As an unashamed Democrat, I typically find myself having to contemplate which candidate to support only during primary season.  This year is different.  Here in District 94, we have a choice between two excellent candidates seeking votes to be our representative in the Maine House. 

I’ve thought more about this specific race than any in my lifetime. When I voted at the Town Office earlier this week, I filled in the circle next to Owen Casas. 

I know from experience that Owen takes extreme efforts to hear and consider every voice in our community and to find any way in which he can help a community member.  Indeed, he’s been doing this in our community his whole life.  This has produced a candidate with some very specific visions for our local community:  a specific way to expand the pie for our local fishing economy; a deep understanding of ways to unite stakeholder groups behind a push for increased renewable energies here in Maine; and a personal understanding of the importance of stabilizing property tax rates.  It is the specificity of vision that most attracted me to Owen as a candidate. 

I also know Owen is practical enough to vote the way I want my representative to vote on big-picture issues:  for medicaid expansion, for the state meeting its commitments on education spending and municipal sharing, and an open and inclusive view on social justice issues.  Owen has also discussed with me some very progressive ideas regarding family leave following the birth of a child for which I hope he continues to advocate when he gets to Augusta.  As a long-time Democrat, of course I am concerned that there will be votes over which we disagree.  Indeed, his personal vote on Ballot Question 3 this year is different from how I voted earlier this week.  But I know that all of Owen’s votes will be cast based on his listening to everyone in our community and thoughtful consideration of the relevant facts. 

I will gladly trade a few votes in order to have a representative with Owen’s level of engagement with and vision for our community as a whole.   

The other concern I had in casting a vote for Owen was whether he could, as an Independent representative in a two-party system, be an effective advocate for his vision.  Given how closely divided the House is, however, I’m not sure that’s going to be as big an issue as it first appears.  Moreover, this will only be a concern if we choose to disengage from the political process after casting our vote.  Voting for an independent candidate isn’t a choice anyone should make lightly —  it comes with some responsibility.  It means we can’t simply turn to our representative and say “what have you done for me in Augusta?”, we must instead be willing to say “what can I do to help us achieve our shared vision?”  

For me, as a Democrat, it means I must engage with my party on some level to let them know that I won’t stand for having my representative marginalized.  I’m happy to do that on Owen’s behalf.

Wyatt McConnell lives in Camden