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Christopher Maichin is a senior at Colby College. He lives in Waterville.
For as long as I can remember, Maine has been my favorite place in the world.
My grandparents bought a small piece of land on Lake Quantabacook decades ago and built a simple log cabin. It wasn’t fancy, but it became something more valuable than that. A place where our family built memories that have lasted a lifetime.
Maine, to me, has always represented something real: community, independence, and the freedom to build a life on your own terms.
It’s the reason I chose to come here for college. I wanted to live in the place I had always loved.
But after four years in Maine, I’ve started to realize something difficult: For many young people, staying here after graduation doesn’t feel realistic anymore.
You see it everywhere. In towns like Waterville — once-thriving mill communities that powered the state’s economy — now lie empty buildings and a lingering sense of what used to be. Take away anchor institutions like Colby College, and you have to ask: Where is the opportunity?
That’s the problem. Maine is a place people love, but increasingly, not a place where they can build a future.
Young people want to stay. They want to work here, start businesses here, and raise families here. But they’re running into the same barriers over and over again: high costs, rising energy bills, limited job growth, and a system in Augusta that feels more focused on spending than solving problems.
I’ve heard it firsthand. My grandfather recently told me our electric bill at the camp went up 20%. When he called to ask why, he couldn’t even get a straight answer.
That’s not just frustrating, it’s a sign of a system that isn’t working.
For years, I fear the response from Augusta has been the same: more spending, more regulation, more bureaucracy. But for young people deciding whether they can afford to stay in Maine, I don’t believe that approach is delivering results.
If we want Maine to be a place where the next generation can build their lives, something has to change.
That’s why I believe Jonathan Bush offers a different path forward.
His focus is simple: Make Maine a place where opportunity is possible again.
I believe that starts with lowering the cost of living — cutting taxes and putting money back into the pockets of working families. It means auditing the state government to root out waste and make sure taxpayer dollars are actually being used effectively. And most importantly, it means making Maine the easiest place in the country to start and grow a small business — not just for people with connections or resources, but for anyone willing to take a risk.
Because that’s what young people need: a real chance.
A chance to graduate and not feel like they have to leave.
A chance to build something of their own without navigating endless red tape. A chance to believe that the place they love can also be the place they stay.
I think Maine has everything it needs to succeed: strong communities, hardworking people, and a culture that values independence and authenticity. What I believe it needs now is leadership that gets out of the way and lets those strengths grow.
For me, this isn’t just about policy. It’s personal.
I came to Maine because I loved it. I stayed because I believed in it. And I want to be able to build my life here someday.
The question is whether Maine will make that possible. Not just for me, but for an entire generation.
It’s time to make Maine a place where young people don’t just visit, but a place where they can stay.
I hope others will join me in voting for Jonathan Bush.
I believe he’s the candidate best suited to make that future possible.
