely.”
Should Congress consider making the legal drinking age 18 again?
Allen: Refused to respond.
Collins: Refused to respond.
Hoffman: Yes.
Under what conditions should the U.S. relinquish its weapons of mass destruction?
Allen: Refused to respond; voted against funding for new nukes.
Collins: Refused to respond; voted against adopting the nuclear test ban treaty; co-sponsored bill to prohibit funding for new nukes pending a policy review.
Hoffman: Favors disarmament; said unilateral disarmament is “perhaps not the optimal way to go… at this point,” but favors further reduction of arsenal.
Should the Electoral College system be scrapped in favor of one that ensures the presidential candidate with the most votes wins?
Allen: Refused to respond.
Collins: Refused to respond.
Hoffman: More inclined to modify current system.
Do you believe in an all-powerful deity who can directly influence world events?
Allen: Refused to respond; is Protestant.
Collins: Refused to respond; is Roman Catholic.
Hoffman: No.
U.S. HOUSE
Do you support any further restrictions on abortion?
Chellie Pingree: Refused to respond. Told Project Vote Smart (PVS) she supports abortion rights, including legalization of “partial birth” abortions.
Charlie Summers: No.
Do you support any additional gun-control measures?
Pingree: Refused to respond. Told PVS she would “slightly increase” restrictions on gun ownership and possession.
Summers: No.
Should gay and lesbian couples who want to marry have the same rights and benefits as heterosexual married couples?
Pingree: Refused to respond. Told PVS same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
Summers: Supports “civil unions” with the same rights and benefits; has previously opposed gay-rights measures and expressed support for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
Should our country’s reliance on nuclear power be phased out, expanded or maintained at its current level?
Pingree: Refused to respond. Did not indicate support for R&D of new reactors on PVS questionnaire.
Summers: Said nuclear power should be “on the table” as part of a larger plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Do you support reducing or eliminating federal prison sentences for non-violent, drug-related crimes?
Pingree: Refused to respond. Told PVS she supports reducing sentences for non-violent crimes; did not indicate support for mandatory sentences for illegal drug sales.
Summers: “At first reaction, probably no.” Is willing to consider changes.
Should Congress consider making the legal drinking age 18 again?
Pingree: Refused to respond.
Summers: No.
Under what conditions should the U.S. relinquish its weapons of mass destruction?
Pingree: Refused to respond. Told Citizens for Global Solutions she opposes development of new nukes and supports disarmament.
Summers: “I don’t see us doing that under any conditions.”
Should the Electoral College system be scrapped in favor of one that ensures the presidential candidate with the most votes wins?
Pingree: Refused to respond; as president of Common Cause, supported National Popular Vote’s plan for direct election.
Summers: No.
Do you believe in an all-powerful deity who can directly influence world events?
Pingree: Refused to respond; is Lutheran.
Summers: “Yes, of course.”
