Established Maine Democrats are trying a new approach to defeat me as an Independent seeking to represent the citizens of Camden, Islesboro and Rockport in the state Legislature.

It is party politics, and the Democrat establishment is blatantly telling voters, especially registered Democrats, that with a win by an Independent candidate, the chances of overriding the veto pen of Gov. Paul LePage is ineffective. This is false on many levels, and smacks of the “Us versus Them” mentality that has bred the partisan fever that paralyzes our governmental and political processes.

Support for my candidacy has come from Democrats, Republicans and Independents – from all parts of the political spectrum. But the Democrat machine is now telling voters, that: "If Democrats win the Senate and take the House, then LePage's veto pen will become in ineffective."

Here is Civics 101: A veto override takes a two-thirds majority, or 66 percent of the voting bloc in both the House and Senate.

Here is math 101: There are 151 House Districts and 35 Senate districts. The Democrats hold 51 percent of the house and a minority in the Senate. In order to secure that two-thirds majority in both the Maine House and Senate, the Democrats would have to keep all their current districts AND add 23 to the House and 9 to the Senate to perform a unilateral veto override.

That would take a democrat victory of epic proportions and is unrealistic. In addition, that argument only holds true for these next two years. Then we get a new governor.

The Maine Legislature was able to override 20 of the 33 Governors veto's in the last session. How did that happen? How did the Legislature override 60 percent of LePage's vetoes?

It was both parties AND the Independents taking some obvious pride in the well intentioned legislation that had passed both chambers. In almost every instance, the Independents voted to override. The only way to override in the future is to continue to work with all those in Augusta, not by shooting for some pie in the sky and an unrealistic super majority.

The notion that overwhelming control of government by one party is good for democracy is as dangerous for a free society as a one party system. That is called monocracy and it erodes our checks and balances.

The Democrats can try and sell this argument but I won't buy it and you shouldn't either.

It is no secret that I do not support our Governor and would like to see him replaced. However, he is our Governor and I'll work with him just like I will with everyone else in State government.

I believe that voting for a "safe" Democrat for a veto override is just as absurd as voting for a "safe" Republican to support the veto.

Shouldn't we be voting for law makers who are open-minded and who take a critical analysis of the issues? Shouldn't we be voting for someone who has a record of doing so? Shouldn't we be voting for those who will challenge the establishment, an establishment that got us into a gridlock and divided government in the first place?

I don't want us to move Left or Right but Forward to a government of, by, and for the people.... not The Party.

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