The idea that our next Governor has to have owned, run (or lost) his own business baffles me!

We don’t need a “businessman,” “a lawyer,” “a doctor” or a “candlestick maker.” We need a LEADER. We need a person that can surround themselves with the RIGHT people in the RIGHT jobs to get this state moving in the RIGHT direction. We don’t need fighting or politics, we need LEADERSHIP. We need Steve Abbott.

I believe when a person can surround him or herself with people with proven skills in areas that make sense for the task at hand, you will have success. Not paybacks for political favors that benefit no one, except the person being “tapped” for the job that generally is not competent in the first place!

Steve Abbott has a VISION. Steve Abbott has allies that are proven very capable of running successful businesses. Let’s see, a list may include Cianbro, Hussey Seating, R.H. Foster, Lafayette Hotel Group... there are many more we could list and not all of them are Republicans!

This is the LEADERSHIP that we need to break the “do-nothing” TAX and SPEND mold in Augusta. Look at the programs we have, dump the ones that no longer work and save the ones that do. That is what business owners do every day. Think outside the box, work together to solve problems with today’s solutions —what makes sense now! Because it is NOW that we have to!

Kelly H. Cotiaux is a native of Maine and owns a camp in Kingfield.