The Race is... Still On

Les Otten is the third official Republican candidate for Governor of Maine. So as I did with the other two, I am checking his website out first. First thing is take a glance at his website: http://www.lesotten.com/

I thank you for returning to the blog. Alright, now first thing I noticed was the amount of color and pretty pictures. I felt like I had opened up a kindergarten school website. The bitterness I have against the simplicity of appealing to children shall be placed aside. The website is appealing, and thus shows an artistic element to his campaign not as obvious on either Matt or Bruce's websites. This artistic creativity will be a strong benefit for the campaign trail.

Now to the issues page. The statements you see first are almost word for word repeated when you click on the link, with some extras added here and there. On his energy page, let me give you the exerpt:

We need to create opportunities and let private enterprise lead the way out of Maine’s energy crisis to build a model that will be emulated throughout the nation. Maine needs a stated goal of energy independence. Ultimately, if Maine declares energy independence, and takes meaningful steps in that direction, the industry will follow.

Excerpt done. Alright it seems contradictory to me to say we need to let private enterprise lead the way and then say in the next sentence that if Maine's {government?} starts to move for energy independance, the free enterprise industry will follow. The rest of his energy page is a duck hunt for alternatives other than oil. Les has a thing against oil industry. Its very obvious. Moving on.

His section on jobs focuses on tourism (and only tourism.) Yes, tourism is our largest industry, but this month (record amount of rain) has proven even having great landscapes doesn't mean the tourists will come. I don't know why but I feel slightly less approving of Les Otto's approach. Just from my basic knowledge of economics, and archaic phrases, don't put your eggs in one basket. I personally feel Maine should diversify, while strengthening, its industries. Les places strong emphasis on the tourism industry while not mentioning the other parts of our state.

Onward to his section of efficiency. This is the first time I've seen efficiency as an issue. It is often an underscored approach to issues, but never an issue all its own. Thats my guy reaction to the one word: efficiency. Now I read the rest of it.

His section on efficiency starts out covering the state's failed budgets. Then five paragraphs cover how we as individuals should lead healthier lives. Otto, if you read this, efficiency and obesity don't seem to go together for me. Connect it to your efficiency through lowering costs of healthcare, please explain how lower costs for healthcare will increase efficiency of the states budget. Wow, I feel like a critic. Wait, your running for governor of Maine. I live in Maine. Your accountable. Woooo, power trip. Alright one more page to go.

Otto's page on leadership is by far his strongest page. It clearly outlines good guide lines for policy. They are as follows:

• We need to declare that Maine is open for business.
• We need to take advantage of Maine’s renewable resources to solve our energy crisis from within.
• We need to take full advantage of our tourism assets.
• We need to prepare our workforce and attract businesses that will keep our kids in Maine.
• We cannot continue to defer hard budget decisions to the next governor.

Now that is the best part of his website. That said, his website fails for a person running for governor, or a candidate for anything really. No specifics at all. Generalized overviews of things that are not made relevent to our lives that lack a plan, and a vision. The website lacks cohesion to his purpose for running and what he will do for us.


Now, a quick look at his 'support' page brings you to donate money. That is the whole page. Time for this madman to rant. However I will save it for another blog later tonight. Thank you for reading and come again soon for a meal you didn't order, but I didn't screw up.