John Nutting of Leeds has served my district as a state senator since 2004 and is now seeking his fourth term.

He is very dedicated to his job and is the prime sponsor to initiate an assertive community team to enhance mental health services, which allows parents to directly petition the court for a family member who has mental illness to be court-ordered on a treatment plan. This is a community to keep them and their families safe.

Maine has become the 44th state to enact legislation like this — to give compassionate care to those consumers who don’t realize they need it, because mental illness affects the organ of the body that makes decisions (the brain).

This much-needed law will become effective on Jan. 1.

I hope others will join me in support of Sen. John Nutting on Nov. 2.

Bernice Gilbert, Turner