Voters’ Guide 2008: House District 116
By Chris Busby
Former Portland City Councilor and Mayor Charlie Harlow is seeking a third term representing District 116, the northwestern section of off-peninsula Portland (including the Riverton neighborhood). The Democrat is being challenged by a very aggressive Republican, first-time candidate Ken Capron.
This one’s already gone ugly.
Capron’s Web site (capron2008.org) offers a wide sampling of his views on subjects as diverse as funding the Reiche School branch of the Portland Public Library, tax and energy policy, “Scripture v Demonic Artwork” (his comments on a scandal involving freedom of religious expression at a Wisconsin high school), and net neutrality (he’s not a fan).
There’s also a section devoted to his opponent that highlights Harlow’s relative lack of legislative accomplishments, reluctance to cut state spending, and support for social service programs and universal health care. That’s the nice part.
Also in that section, Capron highlights a quote attributed to Mary Beth Williams, a fellow Dem who ran a pitched primary campaign against Harlow in 2004 (and nearly won). Harlow “ran one of the slimiest campaigns in recent Portland history,” Williams is quoted as saying.
But Capron isn’t exactly slime-free. The same section contains a link to a virulently anti-gay editorial — originally published in Guardian in 1994 and posted on an extremist Catholic Web site (catholictradition.org) — titled, “’Outing’ Oneself Is a Declaration of War.” The rant, by Guardian editor Pauly Fongemie, mostly castigates former Portland City Councilor Peter O’Donnell for the attention he received at the time as a leader in the effort to pass Portland’s gay rights ordinance. But Fongemie also accuses Harlow of having used his classroom at Cheverus High School to “indoctrinate his young charges in the gay agenda.”
Harlow has said he was merely explaining the anti-discrimination law to his students. He fired back at Capron by telling the Portland Press Herald earlier this month, “I believe losers use negative politics as their method. I will not stoop to that.”
Harlow, 66, has since retired from teaching. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Maine at Orono, and is the married father of two adult daughters. After nine years on the City Council, he lost a re-election bid to Republican activist Jay Hibbard in 1999. After narrowly besting Williams in ’04, he survived a strong challenge by a Green candidate that year and trounced a Republican upstart two years ago.
Capron, 57, is divorced and has two grown sons. An accountant, he works as a business and computer consultant, but in these slow economic times he’s devoting most of his efforts to his campaign. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from USM in 1979.
Capron said he was inspired to run when Harlow refused to submit legislation rewarding whistleblowers who help expose false Medicaid claims. He also cites dissatisfaction with Gov. John Baldacci’s budgetary policies.
Some answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. For additional notes on some questions, see the bottom of this guide.
Do you support a ban or any further restrictions on assault weapons?
Ken Capron: No. “Maybe penalties on how they’re used, but not on ownership.”
Charlie Harlow: Would support a ban. “Assault weapons have no purpose other than to kill people.”
Do you support the proposal to allow a casino to operate in Oxford County?
Capron: “Because Las Vegas has now gotten involved, I would be very reluctant to support that.”
Harlow: Undecided. “If it creates jobs, I’m for jobs.”
Should Maine abolish its lottery and scratch ticket games?
Capron: “Definitely not.”
Harlow: No.
Do you favor any further restrictions on abortion?
Capron: Believes abortion should only be performed for “medically necessary purposes.”
Harlow: No.
What measures would you support to make the state’s medical marijuana law more effective?
Capron: Undecided; “I don’t know enough about that to address it.”
Harlow: “I’d support almost anything for that, because it does help people. As long as we don’t sell it as a drug of choice.”
Would you support a statewide ban on smoking on bar and restaurant patios and decks?
Capron: No. Called Portland’s ban “the most ridiculous imposition on personal rights I could imagine. What you do outside is your business.”
Harlow: Undecided. Previously backed ban on smoking inside establishments; is a non-smoker who dislikes the smell of smoke.
