Maine students host Prepare Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Forum

A crowd of nearly 300 students, parents and community members gathered at Bangor High School’s Peaks Auditorium on Wed., Oct. 27 for the Prepare Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Forum. The event was student-run and sponsored by the Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education and WABI-TV.

The forum began the candidates’ biographies, which were written and presented by students. The presenters came from all over Maine, ranging in age from 12 years old to 18 years old.

The five candidates were asked student-written and presented questions pertaining to issues such as energy policy, job creation and healthcare. The most discussed topic of the evening was education.

A student from Bangor High School asked the candidates how they would address the 20 percent drop-out rate that affects Maine’s school systems.

All of the candidates focused their answers on ways to create more student interest in learning.

Republican Paul LePage believed that Maine’s education should become a “learn to earn” environment, in which high school students have the opportunity to gain college credit, and a possible associates degree, while still in school.

Democrat Libby Mitchell suggested that hands-on learning become more prevalent in education, and vocational and co-op programs be more accessible to students.

Independent Shawn Moody, who became a business entrepreneur at 17, stood by Sen. Mitchell on this issue and stressed that Maine education should “redirect students into curriculums that work for them,” which may not necessarily mean college.

Independent Eliot Cutler said that longer school years, and rewards for teachers will improve Maine’s education system. Cutler suggested that Maine work on “developing teachers” so that they are better able to serve students.

Independent Kevin Scott said giving students the opportunity to voice their needs will allow Maine to create solutions in education.

Representatives from organizations such as Opportunity Maine and the Maine Women’s Lobby were in attendance at the forum. Sarah Standiford, executive director of the Maine Women’s Lobby, said that “it isn’t an option” for students to not vote in this election. “This election is a very unique time for Maine,” said Standiford, “Maine could move in a very different direction”.

First-year Bangor High School student, Bryan Palma, said that even though he is too young to vote, he still has an opinion on this election. “I am supporting Cutler because of his innocence in which he isn’t primarily involved in the nagging,” said Palma.

After the forum, all of the candidates could agree on at least one thing, Maine is a state worth fighting for. Sen. Mitchell quoted one of the most well-known Maine advocates in history, Henry David Thoreau, in saying “why would anyone go West? When Maine has everything”.

To view coverage of the Prepare Maine forum and to research how the gubernatorial candidates stand on issues such as education, visit Prepare Maine. To read about how the candidates have used social networking throughout their campaigns, visit Bryan Roche’sreport. To see what Maine student’s know about the upcoming election, visit Amy Becker’sreport.