Recently I had the opportunity to meet Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for Governor, and I was overwhelmingly impressed with her poise, intellect and her vision for Maine's future. After meeting her I firmly believe Rosa Scarcelli is the candidate who can turn around Maine's damaged economy and shattered budget. The only way to get Maine going in the right direction is by changing the culture of Augusta and this change must start at the top with new ideas and new energy. All of the other candidates, unlike Rosa Scarcelli, are products of Augusta and will almost certainly give Maine more of the same. If you want to see Maine shake off its anti-business mentality and if you want to see revenue grow by bringing new business to Maine and if you want to see budget cuts directed at programs that don't work then take a look at Rosa Scarcelli.
Seth Wescott of Carrabassett Valley, has successfully defended his gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Heading into the last half of Monday's final, Seth was barely within shouting distance of Canadian Mike Robertson. Then, out of nowhere, Wescott closed the gap, overtook the Canadian and held him off at the finish to take the gold medal - his second straight and America's second of these Winter Olympics.
"It's too simplistic," Scarcelli said. "It's pandering, and given the track record of most politicians who make a ‘no new tax pledge,' I don't think the public even believes it." She added that she has no intention of raising taxes.
"Last month I wrote to Maine's two senators urging them to support using part of the returned federal bailout money for job creation and small business assistance in Maine and other states. I am pleased that President Obama has put forward this plan, and hope Maine's Congressional Delegation will fully support it.
Except for a $16,300 personal loan from Scarcelli, all of the contributions came from a broad cross-section of individuals and businesses that are supporting her campaign.
Rosa: I'm not sure. It's a pretty unique shape, and it's the only state bordered by only one other state.
BWIUBS: What is your favorite crayon color?
Rosa: Orange & blue, of course!
BWIUBS: What is your favorite thing about being a candidate?
Rosa:Getting around the state and meeting such amazing and diverse people.
In posts on her Facebook fan page (Rosa for Maine) and the political blog Dirigo Blue, Scarcelli said the state's budget problems are forcing lawmakers to make some tough decisions and set priorities.
"The governor is in a very difficult position of being forced to make budget cuts during an economic crisis, and he's making the best of a bad situation. I'm glad that he does not propose raising any broad-based taxes at a time when many Maine people are out of a job or struggling to make ends meet.
"However, the situation calls for leadership and long-term planning.
Supporting the great Maine charitable organizations we are so lucky to have here in Maine has always been important to me and my family. There are so many wonderful groups working tirelessly to improve Maine, but they need the help of people like you to accomplish their goals! This holiday season, please consider giving what you can to support one or more of these fantastic organizations in their efforts to alleviate the problems facing our state and help to make Maine a better place! Also, please let us know what other Maine charitable organizations you choose to support so that we can continue to add to the list (Info@RosaForMaine.com)!
Click here to view a list of some great charities that need your support!
(for similar lists and updates, including a list of great Maine businesses, please follow me on facebook and twitter!)
TO USE BAILOUT FUNDS FOR JOB CREATION
DEC. 9, 2009 - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, today urged Maine's two Republican senators to support efforts to use a portion of the returned federal bailout money to create jobs here in Maine.
In letters to Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, Scarcelli said funds from the previous stimulus package went mostly to prop up existing programs in Maine, such as Medicare and unemployment benefits, and created only a handful of jobs compared to the nearly 30,000 that have been lost in the current recession. In fact, Maine ranks 48th in the nation in the number of jobs saved or created from federal stimulus money, according to the website http://recovery.gov/ .
In letters to Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, Scarcelli said funds from the previous stimulus package went mostly to prop up existing programs in Maine, such as Medicare and unemployment benefits, and created only a handful of jobs compared to the nearly 30,000 that have been lost in the current recession. In fact, Maine ranks 48th in the nation in the number of jobs saved or created from federal stimulus money, according to the website recovery.gov.
Now, with banks and investment firms returning hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout money to the federal treasury - the so-called TARP funds - Scarcelli believes some of that money should be used to create jobs here in Maine and elsewhere.
Submitted by Susan Cover on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 13:17
Democrat Rosa Scarcelli, one of a number of people running for governor, stopped by the State House press corps today to chat, promote her job-creation ideas and to talk about a new function on her Web site that she hopes will become a forum for ideas.
She's got a 32-page plan in which she outlines how she would go about creating 50,000 jobs in Maine. Among her ideas are reducing electricity costs, ways to boost the tourism industry and investing more money in research and development.
