I am so excited that Alice Elliott is running to represent the citizens of Bowdoinham, Bowdoin, and Richmond as a Representative in Maine’s legislature. She is a highly qualified candidate who has knowledge and experience in the issues Maine most needs to address—quality education, economic vitality, and responsible environmental policies.

In my 26-year career, primarily as a business counselor, I was privileged to work with Maine entrepreneurs as they started and grew their businesses. I saw first-hand how government can make the difference for them. Such things as business advice (through the Small Business Development Centers and communitybased groups), accessible loans (FAME, Maine Technology Institute and others) and streamlined regulations encourage and grow small businesses. Alice understands these issues having grown up in her family’s small business in South Paris, Maine. She supports investment in small businesses so that our rural towns and Main Streets can become engines of growth and jobs.

She also spent summers on her grandfather’s farm in Enfield and is, herself, a master gardener. Her knowledge and passion for the agriculture sector of our economy will be a huge benefit to our district since it has many small farms. A growing number of young families are becoming farmers and are helping to fuel the “buy local” movement in Maine restaurants and families. Alice’s own experience and knowledge will help her make decisions in the legislature that will benefit this sector.

For me, the most important thing Alice brings to this role is her background in education. Her direct experience with students and schools at all grade levels has given her first-hand knowledge of what it takes to help our young people succeed.

In the time I have spent with Alice, I have found her to be deeply committed and someone who cares about Maine’s future. She is energetic, articulate, and a great listener. Rather than being partisan, she is someone who wants to work to find solutions that make sense for our state. That’s why I’ll be voting for her in November.

Wendy Rose
Bowdoinham