Should Portland and other municipalities be allowed to levy a local-option sales tax?
Capron: No.
Harlow: “Definitely. That’s the only way we can make people from outside the city pay for our streets and police and all that.”
Should the state provide money to build a megaberth at Ocean Gateway?
Capron: Would have to first evaluate ownership and revenue-sharing arrangements between the city and state.
Harlow: “I don’t think so.” Noted that the Olympia Companies previously said they could afford to build it, so “let’s let ’em prove it.” [Olympia subsequently said they could not afford to build the berth.]
What’s your position on Question 1, the referendum to repeal the beverage tax?
Capron: Supports repeal. “Just throwing more money at Dirigo is not solving the problem; it’s delaying the solution.”
Harlow: “I think that’s up to the people. It’s paying for Dirigo, so that’s probably a good thing.”
Should intelligent design be taught in public school science classes?
Capron: Yes. “It does deserve to be in a science class if its going to be anywhere. Intelligent design is as hard to prove or disprove as evolution or creationism.”
Harlow: No. “I think it’s irrational… I worked in Catholic schools for 30 years, and the Jesuits would have said it’s irrational, too.”
Should state lawmakers consider making the legal drinking age in Maine 18 again?
Capron: Yes. “I don’t see a problem with [the drinking age] being 18… I think it’s a reasonable age.”
Harlow: No, “definitely not.” Recalled being a teacher when the legal age was 18 — “14- and 15-year-old kids would have beer and access to alcohol. It was an awful mess then.”
A few notes on the questions…
• As compiled by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: At present, there are no state restrictions on the sale or possession of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons in Maine. Gun owners are not required to register with law enforcement authorities. Gun dealers do not need a state license, but must keep a record of on-premises sales. Individuals and collectors are not required to keep a record or perform a background check on those who purchase assault weapons at gun shows or through private transactions. There are no restrictions on ammunition magazines that allow the shooter to fire scores of rounds without reloading. Cities and towns are prohibited from imposing any restrictions stricter than state law. There is no waiting period required for gun sales.
• According to NARAL Pro-Choice America, Maine currently restricts access to abortion by prohibiting public funding for the procedure for low-income women eligible for state-funded health care. Women under 18 must have the written consent of one parent or other adult family member to get an abortion; that mandate cannot be waived in cases of rape, incest or child abuse, but can be waived if a doctor determines the young woman’s health is threatened and she is of sound mind to give consent. Individual health care providers, hospitals and clinics can refuse to perform abortions with no legal ramifications. No woman may have the procedure without being advised by the attending physician of the estimated length of her pregnancy and the risks associated with pregnancy and abortion.
• Ten years ago, Maine voters passed an initiative allowing doctors to recommend marijuana to patients suffering from a handful of specific illnesses and symptoms (including nausea and wasting syndrome resulting from AIDS and cancer treatments, glaucoma, epileptic seizures, and muscle spasms associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis). Patients can grow a few plants and possess 2.5 ounces or less of the drug, but there is no formal or state-sanctioned system to provide the medicine (or the seeds or plants needed to start growing), leading most patients to turn to the black market or forgo the medicine’s benefits.
• A “local option” sales tax is a tax levied by towns and cities — typically an increase on the state sales tax on meals and lodging — that allows the municipality to keep the additional revenue (rather than send it to Augusta) for local purposes and projects. State lawmakers from cities like Portland have tried unsuccessfully for many years to convince their more rural and suburban colleagues to allow such a tax.
• The “megaberth” is a large dock capable of handling modern cruise ships that was originally planned to be built as part of the Ocean Gateway marine passenger terminal next to the Maine State Pier. When Ocean Gateway ran over budget, the megaberth was cut, and city officials are now trying to figure out how to get the money to build it. Ocean Gateway was built using a mix of local, state and federal funds, and some argue that because ships using the berth would bring an economic benefit to communities beyond Portland, the state should pony up more dough to finish the job.
