Mary Small is a former Republican state senator from Sagadohoc County. Marge Kilkelly is a former Democratic state senator from Lincoln County.

Last Sunday’s editorial responding to the governor’s State of the State address — and urging greater civility in Maine politics — struck a chord with us. Decades of public service have taught us that genuine respect and decorum are not just niceties. They are essential to effective governance and to solving the real problems Maine people face every day.

As the editorial board aptly wrote of today’s political climate: “The binary of all in and all out will keep us from moving forward. Time and again, we see the terrible consequences of taking sides at any cost. Among the earliest casualties is constructive dialogue. Unfortunately for us, that’s also a basic requirement for progress.”

That insight gets to the heart of why we — Mary, a former Republican Senate floor leader, and Marge, a former Democratic state senator, who both served with Rick — are supporting independent Rick Bennett for governor.

Civility is not a code word for avoiding hard choices. The next governor will confront enormous challenges, and rhetoric alone won’t solve them. As Rick noted in his response to the State of the State: “Sadly today, the American Dream — the Maine Dream — is out of reach for too many families … A Maine where teachers, police officers and essential workers cannot afford to live in the communities they serve — and are still forced to rely on food pantries — is a state with a failing economic model.”

Maine faces too many serious challenges to continue with politics as usual. Voters are tired of spectacle and performative outrage. They want leaders who listen — and who act. Rick has committed to working with people across the state and across the political spectrum to make life more affordable, grow Maine’s economy and restore trust in government.

Just as importantly, we trust him to do so. Rick brings experience from both the private and public sectors — and he has the integrity — to move Maine forward. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to civility, pragmatic problem-solving and doing what’s right for Maine, even when it’s hard.

Some may argue that stepping outside the two-party binary is risky. We disagree. For too long, Mainers have watched their voices get lost in rigid party orthodoxies and partisan gamesmanship. We need a governor who answers only to the people of Maine — not party bosses or special interest groups. We need a governor willing and able to rise above division and deliver solutions.

Rick Bennett will be that governor. Rick closed his response to the State of the State with words that resonate deeply with us:

“Dirigo does not mean shouting the loudest or pushing others aside. It means leading by example. Leading with decency and dignity. Leading with courage. That is what leadership looks like in Maine. It means facing hard truths, doing the work and delivering results that make people’s lives better. We shouldn’t govern by grievance or spectacle — we should govern by rolling up our sleeves and solving problems. When housing is unaffordable, we fix the system. When health care is broken, we reform it. When costs rise and trust erodes, we restore accountability. Dirigo means trusting Maine people to lead — to solve problems here, guided by our values, our ingenuity and our shared responsibility for the future.”

The two of us first got to know each other not in politics, but as teenagers in the same 4-H club. We later served together in both the Maine House and the Senate; in opposite parties but frequently working together to forge a compromise to move Maine forward.

We love this state, and we believe Maine people deserve better than what the two parties can deliver. It’s time for a new and better approach.

To borrow Rick’s oft-said words: Let’s get to work.