WATERVILLE, Maine - The three candidates for governor met for their second debate at Thomas College in Waterville and were asked whether they would support a privately-built east-to-west highway. Republican incumbent Paul LePage gave it a conditional approval.
"I've sent some bills up to the Legislature which I thought were real good bills," LePage said. "They came back down and completely changed so I had to veto them. So I need more than just a theory. But in concept, yes."
Mike Michaud, the Democratic Party nominee, says a privately-built and operated east-West highway just won't work. "It's unbelievable that you can build an east-west highway without using eminent domain, so the answer for the private sector east-west highway: I don't support it," Michaud said.
Independent Eliot Cutler says there are too many unanswered questions about the proposed east-west highway. He says Maine should concentrate on improving the roads it already has before looking at any east-west highway proposal.
"We don't know what effects, what impacts, it would have. We don't know anything about it," Cutler said. "But there are still people who love the idea. I think the first thing we ought to do is fix the roads that we have."