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Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic is a former majority leader of the Maine Senate.
As a former majority Leader in the Maine state Senate, I can understand why Graham Platner’s rhetoric appeals to the desire for change in our political system. Actually delivering that change in Washington will take more than words, however. It will take action. It will take someone who can beat Sen. Susan Collins. It will take someone who knows how to get stuff done. That’s why I’m supporting Janet Mills.
Here are three things I have been thinking about:
First, as Democrats, I think we all agree we must defeat Susan Collins. To do so, we need a candidate who has proven they can win a statewide race, which Gov. Janet Mills has done twice. Maine people know who she is; she knows Maine and Maine people.
Platner, on the other hand, is a stranger to many of us. His service in the military is laudable, but much else in his past is less so. Voters have a right if not an obligation to know who Platner has been and is now.
Second, we need to elect someone with experience who gets things done. The governor expanded Medicaid, led the state through the pandemic with nation-leading results, strengthened our economy, increased the rainy day fund, enacted free school meals, and made college free for many. Her administration has made record investments in housing, helped Maine reduce greenhouse gases, increase renewable energy production, and expand access to broadband all across Maine.
Enacting these good policies into law has made a real difference in people’s lives and it’s taken a lot of work, persistence, and know-how.
Like others, I didn’t always agree with the governor on certain issues, but I always knew that, despite our disagreements, she had done her homework, had been thorough and considered, and was able to state her position with evidence. Knowing where she landed made it possible to go back and try again.
Platner’s resume leaves much to be desired in the way of experience and understanding of our political system. Given the dysfunction in Washington, it is critical that the person we send to the Senate has the skills, knowledge, and temperament to right the ship. We can’t afford to have someone who needs training wheels.
Third, we need someone who has demonstrated a commitment to our core values.
When the rights of women, Black and brown people, LGBTQ+, and other minorities are under attack; when the environment is threatened by reversals in pollution regulations; and when our democracy is being dismantled, we must elect someone we can trust to stand up for us — all of us! We need someone who has shown she can stand up to injustice, uphold the rule of law, and protect our democracy.
The values we hold must be demonstrated with more than words. They must be backed with action.
I have spent my career working to ensure women have the resources and the opportunities they need to succeed. I have championed equal pay, equal access to employment, education, and the chance to start a business. I have advocated for access to quality child care, health care, and reproductive care.
As any human being, I know I have not lived up to my values 100% of the time; Mills too has shown her fallibility from time to time. As has Platner.
Platner says his remarks blaming women for rape, calling white rural Americans “stupid” and “racist,” and his now-covered Nazi tattoo do not represent his current beliefs. But to me it begs the question: Who is he really? What has he done before his campaign that demonstrates his commitment to these fundamental values?
Words are not enough. We hear plenty of them from Susan Collins. These times demand more.
I am supporting Janet Mills in this primary because I know where she stands, I have seen what she can do, I trust her to do what is right, and I know she can win.
