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Gretchen Anderson Fish lives in Morrill and is a cybersecurity professional in health care IT. She worked for Jonathan Bush at Point Lookout and athenahealth for years.
I’ve seen what real leadership looks like, the kind rooted in results, hard work, humility, and community. That’s why I’m asking my fellow Mainers to support Jonathan Bush for governor.
Many of you already know Jonathan not just as an innovative leader, but as a catalyst for change. Having witnessed his leadership over the past 17 years, I can tell you firsthand that he’s inspiring, approachable, and kind hearted. He listens and learns even as he teaches and leads — because he understands that everyone, no matter their title or tenure, has something valuable to share.
I first met Jonathan in 2008 while working at Point Lookout. What struck me right away was his curiosity and genuine interest in the people around him. He was contagious — the kind of person who makes you want to do better simply by being in the room. It didn’t take long before I knew I wanted to work for him. Watching how he collaborated, how he challenged people to bring out their best, and how he made everyone feel heard. That was leadership in action.
Jonathan empowers people to grow. He challenges the status quo. He sparks creative problem-solving that leads to real innovation. And he’s always had a heart for Maine. He has a deep instinct to make life better for everyone who calls this state home.
One shining example of Jonathan’s passion came right here in Belfast. When MBNA left and jobs were vanishing, Jonathan stepped in at exactly the right moment. What started as a four-person call center became something few could have imagined. Under his leadership, athenahealth didn’t just buy a building, it unleashed Mainers who are second to none in work ethic, talent, and heart.
From those early days, athenahealth grew into a multibillion-dollar health care IT company employing more than a thousand Mainers — and it’s still growing. But Jonathan’s impact went far beyond job creation. He helped revolutionize health care. He built careers. He created opportunity. He shaped a workplace that felt like family — a place where people found purpose, belonging, and even love.
The ripple effects transformed Belfast. Those careers kept families here, supported local schools, filled our shops and restaurants, and gave new life to a downtown that might otherwise have faded. Today, there’s a sense of possibility in Belfast that’s hard to miss — a sense that this community still has a future because one man had the vision and courage to invest in it.
Jonathan’s leadership isn’t just about success in good times — it’s about resilience in hard times. When he left athenahealth, it wasn’t under the bright lights. But that’s when I saw the truest version of him: a man who meets challenges with grit, humility, and resolve. He doesn’t quit. He learns, adapts, and pushes forward.
I’ve seen him stumble and rise stronger. I’ve seen him own mistakes, lead with integrity, and keep moving onward — because for Jonathan, that’s the only direction that matters.
Today, as he steps into this next chapter — running for governor — we’re not just celebrating his business success or community impact. We’re celebrating a leader who knows how to build, rebuild, and bring people together. A leader who sees no boundaries to what’s possible in Maine.
Jonathan Bush has proven that he doesn’t just talk about opportunity — he creates it. He doesn’t just envision a better Maine — he builds it, job by job, family by family, community by community.
That’s why I’m asking everyone reading this to support Jonathan Bush for governor. Because Maine deserves a leader with vision, compassion, and courage. A leader who knows that our best days are still ahead. And a leader who has already delivered results for Mainers on a grand scale.
