As a local businessman with several employees living in Auburn, Poland and Durham, I’m writing in support of Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello for re-election. She is one of the hardest working members of the Senate, serving on two committees, including the powerful Insurance and Financial Services Committee.

As the lead Republican on that committee, she led the charge against a new $70 million tax on drinks and doctors visits, designed to prop up the governor’s foundering DirigoHealth plan. The new tax passed with the support of her opponent in the dark of night, without a public hearing.

She knows the state cannot tax its way to prosperity and she fights every effort to increase taxes that gets proposed. With Maine’s economy in the shape it’s in right now, people are going to need Lois Snowe-Mello in the Maine state Senate more than ever.

William H. Hunter, Lewiston

Executive Vice President, Hahnel Bros. Co.