Dear Editor:

As I walked through the elementary school lobby on Sunday, towards the gym to hear Graham Platner explain his motivations to represent us in the U.S. Senate, I fondly spotted the ceiling tile I painted in Mrs. Deetjen’s art class in the mid-90s—can’t believe it’s still there! 

Graham spoke to a few hundred of us for about an hour, then took questions for another 30 minutes. I liked that he just called on folks in the crowd and passed them a mic. There didn’t seem to be any pre-screening by his staff, and his answers were substantive and contemplative of what people actually asked. He had good things to say on healthcare access and cost, home ownership, and even a bit on working waterfront. Foremost, Platner laid out a bold and convincing understanding of how we can reclaim the democratic power of our voices and votes that’s been eroded by dark money, special interests, and extreme incumbency.

One audience question—like my mediocre Tempera-paint homage to the Steve Miller Band—gave me another unexpected triple-decade perspective. The person’s question revolved around the last time they recalled seeing Senator Collins in Boothbay: apparently 30 years ago for an elaborate lobster boat photo-op.

It’s time for a fresh face in our politics and a Senator who comes to town simply to hear what’s on our minds, not just when they have a “win” to claim. Graham has convinced me not only that he can maneuver the halls of Congress, but also that he’ll be back regularly to take any and all questions, while elevating productive discourse. I look forward to voting for him in the primary on June 9 and again in November, and I hope you do, too. If you didn’t make it on Sunday, chat with someone who did, or better yet: catch one of his future town hall events!

Pete Benoit

Boothbay Harbor