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Janet T. Mills is the governor of Maine.
When I first became governor, I created an Office of the Future for Maine, thinking of Kurt Vonnegut’s advice that “every government ought to have a department of the future.”
The person I asked to lead that office was former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Hannah Pingree, someone with the knowledge and positive attitude to tackle our most serious problems — the opioid epidemic, housing, energy, the climate crisis — and the vision to create concrete, long-lasting solutions.
It was Hannah, as director of our Office of the Future, who came up with creative ideas to get families through the pandemic, to rebuild communities after devastating storms, to increase home ownership, to expand workforce training, and to fund early childcare.
From school board chair to running a small business to holding an office of statewide importance, Hannah Pingree’s experience is deep and well rounded. She is the only candidate for governor who has been fully involved with the state budget, with education, healthcare, housing, climate, energy, childcare, and economic development.
She has been a key advisor through every emergency, including the pandemic, violence in Lewiston, and some devastating storms. When Hannah and I served in the Legislature, we didn’t agree on every measure, and I know she won’t approach every issue the same way as me, but I believe she is prepared for the future and she is ready for whatever the world throws at us.
Hannah doesn’t speak in election year platitudes and promises but, rather, from a life of purpose and service. A wife and mother of two public school kids, she knows how tough it is to balance health care, fuel, child care and groceries. Her parents were volunteer EMTs, farmers, boatbuilders and local leaders, so she knows what Maine’s sense of community is all about. With small town values and big world ideas, Hannah knows how to make Maine a better state, and she’s the only candidate who knows how to turn those ideas into reality.
I believe Hannah Pingree can win the general election then hit the ground running as our next governor. She was the right pick for Maine seven years ago, and she’s the right pick for Maine now.
Hannah Pingree is the future.