In 2014 I decided to run as an unknown Independent against a three term incumbent Legislator, Joan Welsh. I knew it would be an uphill climb because Joan was well liked in the community and had represented our area with dignity.

Shortly after I made the decision to run, I reached out to Joan to have coffee. We met and I told her who I was and how I intended to run my campaign: positive, not negative. Almost offended by the thought of a negative campaign, Joan quickly replied "Of course, that isn't what we do here". Joan kept her promise and so did I. Not a single negative letter was sent from my folks about her and, to the best of my knowledge, not a single one was sent by her supporters aimed at me.

Yes, I lost in 2014 but I felt like our community won. Joan and I had a spirited campaign about issues and although there was some friction, it was never raised to the level of "negative". I walked away with my head held high and Joan continued her work in Augusta.

I am saddened to say that this is not the case in my current race with Kathleen Meil. Similar to 2014, I talked with Kathleen about how special our community is and how negativity toward candidates "isn't what we do here". I have kept up my end of the deal.

Some of my supporters haven't had positive interactions with Kathleen and asked if they could "go low" in their letters. I strongly advised against it. Like Michelle Obama says, "When they go low, we go high".

Supporters are a reflection of their candidate. That last statement could get me in trouble in the future because I know that many who support my campaign have strong opinions and some of those opinions are very different than my own. However, I will always encourage them to be polite and courteous in their remarks. Why? Because positivity breeds positivity and negativity breeds negativity. I choose to be positive.

In this campaign there have been multiple letters and online comments that vary from "read between the lines" jabs at me, to full on attacks at me. Someone accused me of "milking my military service to get more votes" while another said I was "enamored by American militarism" and "uninformed of its consequences". As someone who actually went and fought a war, I can tell you that war is hell, it isn't pretty, and not much good comes from it. I have spent a good portion of my time after the Marines promoting diplomacy, speaking out against war, and trying to help Veterans that struggle with the devastating after effects of war.

Some have displayed half truths or completely false statements to try and undermine my running as an Independent. The statement "much of the work of the Maine House of Representatives is done in caucus" is, at best, a half truth. Party strategy happens in caucus, the work is done in committee. "Does he expect to get appointed to a committee?".... um, yes. Independent Jeffery Evangelos, a friend of mine, didn't get one or even two committee appointments.... he got three -Judiciary, State and Local Government, and Ethics. Another friend of mine, Independent Gary Sukeforth, got the all important Taxation committee.

Referring to my Independence position as being a "Lone Ranger" or "Lone wolf in the wilderness", although mildly offensive, is tame compared to someone who said "he uses live kittens as bass bait and hates the Red Cross". For the record, both are untrue.

Is this what we want our local politics to become? When someone who is genuine in their desire to make their community and State better is accused of being "confused" because they don't want to sign onto either of the two political party machines? Fun fact: Statewide the largest voting bloc is the Independent bloc, with 36.7%. Are we are all "confused"? I think not. I think most of us are fed up with the current political fighting and can see the value of ideas on both sides of the isle. We have active minds that question the current "all or nothing" party fighting.

In closing, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of Joan Welch's 2014 supporters. You all rose above the negativity. You all supported your candidate with dignity. You all allowed Joan and me to engage in a fair competition of ideas and didn't cast disparaging remarks to muddy the water. I thank you and so does my family. I'm not looking forward to explaining to my three young children that their dad doesn't use kittens for bait.

Paid for and Authorized by Owen Casas.