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Donald Rogers challenges Thomas Watson, who has represented Bath in the Legislature for three terms.

By DIETER BRADBURY, Political Correspondent October 31, 2008

A veteran Democratic state representative and a Republican newcomer to electoral politics will compete for a seat representing most of Bath in the House District 62 election Tuesday.

Thomas R. Watson, the Democrat, wants to return to the Legislature for a fourth term so he can continue working on tax reform and other issues related to the state budget.

His challenger, Republican Donald C. Rogers, is skeptical about the size of the budget shortfall and thinks government itself contributes to many of the state's fiscal and economic problems.

The two are running for a seat that represents downtown Bath, north Bath and some of the city's south end.

Watson, an attorney who served on the Taxation Committee, worked on a tax reform package in the last legislative session that would have cut the state income tax, broadened the sales tax and increased property tax breaks.

That package, which was narrowly rejected in the Senate, is likely to be reintroduced in some form in the upcoming session, Watson said, to help the state address chronic budget shortfalls.

"My priority is to reform and stabilize Maine's 50-year-old tax system," he said. "It worked well for the economy in Maine that existed 50 years ago, but we have to change our basic tax structure to meet the needs of our present-day economy."

Rogers, a driver for a private transportation company, questions whether $500 million is an accurate shortfall figure and says state government should have a better idea of what revenues are coming in before it commits to spending money on services. He said too much government is part of the problem.

"Shrink the bureaucracy and that takes care of the problem," he said.

Rogers said the state should commit itself to promoting environmentally friendly "green" energy in the form of hydroelectric dams and solar and wind power. He noted that it has taken two years for a proposed tidal energy project to get its initial permits.

"Let's streamline the application process so these startup companies can get off the ground," he said.

Watson said he supports the Dirigo Health insurance program and would look for alternative funding sources if voters Tuesday reject a proposal to support Dirigo with a tax on beer, wine and soda.

"I do not think it's a program that should be scrapped," he said.

But Rogers does, saying the state could do better by removing obstacles that limit competition in the private sector. "It's a failure from the state," he said of Dirigo Health. "I think it should be junked."

Rogers also described himself as a strong opponent of abortion, and said he is disappointed that the issue hasn't received more attention and debate in the election.

Staff Writer Dieter Bradbury can be reached at 791-6329 or at:

dbradbury@pressherald.com