VOICE OF THE VOTER

(NEWS CENTER) -- Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Defense William Cohen talks about current political battles in Washington and struggles around the world on this edition of In The Arena.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Matt Jacobson was the first candidate to officially enter the race for governor in May 2009. The Republican hopeful goes In The Arena to talk about trying to break out of the pack in a crowded field.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Bruce Poliquin, who has a lengthy career in financial and business management, is hoping to apply those skills to leading the State of Maine.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Democrat Steve Rowe has spent a good deal of time at the State House, as a legislator, Speaker of the House and Attorney General. Now he is hoping to get the top job there.

(NEWS CENTER) Steve Abbott spent 12 years as Chief of Staff for Sen. Susan Collins. Now he is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

(NEWS CENTER) -- More and more people are using social media every day. Now nearly every Maine gubernatorial candidate is turning to it to spread their messages.

(NEWS CENTER) --Waterville mayor Paul LePage has set his sights on the Blaine House.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Businesswoman Rosa Scarcelli has never held elective office. But she feels her business experience has prepared her to lead Maine.

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The major candidates for the Blaine House met Wednesday for the first time.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Campaign finance records show that former Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe and businesswoman Rosa Scarcelli are close in raising contributions for their privately funded campaigns to win the Democratic nomination in this year's race for Maine governor.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Anxious to put his fundraising abilities on display in Maine's crowded race for governor, Republican Bruce Poliquin reported receiving more than $633,000 through the end of 2009 to state campaign finance officials.

AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- After 23 years of running Husson University in Bangor, Bill Beardsley says he's ready to run the state.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) says there are some Republicans in the Senate who oppose health care reform mostly to deny a victory to President Barack Obama, but she says they are a distinct minority.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Gov. John Baldacci says he will veto any tax increases that lawmakers might pass to help balance the budget.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Maine's crowded field of gubernatorial candidates has just grown larger and could draw even more contestants before finances, heavy demands on contestants and voters' choices trim the list.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Patrick McGowan plans to announce his candidacy in the Democratic primary race for Maine governor on Tuesday.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Joining Pat Callaghan In the Arena is Bill Nemitz of the Portland Press Herald and Ray Richardson of News/Talk 96.3 WLOB Radio.

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) Les Otten, a businessman and entrepreneur, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Former Biddeford mayor Donna Dion, a Democrat running for governor, talks about her campaign In The Arena.

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Sen. Peter Mills (R- Skowhegan) has spent eight terms in the Maine Legislature. He is now seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. Mills talks about his campaign In The Arena.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- It may seem early for the 2010 congressional campaign to start, but the fields in both of Maine's congressional districts are starting to take shape.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) Maine is facing a budget shortfall of about $400,000,000. Finance Commissioner Ryan Low is working with the Governor to find cuts to balance the budget.

(NEWS CENTER) -- The Maine National Guard is preparing for its largest deployment since 2005. Joining Pat Callaghan In the Arena is Major General Bill Libby, Maine's adjutant general.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Recapping the 2009 election is the topic of this week's In the Arena. Joining Pat Callaghan are Bill Nemitz of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and Ray Richardson, co-host of the Ray and Ted Show on News/Talk WLOB Radio.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) - One day after a stinging defeat there was sadness and disappointment, but also a sense of determination among supporters of same sex marriage.

BIDDEFORD (NEWS CENTER) -- Students and staff at Biddeford High School, along with some town leaders, are celebrating their victory at the polls.

(NEWS CENTER) -- The vote to repeal the school consolidation vote went down in defeat, 58 percent to 42 percent.

FRIENDSHIP (NEWS CENTER) -- Friendship is no longer a dry town.

WELLS (NEWS CENTER) -- Voters in this oceanside community rejected an ordinance that would have allowed large-scale water extraction in their town.

PORTLAND (AP) -- With Tuesday's election, Maine becomes the fifth state to allow dispensaries where marijuana can be distributed to medical patients.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Supporters of the gay marriage law that was rejected at the polls by Maine voters are taking heart in the 47 percent their side received in a referendum that drew an unexpectedly high turnout.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine voters have torpedoed a state law that would have allowed gay couples to marry.
AUBURN (NEWS CENTER) -- By nearly 3,000 votes, Richard Gleason defeated Ronald Potvin to become the next mayor of Auburn.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Mainers have voted against scuttling the state's school district consolidation law.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Medical marijuana users in Maine will be able to buy their pot at licensed dispensaries after voters approved a bill that expands the state's existing medical marijuana law.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine voters have rejected a referendum that would have placed limits on increases in state and municipal government spending and taxes.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine voters have approved a $71.25 million bond issue to pay for transportation improvements across the state.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine voters have rejected a proposal to scale back the state's motor vehicle excise tax

(NEWS CENTER) -- Voters in several Maine cities will elect mayors on Tuesday, with contested races in Auburn, Biddeford, Hallowell, Lewiston, Saco and Westbrook.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- A couple hundred people rallied in Monument Square to show their support for marriage equality.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- Question 4 on the ballot would dramatically change the way state, county and local governments spend money.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- As part of an in depth look at Question 1 on the Novemeber 3rd ballot, we visit with two families with opposing viewpoints on gay marriage.

(NEWS CENTER) - Question 3 on the November ballot reads: "Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?"

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- The line outside Portland's City Clerk's Office is constant from the minute city hall opens until closing.

PORTLAND (AP) -- Gay marriage opponents say a spokesman who appeared in a TV ad is under attack by proponents of same-sex marriage in Maine.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Joining Pat Callaghan In the Arena are Ray Richardson from WLOB Radio and Rep. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth).

SOUTH PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- Those who favor Question 4, otherwise known as TABOR 2, held a news conference Thursday highlighting the differences between this year's version of the Taxpayer Bill Of Rights and the version that voters rejected in 2006.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- A coalition of more than 30 groups led by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce is trying to draw some attention to a ballot question that seems under the radar this year: Question 6.

(NEWS CENTER) -- Question five, if approved, would greatly expand Maine's ten year old medical marijuana law.