I am the only candidate with 20 years of military experience, and the only candidate to serve on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee. My leadership experience has forced Democrats to work with Gov. Paul LePage for income tax cuts, education reform and other policies, resulting in Maine having the lowest unemployment rate in Maine history.

I’ve always believed that you catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. I believe that debate is good for agreement, because through rigorous discourse comes results. During my time in the Legislature, I’ve always worked to create relationships with everyone regardless of party or point of view. The Legislature is where the governor’s agenda becomes reality. As a member of legislative leadership, I have shown that I can work with both the House and the Senate to get as much of my agenda accomplished as possible. Our state will benefit from a governor who already has strong relationships in the legislative branch. The first task of any governor is the budget, which is due within weeks of taking office. The ability to be ready on Day 1 is imperative if we want to continue moving Maine forward. With my experience and knowledge of how the Legislature works, I believe I am best positioned to not only put forward policies, but turn them into law.

One specific proposal of importance is Maine’s income tax. One of my opponents does not believe we can eliminate the income tax and the other two believe we can, but have no real plan on how to do it. Understanding the budgeting process and recognizing the surpluses our state has seen, I can put forward budgets that move us in that direction, and yes, I truly believe there is a path to a zero percent income tax within my first term.

I’m battle tested with proven results. It’s very easy to get in front of a microphone and talk about your conservative beliefs, but I actually have a track record of putting conservative ideas into action for nearly seven years. Working with Gov. Paul LePage, I helped to end the decades of out-of-control spending of taxpayer money at DHHS, to prioritize the needs of our elderly and disabled, to create a more effective pathway out of poverty through work and to restore program integrity by attacking fraud and abuse in welfare.

I am the only candidate in this race with over 40 years of executive experience as a job creator in Maine. In addition to having a strong education system at the K-12 and university level, one of the keys to Maine’s success is ensuring we have the workforce our blue-collar small businesses need to expand. We must focus on making Maine’s career and technical education system the best in the nation, so we can provide good-paying wages to those who need jobs. The best way for someone to avoid welfare and a cycle of dependency is a job. I would require every vocational instructor to spend two weeks a year working at a "best in class" business to ensure that they know the practical application of their instruction.

As Governor, I would put forward a sustainable infrastructure plan for all of Maine and its needs, both in the short term and the long term.

The biggest problem facing our state is the citizens initiative process. Over the years, Maine has become a breeding ground for pay-to-play elections. Our citizen initiative process has become a joke. A process that was intended to be used as a tool by citizens to correct legislative action or inaction has been stolen by the fringe left in cooperation with out-of-state and out-of-country special interests.

We’ve seen referendums pass that play class warfare and pit Mainer against Mainer, steal money out of the pockets of service workers and pervert the sanctity of the ballot box by using rigged voting methods.

We have become a cheap date. A proving ground for crazy new social engineering schemes. Oftentimes, these ballot initiatives make a few people a whole lot of money. Political campaigns are used to lie to us about major policies, sometimes up to 30 pages long, boiled down to one often misleading yes or no question.

While my opponents talk about it I actually have a plan to fix the citizens initiative process. As governor, I will put forward the following recommendations to reform our citizens initiative process:

1. Change how you determine number of required signatures from a gubernatorial year to a presidential year.
2. Ensure each congressional district is required to collect half of the required signatures.
3. Provide the governor veto power just like any other legislation.
4. Increase the percentage of required signatures from 10 to 15 percent.
5. Do not attach the question to an actual piece of legislation

The attack on the value of work. My father worked at the Edwards Manufacturing Co. and my mother worked as a nurse’s aide, and they taught us the value of hard work. Maine has a long history of a strong work ethic, but too many government programs have discouraged work in favor of a government handout. I talk to employers every day and they almost universally tell me the same thing — they are desperate for employees who will show up on time, drug free, stay to the end of the day and come back the next. Work is more than a paycheck — it’s about dignity, family and a sense of pride. Work is the foundation for success, and it’s why I will do everything I can to remove barriers to work and reorient government programs that promote work, not discourage it.

