WATERVILLE — Thursday’s forum featuring the three candidates for governor didn’t change the minds of area residents who attended or help undecided ones decide who they will vote for.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Paul LePage and his challengers, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler, answered pre-arranged questions at Thomas College Thursday morning in a forum sponsored by the Mid Maine Chamber of Commerce and attended by about 325.

Questions ranged from education and the economy to international trade and a proposal for a privately funded east-west highway through central Maine.

After the debate, Anthony Cartlidge, 44, of Whitefield, said he remains undecided.

“Right now I’m a state worker, and I don’t agree with some of the policies Governor LePage has implemented, but I like his ideology,” Cartlidge said. “He was able to balance the state budget without breaking the backs of employees. He didn’t just lay us off. He didn’t furlough us like the last two governors did.”

Cartlidge, a unit manager at the state prison in Warren, said he is studying for a master’s degree in business administration at Thomas College.

He said, however, some of LePage’s policies have cut state jobs, so he does not know if he will vote for him.

“Mr. Cutler said quite a few interesting things. He took the politics out of it, I think. He looked at the issues from the business world,” he said. “I think Michaud — although I like him, I think he’s very political.”

Peter Garrett and his wife, Jean Ann Pollard, of Winslow, said they will vote for Cutler, but attended the forum to listen to all candidates.

“We think Eliot Cutler came off very well, as likable and knowledgeable about finances, about the state of the state, and Paul LePage came across as somebody who has actually done something and knows some numbers and there’s kind of an edge to him that you wonder about,” Garrett, 70, said. “And (Michaud) is a person who we know and, speaking personally, I find it difficult to evaluate him as a governor because I never knew him as state senate president. I know him as a person who really listens.”

Pollard, 80, said she was impressed with Cutler’s ease and informality and “enormous grasp of economics.”

“The only thing that worries me about it is, as with what happened with Libby Mitchell (who ran as the Democratic candidate in 2010), when there were three candidates, I wanted Libby and I’m afraid that with three this time, Mike won’t make it, so possibly I should vote for him — I really love him.”

Thomas College student Jennifer Johnson, 20, of the Eastport area, said a lot of good questions and answers were presented at the forum. Johnson said the event did not sway her one way or the other.

“There was a bit of fluff, but there’s always that in politics,” she said.

Johnson said she is an independent and leans toward Cutler, but is still undecided. She said she thinks he is committed to helping keep young people in Maine after they graduate from college.

“I learned a lot more about his platform and even more about himself, whereas I already knew about LePage and Michaud.”

Johnson said she will receive a bachelor’s degree in business management at the end of this semester and she plans to get her master’s degree in business administration.

“I’m probably going to end up moving out of state after that because the jobs and businesses and market are not in the state of Maine,” she said. “I want to own my own web marketing company.”

Japhet Els, outreach director for the AARP in Maine, said he attended the forum to hear what the candidates say about issues involving people 50 and older. The AARP — American Association of Retired Persons — has not endorsed any of the candidates and typically does not.

“We have 233,000 members statewide right now, so we think it’s pretty important the issues we’re concerned about are addressed by candidates for public office, particularly the governor’s office,” Els said.

A Waterville native, Els, now of Portland, said not one question in the forum addressed issues specific to the 50-plus population, including Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security and general aging issues.

“Why aren’t we talking about these issues?” Els asked. “We’re the oldest state in the country, per capita, and every day 50 Mainers turn 65 years old, so obviously these issues are front and center and should be addressed by candidates for public office. If not, they are doing a disservice to the very constituents they claim to represent.”

Els said people forget the nationwide economic power of people 50 to 65 years old. Those people, he said, give money to nonprofit organizations, spend money in communities and influence economies in other ways.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

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