I respond to Roger Farnum’s July 10 letter to the editor, “Got her numbers wrong.”

Although Farnum’s words were personal and blaming, I want to thank him for providing a chance for me to explain the Bangor Daily News misquote that also ran in the Sun Journal. What I actually said to the reporter was, “It cost me almost $6 to go to Cumberland to see my grandchildren (actually, it cost me $5.50), and if this rate is enacted, it will cost us $7 to go back and forth to Portland. This is a big burden for people who work in the Portland area.”

I was making a point about the disproportionate cost to people living in western Maine to use the Turnpike.

About my asking OPEGA to look into the disparity of the hike — that is the function of that group. Anyone can ask the agency to review an issue they think is wrong, but it takes a committee vote for the review to go forward.

Every time I think Lewiston is getting the short end of the stick, whether it be unfair toll hikes, or getting a 64 percent cut in our Healthy Maine Partnership dollars, I will keep speaking out about it.

Sen. Margaret Craven, Lewiston