They say you can’t fight city hall, but Kathie Leonard proves that a person can, at least, win an argument with the government.

Leonard found a decision by the Department of Defense indefensible, and took her case to Washington. Not only did she convince the DoD that it was wrong, she helped protect local manufacturing jobs.

The bold move has paid off for Leonard’s company, Auburn Manufacturing, and its 50 or so employees to the tune of a $4 million contract.

Leonard is the chief executive officer for the Mechanic Falls company. When the Department of Defense decided to lower the technical standards for a material the company makes, Leonard protested. Her fear: With the lesser standards, foreign competitors could swipe a contract from America workers.

With help from Sen. Susan Collins, Leonard won her argument with the Defense Department to keep the higher standards.

Over the life of the three-year contract, Auburn Manufacturing will produce 400,000 yards of a silicone fiber that is used for heat protection on U.S. Navy ships.

The story of Auburn Manufacturing is a good example of how American companies can compete with foreign manufacturers, especially on goods that require high-performance and technical proficiency. By not taking no for an answer, Leonard has helped to create a handful of new jobs and protect dozens of others.


Confidence lags behind


Two bits of discouraging news have come together to pour cold water on good news about the economy.

Bankruptcies have more than doubled during the last 10 years, and the number of people receiving food stamps in Maine has reached an all time high, increasing 18 percent over just last year.

Brisk growth last month and other positive economic indicators haven’t been enough to repair the struggling job market and put people back to work. Even some of those with jobs are finding it difficult to get by. Personal debt continues to grow and there’s downward pressure on wages.

According to recent reports, 130,000 people in Maine received food stamp assistance in September. That’s about one in 10 people in the state.

At the same time, personal bankruptcies have increased 7.8 percent nationwide in the last year, to 1.6 million people filing for protection. That’s more than Maine’s entire population.

The economy may be growing – heated up by low interest rates and massive tax cuts – but most people aren’t feeling it or seeing it. Until they do, confidence will remain shaky.


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