This is a heartfelt letter of support for Senator Stan Gerzofsky, a great asset to the citizens he serves. Voters of Maine Senate District 24 (Brunswick, Freeport, Harpswell, Pownal and North Yarmouth) will be well served by sending Stan back to Augusta for a final term.

With a career in business, finance, nonprofits, and government, I’ve been working to create quality, sustainable jobs in Maine, while protecting our environment, for 39 years. This is what Stan does consistently and effectively, with a strong sense of social justice. He may not look it, but Senator Gerzofsky is a “renaissance man,” just the kind of state senator we need.

He has great values — compassion, a sense of justice for all, concern for our environment, and a recognition of the importance of people’s access to quality jobs. He works tirelessly and effectively to integrate the goals of business and community development with a clean environment.

Senator Gerzofsky doesn’t just pay lip service to these goals as political platitudes — he gets it as a practical reality. He has an unusual ability to get things done by working cooperatively and respectfully with labor and business leaders, not to mention political and government people of all stripes and persuasions. This is exactly what I think most of us want in an elected representative — a moderate force who can get good things done.

Senator Gerzofsky also is consistent and reliable. He is extraordinarily accessible, and puts a lot of energy into listening to people and responding to their needs.

He has been a tireless and extraordinarily effective advocate for the sustainable redevelopment of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station (BNAS), which I have seen first-hand as a trustee of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA). While we have had strong support from many quarters, MRRA wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful as we have been so far without the political and funding support Stan has brought our way.

Stan has earned our respect and support. I hope you will recognize his fine qualities and return him to Augusta.

Steve Weems
Brunswick