Letter to the editor: Thibodeau shows leadership and courage

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 11:00am

 

As mayor of Belfast my job is to bring people together to find solutions to the problems and conflicts that exist in our city. At city hall partisanship does not exist; we are only interested in solutions. 

Relentless insults and attacks are what we have come to expect in Washington and Augusta. Rarely are true solutions offered. Senator Thibodeau, however, has shown the ability to work with all parties to find solutions to the challenges of our state.

When Belfast was recently confronted with the sudden closure of Group Home Foundation, Mike led the way in seeking help for Waldo County’s neediest citizens who suddenly faced the prospect of homelessness. Without any thought to partisanship he brought together leaders at the city and state level in an effort to work collaboratively to look for answers.

As the Maine Senate president, it was Senator Thibodeau who brought Democrats and Republicans together to find common ground so they could pass a state budget. He is the one who stood up for the Legislature when it was confronted with the 38 vetoes inappropriately returned by the Administration.  

It was Senator Thibodeau who spoke eloquently at the Martin Luther King Dinner in Portland-another example of bringing people together.

It was Senator Thibodeau who led the charge to fund detox beds desperately needed during Maine’s heroin epidemic. 

He has shown leadership and courage even when it put him at odds with a Republican governor.

That is why this lifelong democrat is voting for Mike Thibodeau in November, and I hope you will join me!

  

Walter Ash lives in Belfast, and is mayor on the city council.