Across the nation and here in Maine, there is a broad sense that American political life and governance have been compromised by partisan politics and the influence of big money.

Tom Myette, a former Republican who has lived on Southport Island for 10 years, said he hosted Independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler last week because he supports Cutler’s candidacy and because the need for an engaged, open discourse is great.

“I hope it’s the beginning of a discourse and conversation that needs to happen because we are facing complex problems in the state of Maine that require more than one thinking mind to solve them,” Myette said in Boothbay Harbor June 20. “If people of differing opinions cannot talk, we will get judgment by writ, or by passion or by gut, or judgment by someone who is paid to have their answer at the forefront.”

About 50 people, including some prominent Democrats and Republicans, abandoned a perfectly beautiful summer evening outside to spend the evening inside with Eliot Cutler at the Southport Island town hall June 17. 

At 20 percent in the polls, Cutler trails Republican candidate Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic candidate Congressman Mike Michaud in numbers but not, so far, in ideas and plans. Cutler has laid out both his broad philosophy and detailed plans to address Maine’s demographic and economic problems in a book (The State of Opportunity, available for download) and on his campaign website: www.cutlerformaine.com.

In introducing Cutler, Myette sounded a rallying call for independent voters, noting that unenrolled voters total 37 percent of Maine’s registered voters, outnumbering both registered Democrats (32 percent) and Republicans (27 percent).

“Party politics isolates its members. Primary after primary, good candidates are outvoted by more extreme members of the party,” Myette said, “The political menu that we call a ballot offers very little in the way of choice for mainstream Maine voters.”

Myette said he supports Cutler’s campaign, because he believes Cutler researches issues independently and answers to “his conscious alone,” rather than party politics or influential donors.

“He has little regard for stamped solutions that have little regard for the facts,” Myette told the assembled voters in Southport.

Although he is backing Cutler, Myette said he would like to host both LePage and Michaud in a similar forum.

“No one will disagree that our state is in trouble. And it is a dead shame, if you look at the inventory of our resources, our assets and our people, there’s a huge discontent between what we are and where we stand as a state,” Myette said, “What matters most to Maine voters is that the person standing before them is able to think on their feet, able to absorb information and able to help make complex choices on the complex issues we are all going to face in the next 10 years.”

“What I think Eliot brings to the room is he is someone who is really willing to have that dialog. And I hope the other two candidates are willing to do the same thing,” Myette said, “Come into the room, speak to their passions, speak for what they believe in and tell the people of Maine why they believe in it without fear.”

Myette said he plans to invite the other gubernatorial candidates to Southport to talk with interested voters.

“I think there is a chance they might come down,” he said.