20 Days, 20 reasons to vote for Mike Michaud for Governor. My goal is regime change, simple. At this point it isn’t about whether Michaud or Cutler is the perfect candidate – no politician is. This must be about who can win. Reason #7, (14 days to go): In case you missed #6, the Governor said it again last night at the debate: he called Cutlers candidacy an early Christmas present. Reason #6, (15 days to go): Really? A recent Republican mailer sent to a cross section of voters …”Based on the content of a flier and its recipients, the mailing is clearly designed to promote Cutler’s candidacy at Michaud’s expense, to the ultimate benefit of Republican Governor Paul LePage. LePage has previously said that Cutler being in the race was the best thing for his re-election and other Republicans have agreed.” BDN, 10/18/14 Reason #5, (16 days to go): It was intriguing when I was doing advocacy in Augusta, to have a Senate President who would seek us out on issues he DIDN’T agree with or understand, to see if he could learn more. A rare experience! Reason #4, (17 days to go): Many people know that in the 120th Legislative Session, then Senators Mike Michaud (D) and Rick Bennett (R) agreed on a historic power-sharing arrangement because of the 17(D)-17(R)-1(I) split in the Maine Senate. Michaud was Senate President the 1st year, and Bennett in the 2nd. What you might NOT know is that following the sad passing of highly respected Sen. Joel Abromson before the 2nd year of the session began in Jan. 2002, a special election was held, and a Democrat won, shifting the majority in their favor. What happened? Michaud handed over the gavel, as was the agreement, even though his party was now in the majority and could technically stay in leadership. Why? Integrity and honesty. He had given his word, and he would not go back on it. Reason #3, (18 days to go): He freakin’ walked the picket line with Fairpoint workers!! …”These hardworking men and women have negotiated in good faith and made concessions already – they deserve the same in response.” He is proud of his roots, and doesn’t drift too far from them… Reason #2, (19 days to go): He is grounded in the working class, and because of that, understands the complexities of people trying to make it. He embraces the best of what he experienced as a child, and has let go of the worst. He leads by respect and integrity, seeking to build alliances, not to demonize and divide. Reason #1 (20 days to go): He is a listener, and will respect and engage you, even when he disagrees. He is a life-long learner, in the true sense. My own experience with him, dating from when he was in the legislature, is he kept inviting us to discuss the complicated issues, listening to his instincts that told him he had more to learn.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:08:47 +0000