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Maine deserves an independent governor. I believe freedom from the rigid ideologies that define the Republican and Democratic parties would allow the governor to address the biggest issues — the high costs of energy, housing, taxes, and health care — without having to appease major party donors and the extreme ends of their base.
What became clear to me after the first televised debate is that Rick Bennett is the right person for the job. His experience as a leader in private business and the Maine Senate were clear in his detailed and thoughtful answers to the moderators’ questions. Leading a state, and finding real solutions, requires dealing with complex problems that often don’t completely align with either party’s platform.
His policy views diverge from Republican Bobby Charles because Bennett believes in protecting our environment (85% score from Maine Conservation Voters) and that government spending should be scrutinized line by line, not DOGE’ed into dysfunction. Compared to Democrat Hannah Pingree, I believe Bennett would bring fiscal responsibility to the state’s budget and real, market-oriented solutions to housing, among other issues. You can see for yourself in the past or upcoming gubernatorial debates.
If you think Maine needs a real change — one that would bring strong leadership, effective solutions, and less partisan bickering and polarization — then vote Rick Bennett for governor.
Nathan Dorn
Ellsworth


