Les Otten plans run for Maine governor

[skidmarks]

Would you vote for this guy?

Les Otten plans run for Maine governor

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Republican Les Otten says he wants to be Maine's "job creator in chief." Otten was owner of many ski resorts, including Sugarbush and Killington, before his debt-laden company, the American Skiing Co. was forced to divest its many ski holdings in 2008.

Otten made his announcement Monday as he formally threw his hat into the ring for governor. He joins a field of at least 10 others who've announced their intentions to run for the Blaine House.

Besides launching American Skiing Co. he served as a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox. He also chaired Gov. John Baldacci's Wood to Energy Task Force. He is former owner of Sunday River Ski Resort, where he started his career as a ski resort owner.

 

[skidmarks]

please, NO POLITICS

Let's keep Politics out of the picture. I just want to know if you thing this guy should run after his Grand Départ!

 

[wa-loaf]

No. Seems like the only guy that made out ok from the ASC bs is Les. Don't think Maine needs that kind of leadership. He should stick to selling pellet stoves.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Not too surprised, figured he would get bored with the wood pellet business. Remembering that he got screwed by ASC in his bid with Cook to purchase SR and the Loaf I wonder if that plays into his desire to be the Maine Gov. Should be interesting in the coming year.

 

[deadheadskier]

The bigger question to me is why anyone would even want to run? Maine, as beautiful as it is, is a total mess politically and economically. It's an impossible situation. Even during the booming economy years of 05-06, Maine was in a recession. The only other state to make that claim for that period was Louisiana because of Katrina and Rita. It's a massive place with a huge road infrastructure to maintain, yet a bad place for businesses, so revenues are low. You throw in a gov't that has more social programs than any state I've lived in (including Vermont) and it's impossible to make any progress. Nothing ever seems to get done.

I loved living in Portland, but the socio/economic scene of that state was a huge factor in my decision to leave and why I most likely won't return. Only way I would is if I amassed enough wealth to not really care about things. Guess, I'm different from Les. He has the wealth to not care, yet he supposedly does with his intent to run. Actually he probably wants to run so he can legislate even more wealth into his pockets.

 

[snoseek]

I guess noone told him it's pastime in Maine to hate the governer.

 

[drjeff]

The bigger question to me is why anyone would even want to run? Maine, as beautiful as it is, is a total mess politically and economically. It's an impossible situation. Even during the booming economy years of 05-06, Maine was in a recession. The only other state to make that claim for that period was Louisiana because of Katrina and Rita. It's a massive place with a huge road infrastructure to maintain, yet a bad place for businesses, so revenues are low. You throw in a gov't that has more social programs than any state I've lived in (including Vermont) and it's impossible to make any progress. Nothing ever seems to get done.

I loved living in Portland, but the socio/economic scene of that state was a huge factor in my decision to leave and why I most likely won't return. Only way I would is if I amassed enough wealth to not really care about things. Guess, I'm different from Les. He has the wealth to not care, yet he supposedly does with his intent to run. Actually he probably wants to run so he can legislate even more wealth into his pockets.

+1

 

[snowmonster]

I have no opinion on this but, if he runs, I'm looking forward to seeing signs saying: More Snow, Less Otten.

 

[deadheadskier]

I have no opinion on this but, if he runs, I'm looking forward to seeing signs saying: More Snow, Less Otten.

Snowe

would be a likely bumper sticker option if Olympia doesn't support him

 

[ski_resort_observer]

hmmmmm interesting that the yes/maybe vote is almost the same as the no votes despite a clear thumbs down in the thread.

 

[ctenidae]

Snowe

would be a likely bumper sticker option if Olympia doesn't support him

Clever. I give it a +1

 

[skidmarks]

hmmmmm interesting that the yes/maybe vote is almost the same as the no votes despite a clear thumbs down in the thread.

I started the thread with a thumbs down since I thought the Guy was bad news. How do you turn ASC into a political positive.

