Gail Carlson is an environmental public health expert who lives in Waterville.

The upcoming election for Maine’s governor has never been a more important one. The current federal government is failing in its duties, so states are on the front line protecting people’s well-being, fundamental human rights, workers, the economy and the environment. Maine needs a collaborative leader experienced in state government who will deliver for all Mainers, and the best candidate for the job is Hannah Pingree.

I first met Hannah 20 years ago when she was in the midst of her highly successful tenure as a Maine legislator, which culminated in her being elected the youngest ever speaker of the House. I was involved in advocacy campaigns for safer chemicals laws in Maine, and I saw what an effective leader and ally Hannah was.

She consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting public health and the environment, starting with bills to remove toxic mercury from household products. She even contributed her own blood to a study that showed that Mainers carry hazardous chemicals in their bodies.

In 2008, Hannah was the lead sponsor of a bill to create a first-in-the-nation law to remove harmful chemicals from children’s products. People across the state of Maine — children’s health advocates, medical professionals, parents, young people and more — advocated strongly in favor of this bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Because of Hannah, Maine became a leader among states in enacting sensible restrictions on hazards in our homes, schools, workplaces and environment.

As a legislator, