Many, perhaps most, of us are fed up with the consequences of party politics and are looking for an antidote to the polarization that plagues our nation.

It’s tempting to think that electing an independent candidate for State Representative is the answer. The problem is that supporting candidates because they aren’t Democrats or Republicans is just as problematic as supporting candidates because they are.

Responsive representation and party affiliation are not mutually exclusive.

I believe the two-party system is broken, but fixing it requires more than simply sending a lone wolf to office to be a voice in the wilderness.

In order to be a successful independent voice, you need to work well with your peers. You need to state your positions clearly and defend them. And most importantly, you need to do the work.

Kathleen Meil is such an independent voice. We know what she stands for (you can find her policy statements right on her website www.kathleen2016.com):  policies that will help working Maine families. She will stand up for what’s right for our community, and for Maine as a whole, and has demonstrated the ability to bring sides together to achieve a goal.

Party labels aside, I trust Kathleen Meil to exercise an independent and constructive voice for our community.

Ethan Shaw lives in Camden