Tomorrow marks the end of the primary season in the Maine gubernatorial race and this is a very important day for all Maine citizens. We live in a great State and country and I am honored to have the right to cast my vote in such an important election. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent (yes Independents can change their enrollment status tomorrow to vote in the primary and then change back to an un-enrolled status immediately following the vote) it is important for all of us to cast our votes tomorrow.

For me, Matt Jacobson, Republican candidate for Governor, gets my vote in the primary election. In my opinion, Matt Jacobson has the whole package that is necessary to tackle the challenges that will be placed in front of the next Governor. Matt Jacobson has served our country admirably as an aviator and Captain in the United State Air Force after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. Matt Jacobson has been a CEO of a successful Maine business (St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad) in a unionized and highly regulated industry bringing businesses that relied on this rail line to employ Maine people. Matt Jacobson was a Vice President of Canadian National Railroad in charge of international development in the Pacific Rim and therefore understands how Maine fits in a global economy. Matt Jacobson is the President & CEO of Maine & Company, a privately funded business recruitment firm, and in this role has attracted significant jobs to Maine. Matt Jacobson knows what businesses need to thrive in Maine and he is ready to create a business climate that stimulates job growth. Matt Jacobson is a creative, energetic and can-do leader who is committed to making a difference in Maine. Matt Jacobson is a great family man, and he and his wife Kate (emergency room physician at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston) are raising two young children in Maine because they choose to live and work here. Matt Jacobson is honest, hard working, intelligent and lives his personal and professional life with the highest ethical standards. Finally, Matt Jacobson is not a career politician and thus he will make decisions that are right for Maine people for the right reasons, as opposed to the same old political process we unfortunately have become so accustomed to.

I vote for Matt Jacobson moves Maine forward in a positive direction and Matt Jacobson has earned my vote.

If Otten buys 20,000 votes, his cost per vote, win or lose, will be huge. Otten just loaned his campaign another $275,000 bringing his self-financing total to almost $2.5 million dollars. Along with the dwarfed $100,000 in true believer donations he will probably spend over $2.6 million dollars or over $130 per vote! I'm predicting he will be edged out by another candidate, either Mills or LePage. Should that be the result, it will be a colossal waste of money in pursuit of securing the GOP nomination for one colossal ego trip. It reminds me of a purchase American Ski Company stock, a very expensive investment in return for poor performance.

A 13 year old boy just climbed Everest…yet you don't think a resourceful 11 year old could survive on the streets? If you look I think you will find thousands of 11-year old kids all across the world scratching out an existence on their own. Does it happen often in Maine today? I doubt it, but this was 50 years ago. I know people of similar ages who grew up in similar environments (places like Providence RI) who have stories not too different than Mr. LePage.