I really don’t think that asking Les Otten for his spin is going to get the truth. I just posted one of many articles detailing various elements of the history of American Skiing.
It did well, then it did poorly. He was on the Board until recently. The company ended up selling off most if not all of its properties.
It was a valuable company with many ski resorts, and then it became a company with almost no value. Its investors, who you seem to think of as gamblers, lost their money.
I don’t need to know every last detail of Les Ottens personal history to know that the collapse, or near collapse, of the company he built cannot be seen as a wonderful success story.
Les Otten might be pretty good at building a business. But the failure of American Skiing shows that he’s not very good at running, or managing, a large business. Since running a large organization is exactly what a Governor does, and Otten failed at doing exactly that, I can’t really think of a reason to vote for him. If he was the nominee, I would, but hopefully that doesn’t happen.
Will “American Skiing took on too much debt and then American Skiing had to sell most if not all of its ski resorts. Vote Les Otten, he’ll do the same to Maine.” be the Otten slogan?
Vote Otten - First Crushing Debt - Then Maine For Sale!
No. Otten seems to be a gambler who got lucky until he was not lucky. That is not what we want for a Governor.
We want a responsible manager with experience. Someone with a proven record of cuts. I think that’s LePage, but nothing in Otten’s record indicates that he’s anything like that.
Otten - he’s gonna take the tax receipts, go to Vegas, and put it all on red.
You guys love making this stuff up, it's immature and way past ludicrous. I know is boring to read facts of someone who was there, who knew the market and how it works, remembers intricately the times that contribute to the several crashes we have had. The articles are not factual-but believe what you want to believe--freedom of choice to settle for Oz.
Off subject: A great book by Alex Cross, Reckless, I just finished is spot on the most recent economic fiasco between the real power players of the financial world and government. It is not always as it seems scenario.
Le Page is in single digits, no one around my area knows who he is in recognition-The Coast. A sign here and there
I am sure he is a good man, but not my choice as he is not strong enough to lead a state; however, be a real fact checker and call the campaign headquarters. Journalism 101. Go to the source. The real players not the ones who write about others, as they can't ever do; nor hide their envy with bias.
The Lewiston Sun stood up to the plate on the attack against Les. But then if that is all the underdog candidates can use to try to get past first..is pass on uninformed info, they are no better than the Democrats who use smear to win their seats and have stayed their downward course in Maine for decades--time to get strength in leadership. Maine is a joke in state run government (no matter which party rules), attracting BIG business, LOST JOBS, the school consolidation, DIRIGO and most importantly her highest energy rates cited (mol determining factors) in the nation. The rest of the pack have no plan, like Obama had no plan. Good luck to you, however; and as I said, am sure Le Page is a good guy, just not my choice. ;)
Dean Scontras!!!Les Otten!!!
Maine has been discounted far too long. It's time to bring real business ventures to Maine besides a new Mardens on the block promoting rummage sales to those that can't afford to pay retail..why because Maine has been represented far too long by discounted thinkers—and "so Maine goes".
When many think of Sunday River, and had this discussion with another successful investor within that area the other day, who agreed on another level of success which was more than just financial gain over long term, but great memories made from the families that bought in, vacationed, built small business surrounding the area that have grown immensely— but its what money can't buy—a generation passing on great memories to the next generation to pass on to their children and continue to do so.
Menards mentality is just to feed on the less fortunate to make a buck—no memories there, its just about the money.. —you get what you pay for—cheap is cheap and will remain cheap. Workers are the less educated, single parent--decisions in life got them to where they are.
Maine deserves better than discount warehouses and casino/gambling-all in the market for the unskilled in stagnant & depressed locations.
By the way you do not know Mr Otten as many of us Mainers do for many years, you live off the rhetoric of others--he does not spin, never has and held true to his core beliefs. He's a good leader for Maine.