 

[ctenidae]

I started the thread with a thumbs down since I thought the Guy was bad news. How do you turn ASC into a political positive.

In the end, whether ASC succeeded or not is of no account, politically. Instead, he'll focus on jobs created, tax revenues, and the like. Plus, he didn't run ASC- if push comes to shove, he can blame it on private equity, though he'll ahve to be careful, since Maine has a decent sized PE portfolio.

 

[bigbog]

From places I've lived thru(upper NYS, MA), it just seems that a good many in Maine state government have been more interested in modernizing and providing a fertile environment for the gameing and entertainment industries than for high/low technical businesses. Just like in other parts of the suburban/rural country, a lack of highspeed rail to the cities leaves many people(including yours truely) underemployed. Drop the price of oil a little...and following through on innovative thinking goes out the window in this country. At least Les has tried things.... Not a diehard supporter, but he's the first to mention the word Jobs on the radio(or somewhere;-)) = a start.

 

[deadheadskier]

From places I've lived thru(upper NYS, MA), it just seems that a good many in Maine state government have been more interested in modernizing and providing a fertile environment for the gameing and entertainment industries than for high/low technical businesses.

stopped at a gas station in Oxford county on the way to Sunday River this past weekend. There were two people there gathering signatures as to whether or not to allow a casino in Oxford county.

 

[bigbog]

..LOL, I'll tell ya.....like most others...don't really have anything against gambling but the list of reported "things to do" that have being considered by state legislature over the past 5+ years....you sit there listening to this one of very few issues mentioned...and you constantly end up saying to yourself..YEAH, so..anything more for the young & intelligent/talented to look forward to...like a future career maybe..??%$*%(%&%^( :smile: *I guess it's this way in many states where the outdoors tops most places of interest..where you have wealthy wanting the state to stay like a postcard with everyone building ships in bottles...in their cottage industries.. They really don't have to work at a job/career...

 

[BackLoafRiver]

stopped at a gas station in Oxford county on the way to Sunday River this past weekend. There were two people there gathering signatures as to whether or not to allow a casino in Oxford county.

Maine is a political and economical cluster.

The casino issue is going to keep coming up because no one is coming up with new ways to bring industry/ economy to the state. The governonrs office keeps "hoping" someone will open the defunct paper mills in the all the now destitute mill towns across the state. They refuse to realize that Maine Paper has run its course. Meanwhile, hundreds of wonderful people (I taught in a mill town for years) are jobless without hope of something new being brought in to stimulate the economy.

State government is in a 200+ million dollar shortfall this year. I am not sure where it stacks nationally, but I am sure it is high. The total nab of it is that a majority of the cuts are coming to education.

It's really a sad situation for so many quality/ qualified individuals. And Dead, I think you had an awesome point in an earlier post. Your reasons are exactly why I am considering leaving without return. (save a few annual trips to the Loaf)

Bob, you are right...too many Mainers are stuck in "Old Maine" philosophy.

 

[severine]

I know nothing about Les Otten but I will say this:

*Sam Adams was a complete screw-up before the American Revolution. Despite having a Harvard education, he squandered his intelligence coasting along through life. Boston would have been better off without him as Tax Collector as he didn't even fulfill his duties at that, letting most people slide. Yet he led the Sons of Liberty and the rest...is history!

*Thomas Paine, the author of Common Sense which ended up being hugely influential during the American Revolution, was a failure before that. Failed at: corset-making, teaching, tax collector, shopkeeping, and marriage.

I am not saying this man deserves another chance. But...there are people in history who appeared to be completely useless who went on to much greater things.

 

[skidmarks]

He owes me money

The "He owes me money" vote is kind of a joke.
Did Les (ASC) leave lots of people hanging when they defaulted on loans?

 

[skidmarks]

I know nothing about Les Otten but I will say this:


I am not saying this man deserves another chance. But...there are people in history who appeared to be completely useless who went on to much greater things.

I agree but perhaps he should shoot for Animal Control Officer first and see how it goes.