Gov. Janet Mills issued a radio address Friday indicating how she was going to vote on three of the state’s five referendum questions, but didn’t say how she’d vote on setting a $5,000 limit on political action committee contributions.

Mills also declined to discuss how she felt about Question 5, which asks to replace the state flag with the original 1909 design.

“I know that's an issue on the top of everyone's minds, but you know what? It's up to you to decide that, and I'm not going to try to influence the vote,” Mills said.

The governor was more candid about her support for the other three questions facing voters on the ballot this week. Regarding Question 2, which would set up a $25 million general fund bond issue for research and development, Mills said research drives innovation and commerce.  

Mills noted that approved a bond like this before in 2017, for $45 million. She said that bond wound up generating $224 million in matching investments. She said the ultimate economic impact was as high as $1.4 billion, clear proof the research bonds are worth it.

“It's basically the process of creating new products, Maine products, taking things we may already have and improving on them to make them better and more useful,” Mills said. “It's how we end up with new products.”

Mills also said she would be voting for Question 3, which creates a $10 million bond for restoring historic buildings, and Question 4, which establishes $30 million for “the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide.”

Mills said outdoor recreation makes up nearly 4% of the state’s economy, and supports 30,000 jobs statewide. 

“You know, Maine people have always valued the outdoors, and during the pandemic and since then, of course, a lot of folks have really taken to the outdoors and are able to enjoy the health benefits of it,” she said.

Mills said nothing at all about Question 1, and avoided voicing an opinion on the state flag question, saying only, “State flags are a source of great pride, and however the vote turns out, I hope we can all support the outcome as a symbol of the State of Maine.”