What a delightful call I got today - from an 89-year-old woman in Machiasport who told me she had voted for me this morning.
Even better was the afternoon's call, from a 67-year-old Machiasport woman who said that both she and her husband had voted for me, "so you can stop sending us all that mail now."
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Letter to the Editor -
This week's Machias Valley News Observer - one of the four local weekly papers in Washington County - carries a letter to the editor supporting me, from Carmen Flowers of Lubec. This is how it reads:
Katherine Cassidy, running for state legislator in District 32, has my
vote, and here's why.
She knows the value of the Washington County Adult Drug Treatment
Court, known locally as "Drug Court." She knows how its demanding,
year-plus program helps Washington County's young people get their
lives back on track again. Best of all, those who succeed in Drug
Court save us money because they avoid being sent to jail and prison.
One of our area's unfortunate truths is that many families are
affected by sustance abuse. Drug Court is a way to help counter the
addiction problem. Katherine regularly wrote about Judge Romei's
program when she was a Bangor Daily News reporter. Her husband Frank,
a lawyer, has volunteered his expertise in Drug Court for more than
four years.
At this time of the state's call for budget cuts, I know that
Katherine Cassidy will work to protect and maintain Drug Court for the
families and the future of Washington County.
Carmen Flowers
Lubec
Katherine Cassidy, running for state legislator in District 32, has my
vote, and here's why.
She knows the value of the Washington County Adult Drug Treatment
Court, known locally as "Drug Court." She knows how its demanding,
year-plus program helps Washington County's young people get their
lives back on track again. Best of all, those who succeed in Drug
Court save us money because they avoid being sent to jail and prison.
One of our area's unfortunate truths is that many families are
affected by sustance abuse. Drug Court is a way to help counter the
addiction problem. Katherine regularly wrote about Judge Romei's
program when she was a Bangor Daily News reporter. Her husband Frank,
a lawyer, has volunteered his expertise in Drug Court for more than
four years.
At this time of the state's call for budget cuts, I know that
Katherine Cassidy will work to protect and maintain Drug Court for the
families and the future of Washington County.
Carmen Flowers
Lubec
Monday, October 13, 2008
Endorsement: Maine Education Association -
I am one of three Washington County candidates for the Maine House of Representatives endorsed by the Maine Education Association. Marie Emerson (Addison) and incumbent
Anne Perry (Calais) are the others.
"Everything of importance in public education is governed by publicly
elected officials," the MEA notes on its Web site. "Maine's
legislative representatives all play an important role in what happens
in our schools and classrooms."
MEA's screening and endorsement questionnaire asked for candidate
positions regarding:
- An adjustment of the early retirement penalty to reduce the impact
of the "Cliff" under the Maine Public
Employee Retirement System.
- University of Maine/Community College funding.
- Teacher workload/collective bargaining.
- Health insurance for retired educators.
- Public employees' health insurance.
- K-12 funding.
- Livable wages for educational support professionals.
- Academic freedom for higher education.
- Charter schools.
Anne Perry (Calais) are the others.
"Everything of importance in public education is governed by publicly
elected officials," the MEA notes on its Web site. "Maine's
legislative representatives all play an important role in what happens
in our schools and classrooms."
MEA's screening and endorsement questionnaire asked for candidate
positions regarding:
- An adjustment of the early retirement penalty to reduce the impact
of the "Cliff" under the Maine Public
Employee Retirement System.
- University of Maine/Community College funding.
- Teacher workload/collective bargaining.
- Health insurance for retired educators.
- Public employees' health insurance.
- K-12 funding.
- Livable wages for educational support professionals.
- Academic freedom for higher education.
- Charter schools.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Where was the State Representative?
Maine's Department of Marine Resources held a public hearing in Machias Wednesday for rule-making proposals on the scallop resource. More than 100 fishermen turned out -- and not a single one went on the record for favoring the plan for reduced days (52 between December and March), daily possession limit (200 pounds of scallop meats), and closed areas.
Many voiced how the rules would limit their already-hurting livelihoods. They said if left to themselves, the fishermen would respect the resource and conservation measures would take place naturally, in the cycles of the sea. Truly, the rules the DMR seeks to impose would force fishermen on to the water in bad weather and compromise their safety, all because they would feel pressed to earn their money on the designated days (Mon, Tues, Wed and Saturday) -- which actually conflict with the designated days for urchins.
"When you're on your own, fighting with the ocean in winter, it's not pretty," one Machiasport man said.
They also asked what they can do about changing back the 4-inch ring to the 3-1/2-inch ring in their drags, now a new statute. "Talk to your Representative," was the hearing officer's response. Ian Emery of Cutler is the current Representative -- but he is giving up his seat (that's why I am running). He wasn't at last night's meeting -- even though he's in office through Nov. 30.
If I am elected Nov. 4, I know exactly what I am going to work on, starting Nov. 5. Last night's meeting was fascinating, how these regulations would impact tens of dozens of families' livelihoods along the coast, if imposed.
Many voiced how the rules would limit their already-hurting livelihoods. They said if left to themselves, the fishermen would respect the resource and conservation measures would take place naturally, in the cycles of the sea. Truly, the rules the DMR seeks to impose would force fishermen on to the water in bad weather and compromise their safety, all because they would feel pressed to earn their money on the designated days (Mon, Tues, Wed and Saturday) -- which actually conflict with the designated days for urchins.
"When you're on your own, fighting with the ocean in winter, it's not pretty," one Machiasport man said.
They also asked what they can do about changing back the 4-inch ring to the 3-1/2-inch ring in their drags, now a new statute. "Talk to your Representative," was the hearing officer's response. Ian Emery of Cutler is the current Representative -- but he is giving up his seat (that's why I am running). He wasn't at last night's meeting -- even though he's in office through Nov. 30.
If I am elected Nov. 4, I know exactly what I am going to work on, starting Nov. 5. Last night's meeting was fascinating, how these regulations would impact tens of dozens of families' livelihoods along the coast, if imposed.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
They already voted for me -
How delightful it was at one of my doors on Wednesday, when I knocked without knowing the party affiliation of the family behind it.
I began my pitch, only to get stopped short to hear, "We already have done our absentee ballots, and we voted for you."
That just made my whole afternoon.
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