I hope you will join me in voting for Jan (Janice) Dodge for House District 39’s representative. This district encompasses Belfast, Northport and Belmont. 

I’ve known Jan since the early 1970s when she was a student in my seventh grade classroom.  Then, as now, Jan was a bright and involved member of the class community, always offering comments and opinions. She was not a shy child!  Now, Jan is doing a most admirable job as a member of the Maine House of Representatives for the last two sessions and is now seeking her third.  

Jan knows education from the inside out.  Her mother was a long-time elementary school teacher and Jan followed in her footsteps when she became a music teacher in a coastal Maine district. Retiring to Belfast, her hometown, she jumped into public service with both feet.  

I next found Jan serving as the president of the local Maine Retired Teachers organization. She always informed members on all legislative issues of interest to the group, as well as pertinent health and welfare topics. At that time she attended many sessions and meetings in Augusta giving voice to our needs. Later, as a legislator, she worked on a budget amendment to increase funding for health insurance for retired teachers 

Jan was instrumental in passing three education-related bills in her very first session (129th): LD 167 - Anti Food Shaming in Maine Schools, LD 176 - allowing an active Maine Teacher to sit on the State Board of Education, and LD 1878 - Resolve to study the use of Adjunct Professors in the College System. Clearly, she supports the students of the State of Maine! The Maine Education Association has given her their endorsement. 

The environment has also been a focus for Jan in her two terms in the Maine Legislature. She’s received endorsements from the Sierra Club because of her legislative efforts in prohibiting certain Neonictinoids which affected the important bee population and has supported the creation of the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, LD 1659.

Most importantly, Jan listens to her constituents!  She is open to our calls and seeks out comments about our needs and concerns whenever and wherever she finds us. This lady is a high-energy dynamo working for the betterment of District 39, using her common sense, intelligence and empathy. 

Please join me, and so many others who know and respect Jan, by giving her your vote on November 8!

Mary Gilman lives in Belfast