To the editor:

The Times Record reported on Tuesday, Feb. 28, “Clarke out of House.”

I am writing to make clear that I’m not gone yet. I am still the state representative for District 62, most of the city of Bath, until a newly elected state representative takes the oath of office in December. As your state representative, I will continue to work hard and do my best to serve all my constituents and the people of Maine as I believe I have done thus far.

I also want to make clear that I am not going anywhere any time soon. I am still a captain in the Bath Fire Department. I love my job and my wife and I love our community. As The Times Record article stated, at this time in my life I am looking forward to taking advantage of other opportunities that require me to concentrate my time and efforts on my advanced education and eventual retirement from my primary career as a firefighter.

I want to thank my constituents for giving me the opportunity to serve them as a public employee and a state representative. I have dedicated my life to public service and am rewarded when someone trusts me enough to ask for my assistance.

The work of a representative includes working to create or change public policies in order to best serve the people of Maine, but in my opinion the most important work is that of constituent service. That might be as simple as making sure you know about tax rebates and heating assistance, but it often involves directing homeless families to a new home, making sure a veteran or an elderly resident is able to get the prescriptions he or she needs, or making sure a local small business remains viable and strong.

I have been proud to work with Sen. Seth Goodall and Rep. Peter Kent to represent the people of Bath in Augusta. It has been a tough legislative session as a member of the Democratic minority, but I feel that we have done a great job protecting people’s access to health care, protecting workers rights, preventing devastating rollbacks of environmental protections and pushing for a focus on economic development.

The Legislature still has a great deal of work on some very controversial issues in the next several weeks and I will be there, as the state representative for District 62 to weigh in on these issues and provide constituent service to you until the person you choose to replace me is sworn in.

Thank you once again for your support of my work on your behalf.

Rep. Mike Clarke
House District 62
Bath