I have served on the House Education Committee with Rep. Elaine Makas for the last four years, and I am writing because I believe the citizens of Lewiston should know how hard she has fought on their behalf.

When the state proposed changing the education funding formula for disadvantaged students, Lewiston would have lost approximately $600,000 in state allocations. Makas built alliances with rural legislators to change the formula and restore those funds. In another instance, an attempt was made to cut education funding for language proficiency programs, and once again she led the fight, along with Portland, to restore the funds, ensuring the taxpayers and students of Lewiston will receive close to $750,000 they would have otherwise lost.

Lewiston needs Elaine Makas fighting for it, and I hope voters there will return her to Augusta as their state senator.

Charlie Harlow, Portland