Over the past several months, many letters have appeared in this paper from local community members in support of my campaign for Maine Senate. Some of these letters highlighted my past involvement at the Lewiston/Auburn Community Little Theatre.

I am grateful to the authors of these letters. I am also proud of the work I have done with Community Little Theatre — some of my fondest memories over the last several years have taken place on the CLT stage.

I feel the need to clarify, however, Community Little Theatre is a nonprofit organization and does not engage in politics. As such, CLT cannot support or endorse candidates for office, and has certainly has not endorsed me in my campaign for Maine Senate.

I want to ensure CLT’s mission is not confused for politics.

Community Little Theatre’s mission is to provide education and personal exposure to live theater right here in our Lewiston/Auburn community and beyond.

Among the things I love best about CLT is the wide diversity of views — including political views — among the audience and the artists. In a CLT production, instead of forcing one view on everyone, artists with many different views collaborate together to create the best possible product for the audience.

I believe this is the way our government was intended to work. Instead of the fighting, bickering and grandstanding we have today, we should be respecting, listening and collaborating. This is how I intend to represent our community in the Maine Senate.

Eric Brakey, Auburn

Republican candidate for State Senate, District 20