Poor pickings for president
What is a person to do? Ever since I have been able to vote, I have done so. In past years, I have not always been entirely in favor of the candidates but have been able to vote for what I considered to be the better of the mediocre choices. Not so this year.
Both major parties have offered candidates whom I do not consider worthy of the presidency. So I looked closely at the Libertarian Party and Green Party candidates. I found the same lack of worthiness there. What to do now? I have pondered what to do for quite some time now.
As we get closer to Election Day, I have decided to write in a person whom I think would make a good president. I do not feel this is a waste of my vote as I am voting for a person I think will do a good job. It has been said that a country gets the leaders it deserves. I think we deserve better.
Katherine Campbell
Holden
Down East kids show class
People like to complain about young folks. But during and after BikeMaine’s visit to Lubec, I received a lovely surprise. We had youngsters from the Lubec Consolidated School, the Campobello Island Consolidated School and the Cobscook Community High School Program helping throughout the BikeMaine Village — some with luggage and setting up and taking down tents, others with serving meals and, of course, some as greeters and cheerleaders as the riders arrived.
Adults riding with BikeMaine as well as locals working with the students took the time to tell me how wonderful the youngsters were — polite, respectful and always helpful. Watching their joy while setting up or taking down the tents, carrying luggage, serving dinner and breakfast, and interacting with the riders showed what an asset they are to our communities.
Ruta Jordans
Lubec
Fulford for Maine Senate
A lot of letters to the editor are talking about Republican Senate President Mike Thibodeau’s character. I’d rather talk about his record.
Thibodeau holds himself up as a supporter for veterans. But he voted four times in the last four years to turn down federal money to expand Medicaid in Maine, which would have benefitted 2,700 Maine veterans and which the Veterans of Foreign Wars testified in favor of.
He says he’s concerned about the opioid crisis in Maine. But he was excused from a vote on a “good Samaritan” bill supported by the Maine Medical Association that would have provided immunity from drug possession charges to people who seek medical assistance in drug overdose situations, a strategy that has worked well in other states.
Thibodeau says he supports the hardworking people of Maine, but he opposed every serious legislative bill in his 12 years in office to raise the minimum wage to a level that would pay those hardworking people enough to cover their rent.
We deserve better. I encourage you to join me in supporting Democrat Jonathan Fulford for Senate District 11 on Nov. 8. Fulford will stand with the working people and veterans of Waldo County and Maine. He will not say one thing and do another.
Heather Selin
Jackson
Ward for House District 131
I am a lifelong union-label, papermaking Democrat, going back to John F. Kennedy. But like a lot of Mainers of every party, I vote the person who can get the job done. I’m looking for someone who will be reasonable, compromise and represent my area, not just stick to party line. District 131, where my town is located, has just such a man representing us in the State House: Republican Rep. Karl Ward.
Not only does he do extraordinary things for our town, like patch our community center roof leak or donate his salary so two students from Prospect can get a scholarship, but he listens and votes the way his constituents want.
When the governor held up the Land for Maine’s Future bonds, Ward voted to override and release the money the way people voted. When there was a typo “and” in the energy bill, Ward voted to override and just fix it. And he spoke out against shutting down the state government last year. He voted to start a cold case squad and helped override 10 votes against it, so it is now the law of the land. In fact, Ward has voted 160 times to override unreasonable vetoes.
When he first ran, he said he would do this, no matter the cost. He has backbone. He understands his role. He is precisely the kind of person we need representing District 131. On Nov. 8, I will be voting for Ward and others should, too.
Barbara Tilley
Prospect
Early education reduces crime
Recently, the Bangor Daily News published a news release from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Educate Maine on their joint report on the importance of early childhood education in making sure Maine’s kids are ready for college and work. Not only are quality early childhood education programs good for our state’s economy and the development of our workforce, but they also are a powerful crime prevention and reduction tool, supported by much of Maine’s law enforcement leaders because they lead to safer communities.
Kids who start learning early in preschool programs are more likely to gain the social and emotional skills they need for a good start in life — one that will put them on a path to success throughout their schooling and into adulthood. They are more likely to stay in school and graduate on time, and they are less likely to develop the behavioral problems that can lead involvement in crime and violence beginning in their teen years.
That is why so many in Maine’s law enforcement community support and encourage the expansion of and greater access to quality early childhood learning programs for our state’s kids. All Maine children deserve a strong and nurturing start in life, with the opportunity to learn the skills that will make them contributing members of society and less likely to choose a life of crime. The earlier we reach our kids, the better for us all.
Troy Morton
Penobscot County sheriff
Bangor
Election notice
The BDN will stop accepting letters and OpEds related to the Nov. 8 election on Oct. 28. Not all submissions can be published.