I spent 40-plus years in the commercial fishing industry, and if there is one thing I am fully aware of, it is our nature to be fully independent. In my role as a fisheries advocate, we often joked that 10 fishermen would likely have 20 opinions.

As I have matured and become involved politically, I have both enrolled as a Democrat, and I recently ran for office as a Republican. But, truthfully, I do not find myself on either party’s spectrum. A majority of my years I have been unenrolled and consider myself an independent centrist.

Over the past few years, I have enrolled and unenrolled three times so that I could vote in primary elections. I find this burdensome and it takes up precious time by town hall staff.

It is clear to me that the sheer number of unenrolled voters in Maine is sending a strong message. L.D. 231 – the semi-open primaries bill – would allow a large number of Mainers to cast a ballot for the candidate who resonates with them the best. Sometimes it may be an R and sometimes it may be a D, but it should be encouraged to allow them to make that choice.

Roughly one third of Maine’s registered voters are unenrolled. Wouldn’t it be wise to create a system where more Mainers could participate in the democratic process we hold so dear? I urge our legislators to support L.D. 231 and open our primaries and expand our democratic process.

Craig Pendleton
Old Orchard Beach