Most Mainers will remember Nirav Shah as the head of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who diligently walked us through the COVID crisis. But he’s not only a doctor: he’s also a lawyer and economist, who has led government organizations, including as deputy director and then acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and, early in his career, as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Since our state has the oldest population in the country, having someone in charge who will stand up to RFK Jr. is a major plus. Like Janet Mills, our governor who is running for the U.S. Senate, he won’t kowtow to President Trump. As an epidemiologist, he’ll be on top of any diseases that come our way; as an economist, he’ll steer our state to financial health; and, as a lawyer, he can navigate through policy.

We need someone highly intelligent and skilled. Nirav, the son of Indian immigrants, will have compassion for the horrendous mistreatment of migrants and speak up in their defense. He’s affable and approachable; he articulates clearly and with a sense of humor, so he’ll appeal to citizens from all walks of life.

Vote for Nirav Shah. We need him.

Cynthia Stevens
Harpswell