SKOWHEGAN — U.S. Senate candidate Rick Bennett told downtown business people Thursday that the nation’s mounting debt, the threat to small business, the burden of ObamaCare and the reversal of deficit spending will be his primary focus as the election campaign.

“We need to make reforms now, or we’ll run out of time,” Bennett told real estate agent Rick Parlin at Whittemore’s Real Estate on Water Street during a tour of downtown Skowhegan.

“We haven’t already run out of time?” Parlin asked.

“I don’t think so,” Bennett said. “With every passing day the challenges get bigger, but I think it’s not too late. I haven’t given up, anyway. The thing I want most and most small business people I talk to want is not to see the rules changed from underneath them when they are trying to make investments.”

The 48-year-old business executive running against five other candidates in the June 12 Republican primary, and the winner will face the Democratic nominee and former Gov. Angus King, who is running as an independent.

Bennett said Democrats want to justify their existence, so they create more regulations. He said he supports a balanced budget amendment as a “disciplining agent” and doesn’t think adding taxes on the wealthiest is the best way to manage the country.

Bennett later was to attend a Somerset County Republican Party gathering at the Church of the Nazarene.

Also invited to the gathering were Republican candidates State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, Attorney General William Schneider, Secretary of State Charlie Summers and businessman Scott D’Amboise.

State Sen. Debra Plowman had other commitments, according to county vice chairman Kevin Brooks.

Also invited were Senate President Kevin Raye and Blaine Richardson, of Belfast, who are competing for the 2nd District nomination to run against incumbent Democrat Mike Michaud.

“Skowhegan is like a lot of small towns in Maine — I need to win votes across the state,” he said of his choice to tour the downtown. “This whole region actually is very similar to where I come from in the Oxford Hills region. We have our Aubuchon Hardware and our local Realtor and our local insurance agency.”

Bennett offers some moderate social views — he has an abortion-rights voting record, but is against legalizing gay marriage.

“I believe marriage is between one man and one woman; I also think it’s a state issue,” he said.

On abortion, Bennett said freedom of choice should be part of everyone’s life.

“As a Republican, I generally think that decisions should remain with people; individuals making their own choices,” he said. “As a matter of personal sovereignty, I think it’s the woman’s decision to make in consultation with her physician, her family, her religious leaders and whomever she wishes.”

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

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