Strong in the Senate
To the editor:
Last week I attended a public candidate forum, a fine civic event sponsored by the Presque Isle High School social studies department. The staff and students are to be commended.
During the event, I heard presentations by Aroostook’s two Democratic senate candidates, Troy Jackson (District 1), an Allagash logger, former legislative leader, and fighter for labor and working families, and Mike Carpenter, (District 2), Houlton lawyer, small business owner, and former State Attorney General. Each spoke eloquently with passion and pride of their County roots and dreams for returning prosperity. They spoke of hard times in The County with loss of jobs and influence while maintaining that, given a level playing field, Aroostook County students and workers can successfully compete with those anywhere.
Jackson and Carpenter pledged to level the playing field by bolstering educational opportunities, and making sure that Aroostook gets its fair share of resources and attention. These seasoned legislators will need no on-the-job training. They will be ready on Day One to go to work for all County families.
Unfortunately, we don’t know the views of their respective Republican opponents who chose to skip this community opportunity. (Jackson’s opponent has stated that in failing to show up, he’s just doing what he has been told. By whom? What’s to fear from sharing his view publically with folks whose vote he seeks?)
Aroostook needs strong, experienced leadership in the Maine Senate. Please, on November 8th, send Troy Jackson and Mike Carpenter to Augusta to work for all of us.
Stan Maynard
Woodland
