As a constituent of the 21st District, I write to endorse Democrat Kelcy McNamara for the Maine House of Representatives in the June 12 primary. I have known Kelcy McNamara for almost 20 years, and in that time, she has proven herself to be driven, community-oriented and civic-minded.

Many of us see great need in our state; Kelcy McNamara sees the need and acts on it. Her work with veterans, high-risk teen girls, the recovery community, people with disabilities and incarcerated women illustrates her effort. We are a diverse community in need of people who will listen and people who will serve. Kelcy McNamara does that with drive and compassion, invoking creative solutions for complex problems. For example, she worked with the Justice Resource Institute in Boston and its trauma-sensitive yoga program, acquiring skills and innovative ideas that she has brought back to Maine.

Beyond her great work, I trust Kelcy McNamara. She is ethical and forthright. She will respond to questions as honestly as she can, and if she doesn’t know the answer to something, she has the energy, the drive and the wherewithal to find the necessary information. I know that she will listen to her constituents and act on our will, not her own. She has spent a great portion of her life acting on behalf of those who have been challenged or marginalized. She will do the same for our district.

In seeking this new position, Kelcy McNamara seeks to once again fulfill a need – for energetic, ethical representation for the residents of our district. I hope you will join me in voting for Kelcy McNamara and this kind of change for our state on June 12.

David J. Welsch

West Newfield