The past two election cycles have shown us that Maine has a failed referendum process. Forced referendums, financed overwhelmingly with out-of-state money, are not focused on what’s best for Maine. Out-of-state interests come into Maine with large sums of money to push an extreme national agenda. We must ensure that all Mainers have a voice in our referendum process, and that Maine people fully understand the questions on which they are voting, beyond the out-of-state funded noise.

Reducing the income tax so working Maine people have more take-home pay is critical to driving our economy, but having a business-friendly state to attract more employers, requiring more competition for workforce labor, is the simplest and best way to raise wages. Government has to get out of the way of business.

The best thing we can be doing is training people for the jobs we have right now. We must stop telling kids that they can’t have a good life if they don’t go to college. Continuing the trend of massive student debt for a degree that is sometimes worthless is one of the major problems facing our new workers today. Emphasis on trade education and combining them with the jobs of tomorrow will be important.

We must also be able to attract new employers from around the world. The next governor of Maine must be a global spokesman for our state with the ability to prove that Maine is the best place to expand a business. Bringing new jobs for Mainers will be a major goal of a Mason administration. As someone with international business experience, I know what it takes to compete in an international environment.

I would start by allowing Mainers to keep more of what they currently earn by eliminating Maine state income tax.

We must continue to grow our economy and provide good-paying career opportunities for Mainers. There are two ways to grow our economy: growth in our young adult population and growth in productivity. We must move from an entitlement mentality to an incentive-based mentality. As an entrepreneur I have helped create jobs all over Maine and I will help build Maine’s economy for years to come. We must continue to reduce red tape, lower taxes and create an environment where our small businesses can thrive. Thriving small businesses drive higher wages. Maine people are tired of just getting by — it is time for them to get ahead.

No, Maine’s gun law should not be changed, and we must respect the gun owner rights in our Maine Constitution. We have a history of responsible gun ownership and a strong hunting tradition.

No. The problem is not the type of guns we have access to. The problem is the people that use them unlawfully. The only people that gun restrictions hurt are the law-abiding citizens who want to own them.

We must focus on mental health first. Mental health has a stigma in our society, and we must make it OK to talk about. That is a first step.

We should also focus on protecting our public places, especially government buildings. If ever anything was to happen in the state capital, I know that it would only be a matter of moments before armed personnel would be there to protect and defend us. Our children deserve the same protections. I am proud of my A+ NRA ranking and as governor, I will continue to protect our Second Amendment rights.

This is an incredibly misleading question. Maine also ranks very low in overall homicides. Let me be crystal clear: I will not support any new restrictions on firearms.

Both the U.S. and Maine constitutions have strong protections related to the 2nd Amendment. I support our 2nd Amendment, and as our next governor I will uphold the Constitution. I have long supported commonsense, conservative solutions to deal with the issue of gun violence, including reform to Maine’s mental health system to ensure that individuals who need services are able to receive those services. We will address the stigma associated with mental health and focus on individuals and families that need help.

Yes, we have more tools in the toolbox to work with companies here in Maine and those outside of Maine to locate here and employ people here. Tax incentives and workforce development through our community colleges and University are key to this success and apprentices for the trades.

It would depend on what program we are talking about, but generally I do believe that tax incentives work in regards to attracting businesses. Tax incentives should be made with strategic benchmarks in mind that will protect the investments made in our state.

Government is not the answer, but there are several things government can do to get out of the way: eliminate the income tax, pass right-to-work legislation and stop picking winners and losers in the energy market. This sends the right signal to job creators that Maine is open for business and ready to work with employers and employees to create more opportunities for Mainers.

Tax incentives are one tool in the toolbox to attract companies to Maine. However, we must continue to reduce taxes, reduce red tape and create a business-friendly environment so our small businesses can grow and expand, as well as attracting new businesses to Maine. As governor, I would perform a comprehensive review of all government red tape with the goal of increasing the speed of permitting, reducing fees and eliminating duplication. I would also structure a Governor’s Initiative on Regulatory Reform to address red tape throughout state government to ensure our job creators have predictability when it comes to state mandates.

