Willey for Senate District 9
I have known Larry Willey for decades. I know him as one of Bangor’s outstanding mayors. His work to create the Bangor-St. John Sister City relationship, Bangor 2000 and updating Bangor’s budget process are well known. His philanthropic work with the Knights of Columbus has been outstanding. And his work on the State Restructuring Commission provided him with the start to his tremendous budget papers on local, state and national budget proposals.
We need Willey, a Republican, to serve District 9 — Bangor and Hermon — in the Maine Senate. He is a remarkable lawyer and public servant. He has a head for business and a heart for people.
Katrin Teel
Bangor
Don’t erode solar incentives
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has proposed changes to the net metering policy for solar electricity. Currently, if homeowners, small businesses and municipalities invest in solar, they can expect a return on their investment over a period of years by getting a credit for the excess electricity they send back to the grid.
The proposed rule change would reduce the return on investment and allow the utilities to make more money from rooftop solar installations. The overall effect would make Maine, already last in place in New England for solar energy and solar jobs, fall even further behind.
Who would the PUC proposal really benefit? It looks like that would be our two largest electric utilities, owned by foreign companies who are making huge profits each year, and the oil industry, which Maine residents support with billions each year spent on fuel oil, gasoline and federal tax subsidies. Their profits would be protected — the investment of homeowners, small businesses and municipalities, not so much.
A study commissioned by the PUC made it clear that solar electricity benefits all ratepayers, not just those who own the panels. We need policies that promote affordable local energy, policies that benefit the people of Maine rather than big business.
The commission’s public hearing on net metering is at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at 101 Second St. in Hallowell. Please attend and urge the commission to continue the current net metering policy.
Karen Marysdaughter
Bangor
Vote to ensure tolerance
As an unaffiliated voter, I have avoidably and unavoidably sampled multiple sources of information relative to the pending election — inclusive of pundit opinions, endless interviews, fact checks, editorials, debates and the already never-ending advertisements. At this point, I would simply like to urge that voters of all affiliations approach this fall’s election with the central intent to vote in a manner that will insure that tolerance, inclusiveness and human kindness will trump hateful bigotry.
Respectful discourse and debate should trump the profane. An ethic of personal sacrifice, service and a demonstrated authentic care for others should trump selfish narcissism. Experience, informed perspective and conscientious professionalism should trump unintelligent and dangerous bluster.
To accomplish any less in election outcomes will expose our state and our nation to disastrous peril.
Neal Guyer
Thomaston
Support ranked-choice voting
I support Question 5 on the November ballot. This initiative is to adopt ranked-choice voting, a simple, common-sense reform to our voting system for state and federal elections. If passed, it will put power back in the hands of voters, restore majority rule and give voters more voice in our democracy.
In nine of the last 11 races for Maine’s governor, candidates were elected by less than half of voters. In five of those races, candidates were elected by less than 40 percent of voters. In a representative democracy, our leaders should be elected by more than half of us so they represent the people and are accountable to us, not narrow political factions.
Ranked-choice voting gives voters more voice and more choice in elections by allowing voters to rank their choices when there are multiple candidates for an elected office. If a voter’s favorite candidate can’t win, his or her vote is instantly counted for his or her second choice. That way voters no longer have to worry about throwing away their vote.
More than 73,000 Republicans, Democrats, independents, Greens and Libertarians across Maine signed petitions circulated by 900 volunteers to place this nonpartisan initiative on our November ballot. Please talk to friends and family about what ranked-choice voting is and why it matters.
Tomlin P. Coggeshall
Newcastle
Marble for Senate District 10
As a former director of the Bangor-area Healthy Maine Partnership, I have known independent Dennis Marble for many years. I knew him as executive director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. He has worked tirelessly in public service for many years campaigning on behalf of others.
Marble came by my home when he was out campaigning door-to-door in Glenburn recently. Not many people campaign door-to-door and face-to-face anymore. I was able to chat with him for a while. He told me of his most recent role as a Hampden town councilor.
Marble’s compassion is coupled with a command of the issues facing small communities here in Maine. In Glenburn, property taxes continue to rise as they are in many towns across the state. I believe Marble will work to make sure communities like Glenburn are not hurt by decisions made in Augusta.
What is most clear to me is Marble’s sincere willingness to listen and help in any way he can. He will make a fine state senator for District 10, which is why he has my vote on Nov. 8.
Janet Spencer
Glenburn
Maine’s endangered bumblebee
The Sept. 27 BDN article about the Maine bumblebee being considered as endangered under the Endangered Species Act was noteworthy.
A number of years ago when a friend and I were fishing Eagle Lake (just north of Chamberlain Lake), we encountered a few airplanes spraying for spruce budworm late in the afternoon.
When we went out fishing the following morning, we witnessed dead bumblebees floating all over the lake. There were so many dead that they floated as close as a silver dollar to each other. We commented to each other that “every bumblebee in the whole state of Maine must be dead.” We wished we had a camera to record this tragic event.
But it “saved” the timber industry. Why are we surprised that we have so few bees now?
Verle Drinkwater
Orrington