To the editor:

As one who was an educator for more than 40 years, I readily admit to the prejudice of placing a very high value on education. That is why, in the upcoming Democratic primary, I plan to vote for Paul Johnson to represent District 62 in the Maine House of Representatives.

Our schools and our children need advocacy in Augusta. Paul Johnson has a background in education, primarily as a longtime teacher in different settings, but more recently as a member of our local school board.

We need more people in the State House who understand both the importance of our public schools and what is needed to improve them.

Education is the No. 1 producer of jobs: Neither private nor public programs will create jobs in the absence of skilled workers who can succeed at those jobs.

Shrinking budgets on the national, state and municipal level create an urgent need to set priorities. The slashes in funding for school programs have trickled down to the local school districts and are narrowing the gates of opportunity that education offers our children.

A lifetime educator and someone who has been involved with Bath community organizations, Paul Johnson understands the longterm economic value of investing in the education of our children.

I hope the Bath voters will come out to the Democratic primary on June 12 and vote for Paul.

Ruth Benedikt,
Bath

letters@timesrecord.com