Welcome September! As summer turns to fall and political campaigns heat up, one race stands out: The campaign to reelect Senator Susan Collins.  This fall, Maine voters have a clear choice: Reelect Senator Collins, a gal from Caribou with deep roots in Maine.

I first met Senator Collins four decades ago when she led the U.S. Small Business Administration in New England. If you have owned or worked for a Maine small business, you likely benefited from initiatives led by Senator Collins to help small businesses grow and succeed. As a leading Senator during the COVID19 pandemic, Senator Collins crafted bipartisan legislation to create the emergency PPP program that became a lifeline for small businesses and saved thousands of Maine jobs. 

Real public service is not flashy. The job requires consistency, character, and commitment that is often missed in today’s politics. Susan works every day representing Maine, casting her 10,000th consecutive vote in June, a national record. 

Senator Collins ranks high in seniority and chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, a huge benefit to Maine people. She works collaboratively to find compromise and solution, not cling to a narrow agenda. As a result, Susan is considered one of the most influential and bipartisan members of Congress. 

Her opponent is trying to distort her record with ads that are incorrect and unfair. However, her record is one of transparency, commitment, and integrity. The choice is clear: Reelect Senator Collins. She has proven herself as the best choice for Maine.

Jayne Crosby Giles lives in Belfast