Maine’s welfare programs continue to be too generous and require additional reform. There has to be an incentive for people who are able-bodied to get off welfare and return to work. There can be a process that gradually does this, but it needs to get done.

Over the past seven years, we have been able to make great strides in ensuring that our welfare system is there to provide for Maine’s most needy. We have passed legislation to help prevent system fraud and abuse, prohibited items such as cigarettes and lottery tickets from being purchased with welfare dollars, and worked to create accountability within the system. We need to continue to close the gap on training our welfare recipients to join our workforce, because we all know that the way off of dependency is a job.

That debate is over. I am proud to have been instrumental in creating a new approach to welfare that focuses on helping Mainers earn their first paycheck, not get their first welfare check. That was my top priority working with Gov. Paul LePage and will be my top priority as Maine’s next governor. In fact, I look forward to working with the Trump administration to implement work requirements for Medicaid. I’ll continue to press for a welfare system that dedicates more resources for the truly needy such as the elderly and developmentally disabled.

I would continue the common-sense conservative reforms put in place by Gov. Paul LePage. I would continue to connect training and work availability resources for those entering the system to ensure that state government promotes the dignity that comes with a job. I would encourage a strong fraud detection unit to improve enforcement against waste and fraud. I would support tougher penalties for those who commit fraud, and also support reforms that require random drug-testing for all welfare recipients. We must ensure that Maine’s limited resources are prioritized for our most vulnerable.

I have not supported Medicaid expansion and the Democrats need to come forward with a proposal to fund it in a sustainable way. That has not happened yet.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. As evidenced by history, Maine has made the expansion mistake before. In 2001, Maine was an early expander of Medicaid. At the time, proponents said that expanding Medicaid would result in fewer emergency room visits and lower costs. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The result of Medicaid expansion was hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid hospital debt. This expansion will be no different. I learned a long time ago that what is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular. Bankrupting the state budget just as it has finally become stabilized is the wrong direction for Maine, especially when it is to extend free services to able-bodied adults. We must repeal Medicaid expansion as part of Maine’s first budget.

I am adamantly opposed to Medicaid expansion, which is medical welfare for able-bodied adults. It’s wrong and hurts the truly needy by diverting money away from them to people who simply choose not to work. Right now in Maine, there are nursing facilities, assisted-living programs and group homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that cannot cover the cost of delivering care because the Legislature has refused to adequately fund the cost of the Medicaid program. I’ll work with them to fund the most needy and I will not support free health care for able-bodied adults.

Out-of-state interests came into Maine with large sums of money to put this issue on the ballot and then pass it, without any way to pay for it. In essence they left Maine taxpayers literally holding an IOU that must be paid. Most Maine people were not told about the significant price tag. Gov. Paul LePage just paid off a $750 million debt to Maine’s hospitals, as a result of the last failed welfare Medicaid expansion. Someone who is not disabled should contribute some amount to their own costs. This welfare expansion could dramatically impact Maine’s budget for decades to come. I will not support funding Medicaid expansion by raising taxes on the backs of hardworking Mainers or struggling job creators. I am awaiting a detailed, multiyear, fully funded plan from proponents on how they will pay for the program without damaging Maine’s economy.

Governors can veto bad bills from becoming law that expand government, increase fees and taxes and regulations that deter and stop business development.

The governor controls and directs the bureaucracy of our state government. The thousands of state employees and many government programs are in most part directed by the governor and his staff. These programs have direct impact on the lives of Mainers. The bureaucracy is a major apparatus that can be used for good and evil. DECD programs, DHHS programs and DEP programs and everything in between are all controlled by the governor.

The governor and the first family also have a role to fill as an example to the state at large. Rebekah and I will use our voice as governor and first lady to shine the light on great things that are happening in our state.

