Donaldson is no racist

It was with dismay that I read the front page story of the Sept. 7 edition of The Times Record in which Rich Donaldson was publicly smeared for information taken from (without his knowledge or consent) his personal  Facebook conversations between his military friends. Regardless of the content, it is reprehensible that people misconstrue the intent and push it forward to serve their own purposes.

I know Rich and am sure he is not a racist or a homophobic jerk; however, I let it go.  When my husband recently received a mailer about Rich spreading hate from behind his keyboard I simply couldn’t let it go. The flyer reiterated the inaccurate article in The Times Record. The flyer was paid for and endorsed by the Maine Democratic Party. Although it states it is not paid for or authorized by any candidate, there is only one other candidate for the seat and it saddens me that we have stooped to this level.

The Rich Donaldson that I know does not spread hate, is not a racist, supports women, minorities, veterans and those in need.

The Rich I know volunteers his time on the board of the local library, the volunteer fire department Dept and the community center.  He is the newest member to the Georgetown Board of Selectmen, a job he takes very seriously. Rich has a positive attitude, a good mind, good ideas, asks questions and actively listens to the answer!  Look at the ads he is running and you won’t find all the negativity that abounds in the rest of the ads.

He has proven repeatedly he is willing to work hard for the betterment of his community and is even willing to work with those in Augusta who are smearing him left and right.

Mary McDonald,

Georgetown

King’s hardly a hippy

I have received a barrage of inaccurate and inflammatory mailings from Eric Brakey’s campaign, but the one that fell through the slot yesterday really takes the cake. It depicts Angus King kitted out like a flower child under the banner, “After decades in politics, Angus King is too far out for Maine.”

First of all, Angus is far from the career politician the Brakey mailing asserts he is. I did a little math, and if you count the years both Angus and Brakey have spent in elected office and divide it by the years they’ve lived since the age of 20, Angus’s time as a politician amounts to 25 percent of that period, while Brakey’s is a whopping 40 percent. Angus has held numerous jobs in the “real” world – legal aid lawyer, clean energy attorney, energy conservation broker, public affairs TV host, and college professor, to name a few – while it is impossible to find mention on Brakey’s website or anywhere else on the internet of a single job he has held outside of elected office.

And Angus as a far-out hippy? On the contrary, he is a moderate in every respect – moderate in his positions on legislation, always seeking middle ground between opposing sides to try to solve problems like providing good jobs for Mainers new and old, ensuring that everyone has access to quality health care, protecting the environment, and much more. And moderate in his temperament, always maintaining his cool, treating friends and opponents alike with respect and courtesy, ever seeking the common ground that he knows exists between people if they can move past labels and partisan rhetoric.

Angus King is just about the most reasonable, honest, deliberate, and earnest public servant we have in Washington. Angus King “far out”?! Now, really!

Emily Swan,

Brunswick

Vote McCreight

I am writing to offer my enthusiastic support for Joyce (Jay) McCreight’s re-election to the Maine House.

Jay has represented Harpswell, West Bath and East Brunswick admirably for the past four years.  Her career as a social worker has given her a unique perspective on the issues facing Maine families and she is a champion for her constituents, working tirelessly to help Maine residents live better, safer, healthier lives, including serving as House Chair of the Opioid Task Force which recommended legislation that will help deal with this terrible crisis.

Jay has spent countless hours visiting her constituents, listening to their concerns and offering practical solutions.  She appreciates the difficulties we face as we struggle to raise healthy children and become economically secure.

We are lucky to have someone as empathetic as Jay McCreight representing us and I heartily support her re-election.

Dorothy M. Wentworth

Harpswell