Though this year is shaping up to be a heated presidential election year, stirring strong emotions in many people, there are some things that all Mainer’s, and particularly people from Androscoggin County, could unite on. Namely, 25 years of public service to all Mainers by Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Following the footsteps of the late Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, Sen. Snowe has given 25 years of her life to serving the people of Maine. First in Maine’s House of Representatives after the death of her husband, Peter Snowe, then later in the Maine Senate. She went on to represent Maine in the U.S. Congress then on to become one of Maine’s two senators, becoming the first woman to hold both seats in state and national Legislatures.

Now, as the first woman holding a position on the prestigious Senate Finance Committee, she most recently worked with Sen. Max Baucus of Montana amending the 2005 Senate budget, saving $11 billion in federal Medicaid for the states. Without her support on the Senate budget, Maine’s budget deficit would have gone from critical to catastrophe.

Please consider joining me in recognizing Sen. Snowe and her contributions to all the people of Maine.

John L. Painter, Lewiston

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