Voters in coastal Knox County are fortunate that Anne “Pinny” Beebe-Center, a highly experienced public servant, will be on the ballot in November to represent us in Maine Senate District 12. I have known Pinny for many years. She is motivated by a deep belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This principle inspires Pinny’s longstanding work to strengthen our communities and improve government programs and systems.

During her three terms in the Maine Legislature (2014-2020) and over the course of her public service career, Pinny has learned that communities solve problems by working together. Her legislative successes — on behavioral health, child abuse, or drug sentancing — gathered diverse factions together and crafted policies and laws that united those voices to strengthen individual lives and build community services for future generations.

Pinny’s top priorities as a senator will be health care for all, reproductive health, increased and accessible behavioral health treatment and ensuring that funding for schools is fair and equitable. She also intends to continue her work protecting marine resources and reforming criminal justice.

I look forward to voting for Pinny to represent is in Maine Senate District 12. With grounded passion and long experience, she will work to bridge partisan divides and bring her colleagues together to address the challenges that we and our communities face. I urge you to join me in voting for Anne “Pinny” Beebe-Center for Maine Senate District 12 on Election Day.

Lucie Bauer lives in Rockport