Former Maine Gov. John Baldacci Talks Health Care Reform, Maine Politics on TideSmart Talk With Stevoe

Maine Heritage Policy Center CEO Dutson Joins Stevoe to Discuss Maine Senate Candidates and Pingree Media Ownership Conflict

FALMOUTH, Maine, April 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an interview today with TideSmart Talk with Stevoe, a weekly radio show that takes a macro approach towards society and culture, host Steve Woods (Stevoe) was joined by former Maine Gov. John Baldacci. The show will air Saturday, April 28, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on News Talk WLOB 1310AM, and it will be available as a podcast at http://www.tidesmartradio.com. In one of his first in-depth interviews since completing his role as director of the Department of Defense's Military Health Care Reform Initiative, Baldacci reflected on his time in office, the importance of public service, and his support for universal healthcare.

"In terms of people and humanity or the inhumanity, to force people to be without health care, to force people to wait until the very end to go to emergency rooms...to be able to not treat people without some sort of basic dignity...you have to get to a point as a society that you're talking about a basic right that people should be afforded," the two-term Democratic governor said.

Baldacci also discussed Woods' campaign for a Maine Senate seat. Running as an Independent, Woods, who serves as Chairman of the Yarmouth Town Council and is President/CEO of TideSmart Global, a Falmouth-based collective of six creative businesses, said he hopes to inspire change in the partisanship that has sharply divided the national political discourse and rendered government largely ineffective.  In discussing the Senate race, Baldacci noted Woods' unique background and business connections.

"I think it's great that you're on the Yarmouth Town Council as the Chair and that you're getting involved in the community on a statewide perspective because I think that you are a resource yourself," Baldacci said. "From having been at your business, knowing the kind of respect and contacts you have around the world and how people look up to the work that you do, and then for you to be involved in our communities in the state of Maine I think is a tremendous benefit for all of us."

In addition to an interview with Baldacci, the April 28 show features in-studio discussions with Maine Heritage Policy Center CEO Lance Dutson, who also weighed in on several of the candidates vying for Sen. Olympia Snowe's Senate seat, including former Maine Gov. Angus King.

"One of the things that is happening with our newspapers right now is that it is an absolute Angus King love fest," Dutson said.  "There is a certain kind of class in Maine that traverses through politics and media of the people that run the state, and it's people like Angus King, it's people like Bobby Monks, it's people like the owners of the different newspapers who have typically, through a small group of folks, controlled the destiny of this state for quite a long time."

In addition, Woods and Dutson discussed the recent 75-percent share of MaineToday Media acquired by financier Donald Sussman and his wife, Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree.  With a stake in the largest media company in Maine and parent company to The Portland Press Herald, Dutson said the Pingree's ownership of the newspapers can sway media coverage on various levels.

"It's unnatural to expect them (reporters) to pursue stories that are going to make the boss angry," Dutson said. "Angus is going to benefit from that, Chellie is going to benefit from that, and the Democrat party is going to benefit from that, and I think it's a big issue."

Since launching TideSmart Talk with Stevoe on March 2, Woods has hosted high profile guests including famed attorney F. Lee Bailey, mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, Shipyard Brewing Company President Fred Forsley, longtime Maine broadcast journalist Bill Green, Portland Sea Dogs Owner Bill Burke and former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives John Richardson.

With a diverse background in business and public service, Woods offers listeners a unique vantage point, said Ray Richardson, host of the Ray Richardson Show on News Talk WLOB 1310AM.

"His varied background along with guests from a local and national standpoint gives News Talk WLOB a wonderful new show that we are pleased to bring to our listeners," Richardson said.  "We feel very fortunate to have added the voice of Steve Woods to our lineup."

This show also features an in-studio interview with ice hockey Olympic silver medalist and University of Wisconsin standout forward Hilary Knight.

"Today's broadcast was one of our best ever," said host Steve Woods.  "Insightful wisdom from one of Maine's prominent leaders, shared experiences from an Olympic athlete and broad perspective from the leader of a major Maine think-tank combined for an insightful and engaging discussion."

SOURCE TideSmart