Betsy Saltonstall's tagline, "Experience Working For You," is a not just a clever slogan. It is the truth. You may have heard about Betsy's length of tenure in our Camden-Rockport area. She grew up here and chose to raise her now-grown family in these communities. She has personally experienced the area, what it stands for and what it offers, as a child, an adolescent, a mom and a working woman. She has long, deep and broad connections locally.

Betsy cut her political teeth in the 1990s as a staffer in U.S. Congressman Tom Andrews' office in Portland, gathering first-hand experience with the complicated bureaucratic process of getting things done.

In addition to a master's degree in education, Betsy earned an advanced degree from Duke University's Integrative Medicine in Health Coaching, a potent tool for improving the public's health, and it was through work at our local hospital that I met Betsy.

As an RN at Pen Bay Medical Center, I worked with Betsy from 2012-2015, when she was the Community Giving Manager. While there, she did an outstanding job organizing the hospital's Community Day, which focused on fun and good health for the whole family, and which continues even today. Betsy frequently reached out to hospital staff, asking what their concerns were and offering to help. I found Betsy to be a caring person who takes a positive approach with people when addressing problems and concerns, trying to make good things happen – persevering and remaining fully engaged.

As our representative in Augusta, Betsy would be approachable, responsive to our concerns and have the knowledge necessary to make a difference. She would put her widespread experience to work for us. She has my vote! I hope she has yours.

Sue Fleming lives in Camden