To the editor:

As we get closer to Election Day, the number and intensity of attack ads continues to grow. Unfortunately, I continue to see political ads that mention AARP and imply a candidate’s endorsement here in Maine. I want to be clear on this: AARP is entirely nonpartisan. We do NOT endorse or oppose candidates or political parties! We do not give money to candidates and we do not have a Political Action Committee to support any candidate or party. We focus on the issues important to older Americans and encourage all candidates to voice their positions on those issues, so that all voters know exactly what candidates will do if elected.

What issues are those? Social Security for one. It is our bread-and-butter issue, and for many of our members, it is literally their bread and butter. Social Security must be preserved, especially for the almost 25 percent of Maine beneficiaries 65-and-over who depend on Social Security for 90 percent of their income.

What else do we fight for? Protecting and strengthening Medicare, which provides affordable health care for almost 300,000 older Mainers. Hard-working Mainers pay into the program their entire working lives and are guaranteed coverage that help make health care accessible and affordable.

Along with Medicare, we are fighting to lower prescription drug prices. Too many Mainers struggle to afford their life-saving medications while the pharmaceutical companies line their pockets. While we have made progress in Augusta, we need Washington to do more to reduce out of control drug prices.

How do we win on those issues? Through the power of our members’ votes. Voting is what counts. We stand by our members and fight for issues important to those ages 50 and over, and their families.

We are not just bipartisan. We are nonpartisan. We fight for issues, not candidates. We make sure candidates know about the issues that our members passionately care about and we will work with any elected official who will fight for these issues, too.

And our members vote. In 2016, over 80 percent of Mainers 65+ voted compared to the national average of 71 percent. As you can see, our members are serious about making their voices heard. We’re a fierce defender of age 50+ voters in Maine.

We work hard at the Maine State House on other issues, too. We push for things such as long-term care services and supports so we can age in our own homes; increased affordable housing; fair utility rates; improving access to retirement options for those without any, to name just a few.

And did I mention fighting for improved high-speed internet affordability and access? As part of a broad coalition we, with the help of our close to 230,000 members, pushed for support of a broadband referendum during the July primary and 75 percent of Maine voters supported the measure. Because of the impact of our many members, we make a positive difference.

About the ads I mentioned above? We issued news releases and contacted the candidate’s campaigns’ to let everyone know that the ad was produced without the knowledge or consent of AARP.

If you see a political ad showing the AARP logo or implying our endorsement of a candidate, contact us a me@aarp.org. We need to know so we can preserve our independence as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that fights for age 50+ Mainers.

Lori Parham
AARP Maine State Director, Portland

To the editor:

I spoke to an ironworker from Waterville at an actual in-person event this month in Clinton. We talked about our local State Senate race. He was undecided whom to vote for. This surprised me.

I told him that in our Senate District #16 (Albion, Benton, Clinton, Fairfield, Unity Township, Waterville, and Winslow), Democratic candidate Hilary Koch was the way to go. And when it comes to supporting workers, that it wasn’t even close.

Hilary Koch has been endorsed by the Maine AFL-CIO, MSEA-SEIU Local #1989, and MEA (that’s laborers, office workers, teachers, and their retirees).

Her Republican opponent, Scott Cyrway, has consistently voted against workers’ interests in Augusta. In fact, Cyrway came within just one legislative vote from receiving a zero percent rating from the MSEA, which is mostly state employees.

This local ironworker was happy to learn about Hilary and said he would join me in voting for her next month on Election Day. I told him our fellow local laborers appreciated this, since she will support worker rights and protections in Augusta.

Voters in Albion, Benton, Clinton, Fairfield, Unity Township, Waterville, and Winslow are lucky to have such a State Senate candidate as Hilary Koch to back this year.

Please show support for your local laborers, teachers, and other workers by voting for Hilary Koch over the next few weeks. Thank you for doing so.

Mike Hein
Fairfield

To the editor:

Janet Preston won the open China select board position in March. Knowing her as a strong supporter of both education and emergency services in our town, she will have my vote once again this November.

Neil Farrington
South China

To the editor:

The heading in the local and state section of the Kennbec Journal (Sept. 24, 2020), was “5 candidates vie for 3 seats in China.” This brought back some old and new memories of the operation of the town of China.

In our most recent history, the folks running the town, in my personal opinion, were all about power and control, with egos larger than common sense, community and civility. We have had enough of this kind of leadership.

Some positive changes have been made. We now have a town manager that knows the people of China and the every day workings of the town from top to bottom. What she and the town now need is to have a select board that will guide and support her efforts to make this a warm and healthy community. I’m not looking for a lot of new ideas, but rather something in the line of traditional values that have worked well in the past and the ability to add new technologies.

Of the five candidates running for a seat on the board, I want to call your attention to two of them. They are Blane Casey and Brent Chesley. Both men own and operate their own companies, and know what it’s like to meet a payroll, submit bids and contracts, work with the public, governmental agencies, banks and insurance companies. All necessary skills needed to operate town government.

One more point I’d like to call to your attention, why did the KJ point out the political affiliation of these two men and not the other three? I’m sure I know, but do you? Speaking of tradition, why not use some traditional values during this election. Like praying to God, saluting the flag of our country, standing for the national anthem, and voting on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, standing in line and voting personally.

Vote for the good of the town and the United States of America.

Sheldon Goodine
China