She also talked about getting ideas from the public through a link she put on her Web site.
You can check out the full report and the ideas link at www.rosaformaine.com.
WUFPAC is a nonpartisan political action committee based in Washington, DC that supports women forty years of age and under running for state and federal public office. WUFPAC's mission is to help elect more young women to elected office so that young women have an equal voice in shaping public policy. .
Click here to read WUFPAC's endorsement.
Selected as one of 20 "emerging leaders" to receive this year's Henry Crown Fellowship from the Aspen Institute, Scarcelli is my dark-horse candidate to take the next big step for Maine. We've elected women to the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and as Speaker of the Maine House and President of the Maine Senate. We've also had a woman as chief justice of Maine Supreme Judicial Court. It's time we finally had a woman in the Blaine House. I think Rosa Scarcelli might be that woman.
Gov. Rosa Scarcelli. Remember, you read it here first.
Legislative leaders are meeting today in Augusta to winnow the list, according to news reports, but Scarcelli says that should be relatively easy.
"If a bill adds costs to the state, to towns and cities, or to Maine businesses, it should be rejected," she said. "It's really not much harder than that. It's clear that the state is in dire financial straits, and the only real emergency that needs the Legislature's full attention is getting the state's finances in order and our economy moving again. Bills that add to the state's expenses, shift costs to local communities, increase the cost of doing business in Maine or fails to address the fundamental issue of rebuilding our economy should be thrown out."
OCTOBER 5, 2009 - Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic candidate for governor, will continue her listening tour this week with stops in Presque Isle, Bangor, Orono and Portland
As part of the tour, Scarcelli will attend three "Breakfast of Champions" meetings sponsored by the Maine Women's Policy Center. The meetings will engage national experts in discussing policies and practices that support the well being of families, businesses, and communities.
Her schedule includes meetings with area business and education leaders, and she will be the first Democratic candidate for governor to address the College Democrats at the University of Maine.
Her schedule is as follows:
AI: This last budget was extraordinarily difficult, and next year could be much worse. What makes you want to be governor in this climate?
I run an affordable housing company with 100 employees in four states, so I believe I have the unique skills that are necessary to tackle our budget problems, turn around state government and get Maine people working again.
When I took over Stanford Management, it was a company in some distress. I helped turn it around with better financial management, by improving cash flow, making priorities, finding efficiencies and working to satisfy our customers, the residents of our properties. I just don't see those kinds of skills in many of the other candidates who are running. They are all good people and they've served our state well over the years. But the challenges we face, particularly with our state budget, are enormous and we can't look toward yesterday to find tomorrow's solutions. We need someone with the skills, experience, values and vision to move Maine forward. That's why I am running for governor.
AI:How can we reverse recent trends and put Maine on a path to economic prosperity?
I don't think we will turn Maine around with the same outdated ideas and solutions. I believe we need a different kind of governor with experience outside government and politics, someone who has met a payroll, created jobs, while helping people. . .
in
* On Maine Politics
* Rosa Scarcelli
Rosa Scarcelli, one of six Democrats running for governor, will hit the road today for a "listening tour" in Bangor, Millinocket, Calais and Bar Harbor, her campaign said.
She's scheduled to meet with loggers, party activists, members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
The 39-year-old is the owner and CEO of a company that provides affordable housing around the state.
The three-day trip will take her to meetings with Mainers to learn what they are saying about getting Maine back to work and the need for change in Augusta. The meetings include business owners, local residents, party activists and representatives of Maine's Passamaquoddy Tribe.
Her schedule is as follows:
Rosa Scarcelli, a businesswoman from Portland, announced Monday that she will be a candidate for governor in next June's Maine Democratic Primary. The 39-year-old mother of three is the owner and CEO of Stanford Management, a company that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities, including Farmington, Dixfield and Turner.
Portland businesswoman Rosa Scarcelli formally announced today that she is a candidate for governor.
Scarcelli, 39, said in a statement today that she would run as a Democrat, and has filed candidacy papers with the state. Scarcelli is the owner and chief executive officer of Stanford Management, a firm that manages affordable-housing properties.
Scarcelli, 39, the owner and CEO of Stanford Management that provides quality, affordable housing in more than 30 Maine communities, declared her candidacy by filing papers with the Maine Secretary of State’s office.
