McGowan for Maine

Pat McGowan was born in Bangor and has lived in Maine his entire life.  He comes from a family that has operated several small businesses in Central Maine.  Like most Mainers, Pat’s family has a “can do” attitude and they pride themselves on their strong work ethic and their ability to think beyond today, looking for success in the weeks and months ahead.  As Maine continues the slow process of recovery from the most severe recession since the Great Depression, this state’s next Governor must possess that “can do” spirit and look beyond the immediate problems with a clear vision for success.

Building on his extensive experience as a small business owner, legislator, U.S. Small Business Administrator, and Commissioner of Conservation, Pat McGowan has the “can do” spirit and a long term plan – a 2020 Vision - for Maine’s economy.  In the year 2020, the State of Maine will mark the 200th anniversary of its statehood, and Pat’s plan will put the state where it needs to be – and should be – at that time.  There is no vision clearer than a 2020 Vision, and Pat McGowan has the clearest vision to give our next generation every opportunity to live, work, and succeed in Maine.

Support and Modernize Maine’s Traditional, Natural Resource-Based Economy

Born in Bangor and growing up in rural central Maine, Pat knows Maine like the back of his hand.  He understands that natural resource-based industries – forestry, farming, and fishing – are the backbone of Maine’s economy. The next Governor cannot ignore these important sectors, and Pat has a clear plan for supporting and modernizing these industries.

Implement the Great Maine Forest Initiative: The Great Maine Forest Initiative will encourage increased production of clean, renewable energy (wind, biomass, and biofuels) and ensure that domestic manufacturers have cheap, sustainable power to run their plants.  It will also implement conservation programs that make our forests green certified, allowing for the production and exportation of value-added green certified lumber, pulp, and paper across the country and around the world.

Expand research, development, and commercialization of wood composites and wood byproducts: In the last ten years, Maine has become a leader in the research and development of new, value-added products from its forests.  In the next ten years, through continued public-private collaboration, Maine must expand its commercialization wood composite products - from boats to blast walls and beyond – and the production of biofuels from wood byproducts.

Promote sustainable farming, fishing, and aquaculture: In ten years, Maine has the capacity to become a breadbasket for the northeastern U.S.  Maine must encourage the development of innovative and sustainable farming practices, such as those employed by Backyard Farms, LLC in Madison, Maine, and support its farmers with the expansion of technologies such as irrigation.  Maine must also invest in the growth industries of aquaculture and fish processing along the coast.

Support Small Businesses and the Self-Employed 

When Pat was the New England Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration for President Bill Clinton, he played an important role in implementing the policies that led to the greatest economic expansion in American history.  As Governor, Pat will use this experience to help jumpstart Maine’s economy:

Provide small businesses with increased access to affordable capital:  In his role at the S.B.A., Pat led an effort to provide small businesses with access to affordable capital, lending more than $5 billion to more than 26,000 small businesses across the region.  One of the biggest barriers to entrepreneurial growth in Maine today is lack of access to affordable capital to start and grow small businesses.  Pat will use cash reserves from all areas of state government, including the Maine State Retirement System, as seed money for venture capital funds and loan guaranty programs, partnering with Maine’s community banks and credit unions to get the state’s economy moving again.

Streamline government agencies and reduce Maine’s tax burden:  In the last eight years, Maine has made great strides in reducing the tax burden on Maine citizens, from one of the highest in the country to 15th highest, by streamlining government services at all levels.  Maine taxpayers deserve high quality and efficient services from their state government.  By continuing efforts to consolidate duplicative services, and by further prioritizing state spending, Maine should continue its progress in reducing its tax burden over the next ten years.

Invest in the Future 

Like building a small business, growing Maine’s economy requires making sound investments, not taking chances.  Pat McGowan is the only Democratic candidate for Governor who has started and run his own small businesses.  Pat knows first-hand about this type of investment, and he knows that the soundest investments that Maine can make today are in its people and economy of tomorrow. 

Make higher education and workforce development a budgetary priority again:  As a graduate of the University of Maine System, and the father of three children who attended System campuses, Pat has great faith in Maine’s public higher education institutions and believes that they are crucial building blocks for future economic growth.  In a changing economy, Maine needs a well-educated workforce to support its economic development, and this cannot be achieved while cutting funding for higher education.  That’s why Pat is committed, in each and every budget he submits to the Legislature as Governor, to increasing funding for the university and community college systems and expanding scholarship opportunities for needy traditional and non-traditional students.

Make Maine a leader and innovator in the green economy:  Having served for seven years as Maine’s Commissioner of Conservation and overseeing many aspects of the emerging green economy, Pat is committed to making Maine a leader and an innovator in this area.  To be successful, Maine must target its public and private research, development, and commercialization expenditures at innovative projects relating to the “green economy” – the production of renewable energy (land-based and ocean-based wind power, biomass, biofuels), the manufacturing of related products, and the provision of related services.  The next generation of innovative ideas for the green economy should be Maine ideas – from research to development to commercialization and manufacturing.  In ten years, Maine should be the capital of the green economy in the United States and the world.