As a longtime Maine voter, I believe we should replace Sen. Susan Collins. Collins represents big government that ignores the needs of many Maine voters who buy groceries, pay ever-expanding costs for housing and medical care and pay the bills that flood our homes and mailboxes.

Two alternate senate candidates that I find interesting are Janet Mills and Graham Platner. Janet Mills would be far better senator than Susan Collins, yet I’m not excited about voting for her. She seems to me to represent the powerful interests in the state.

The first time I heard Graham Platner speak to a packed theater (in Ogunquit), I was impressed by his focus on creating a government that addresses the needs of Mainers who work for a living and strive to pay their bills and feed their families. People who have survived for generations by working hard and are currently finding it harder to survive with one or even two jobs. 

His focus is creating a state where all of us can make a living doing traditional Maine jobs like lobstering, teaching, timber, factory work; independent jobs that pay a fair wage and respect people who work hard and contribute to living a good life in Maine.

Graham’s alternative future includes: supporting single-payer Medicare for all; pro-labor support of public and private unions; and protecting immigrants’ rights and dismantling ICE.

Graham encourages a prosperous future for all Mainers.

Richard Holzer
Kittery Point