Dear Editor:

Fred Nehring (Letters, 10/13) couldn’t be more wrong about Stephanie Hawke. I’ve known Stephanie since she was a baby. Later, she sat for our children. She was responsible and caring then just as she is now. Stephanie grew up in East Boothbay, went to school in Boothbay Harbor, and as a young woman worked as cook and waitress at the Carriage House Restaurant. She would hardly be indifferent to those with seasonal or limited incomes; she has been there growing up.

Stephanie is easy to contact; both her work and cell phone are on her website. I run into her volunteering at the American Legion, directing traffic at the Fall Foliage Festival, helping with civic affairs, and at Hawke Motors when not in legislative session. When the Fish and Game Association needed help with a construction project, Stephanie generously offered transportation. I contacted her while out of state and she responded quickly with thorough answers to my questions. That’s the individual she is.

Stephanie’s serves on the Marine Resources Committee. What better person could represent the region’s fishermen than one whose husband and son are fishermen? Thus, she has first hand understanding of the issues involved in one of the region's most important economies. Her own business, Hawke Motors, provides 10 year-round jobs. It is a small business like the majority of those in the region. She understands the challenges of providing good jobs, dealing with payroll, tax matters, and trying to avoid being a “non-profit.” She understands limited resources, fiscal responsibility and budgeting.

Stephanie won’t vote for every hand-out that crosses her desk in Augusta but she is sensitive to those in need. Among other bills, she sponsored or co-sponsored LD 332 to exempt non-profits that provide home rehab and modification services to low income families, LD 534 Increases crises intervention training, LD 559, requiring notifying parents of complaints against child care facilities and providers, LD 1146 to increase investment in Maine, and LD 604, Encouraging communication regarding persons with mental illness.

Re-elect Stephanie Hawke; she walks the walk. Give her a call Fred; you have been holding this grudge too long, she’s not hard to find.

Steve Rubicam

East Boothbay