To the Editor: 

It has been a busy year for the League of Women Voters (LWV), Midcoast. LWV is a grassroots organization of women and men that encourages informed and active participation in government.  We do not support or oppose any candidates for office or political parties. We work to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influence public policy through education and advocacy. The League has been doing this for almost 100 years and we are proud to be a part of this tradition.

As a new chapter, we’ve been busy registering new voters at Camden Hills Regional High School, Medomak Valley High School, Oceanside High School, Midcoast School of Technology, U-Rock and at Camden and Rockland Public Libraries. We’ve held workshops on how to have difficult conversations in a civil and respectful manner with family and friends, the importance of primaries and how to do Ranked Choice Voting. We’ve sponsored forums on ballot questions and candidates.

On Friday October 12, sixty people turned out to hear from the candidates for District Attorney, incumbent Jon Liberman and challenger Natasha Irving at the Rockland City Council Chambers.  We want to thank the city of Rockland and our co-sponsors The Free Press and the American Civil Liberties Union.  Alison Beyea of the ACLU explained the very important role of the District Attorney and Editor Andy O’Brien was an excellent moderator, asking the candidates to discuss three questions they had been given in advance and also questions submitted by the audience.  It was a lively evening. We learned that we have two outstanding candidates in District 6 and urge everyone to get out and support their choice.

On Tuesday October 16, we celebrated our chapter’s one-year anniversary at Flatbread Pizza.  We want to thank the great team of Bobby Morgan and Allison Warren at Flatbread for hosting this nonprofit fundraiser.  We also want to thank the local businesses of French and Brawn, Maine Sport, and Stop ‘N Go for donating gift certificates and the Smiling Cow donated a  beautiful Casco Tote Sail Bag for our raffle prizes. Thanks to the many LWV volunteers for being there to greet our community and sell raffle tickets. Most of all we wish to thank our many neighbors, visitors and families who came out to support League of Women Voters and to celebrate Democracy.

Sincerely,

Nadine Bangerter, Amy Fischer, Linda Zeigler

LWV, Midcoast