I’ll tell the real Maine story everywhere I go. A great work ethic, unmatched natural resources, one of the lowest crime rates and a great place to retire or raise a family. During my term as governor, I also hope to add to the list: low taxes, a great place to create jobs and low energy costs.

A governor is responsible for advocating for Maine. As governor, I would work tirelessly to advocate for policies that strengthen Maine’s economy and make Maine a better place to live and raise a family. Beyond signing legislation, a governor has the ability to promote ideas and policies that improve state government, including efficiency. Governors and their spouses can also promote important charities. My wife Chrissi has worked at Goodwill Industries as a caseworker, training adults with cognitive disabilities. Chrissi is on the board of directors at the local food pantry and she has been a youth sports coach and involved in the local schools. With a degree and teaching certificate, she is a strong voice for quality education. I believe Chrissi will be a strong voice, as Maine’s first lady, in advocating for those in need, just as Ann LePage has done on behalf of our state’s veterans and military families.

The reason we have a declining infrastructure is because of the welfare programs that the Democrats have put in place that take dollars from places where a strategic investment can be made.

No, it is not sustainable. Much of the funding for our infrastructure comes from the gas tax. As vehicles get more efficient and alternative fuels come to market, less taxes are paid to develop our infrastructure. I believe that the transportation budget should not just be made up of gas tax and other transportation related taxes. It should be part of the general fund. It has to be part of the conversation surrounding our general fund tax dollars. We must also look at other methods of transportation taxation, like cruise ship dock fees and low-budget airlines flying in and out of our smaller airports such as Presque Isle and Brunswick NAS. As governor I will bring creative new ideas to the table like this to fund our infrastructure projects.

It all comes down to establishing priorities. We just spent 7 years undoing the previous damage inflicted by Democrats who diverted millions and millions of dollars to broken welfare programs that consumed our state budget. We have money for roads and bridges and I will make that a priority. We will issue bonds where appropriate, direct existing resources to help tackle the backlog of work that currently exists and look for ways to save money across all government programs so that we can take care of our aging infrastructure.

Infrastructure is critical to strengthening Maine’s economy. Maine needs to continue implementing long-term plans to ensure we strengthen our roads, bridges and other infrastructure. However, we must be sure that our fiscal house is in order to continue borrowing money with low interest rates. Maine people work hard, and we need to be sure we are fostering an environment where they can be prosperous. Bonds are one tool that we can use to invest in our infrastructure, but we must work under a comprehensive plan.

Maine biggest asset is its hardworking people, followed by its amazing natural resources, one from a growing and harvesting prospective and the other from a tourism perspective.

More needs to be done to manage and capitalize on our natural resources and tourism with advertising, and lower taxes to attract business and keep business here in Maine.

Our people, natural resources and geographic position on the map. These are the things that will catapult Maine into our third century as a state and set us up as a leader.

It’s people. It’s natural resources. It’s location in the greatest country in the world. The notion that me or any other government can leverage our greatest assets is simply misguided. It is the power of the individual that will be the key to our success. My goal will be to create a government that places decision-making for success as close to home as possible — preferably at your kitchen table. It’s the people that built America and Maine, not government.

Maine’s greatest asset is our people. We need to give all Mainers an opportunity to achieve their full potential by growing our economy and providing good-paying careers. I have spent 40 years as an entrepreneur. I know how to run an organization. We must ensure that our people have the opportunity to achieve the American dream, and we do this by continuing to grow and strengthen Maine’s economy, and to provide good-paying career opportunities for those who live in this great state. Maine’s environment, our outdoors lifestyle, is also an invaluable asset not only for our own quality of life but for tourism, which is important to our economy. Our environment and economy do not need to compete with one another — we must ensure we can wisely protect our environment while also improving our economy. Lastly, related to our people, is our young people who have chosen to leave Maine to look for careers elsewhere. They are an asset because they already know and love Maine. We need to encourage them to come home to work and raise their family here. As governor I will work to attract our young people back to Maine.