Deborah Pelletier-Simpson is the poster candidate for Maine’s Clean Election law. The public investment in her first campaign has paid off for Auburn.

Democrat Pelletier-Simpson was first elected in 2000. She was a long-shot candidate – a single mother working as a waitress and putting herself through college without the personal wealth or connections to money needed to finance a run for office – but beat several candidates with more experience and better name recognition.

After four years in the Legislature, Pelletier-Simpson has proven herself a capable lawmaker and an important voice on the Taxation, Judiciary, and Ethics committees.

Pelletier-Simpson was one of the leading advocates for a ballot initiative to allow an Indian casino to be built in Maine. While we disagreed on the issue, the frequent contact we had with Pelletier-Simpson introduced us to her work ethic and her strong desire to represent the working class. She has stood up for a cleaner Androscoggin River and would likely play a key role in improving Maine’s tax code if re-elected.

She is being challenged by independent Belinda Gerry and Republican Ronald Potvin.

Gerry, who served in the House from 1994 to 2000, sits on the Auburn City Council, where she has given voice to residents’ frustration.

Potvin says Maine is heading in the wrong direction, and change is needed in Augusta.

Pelletier-Simpson is a realist, says what she thinks and is the best choice of the three.

We endorse Deborah Pelletier-Simpson for House District 69.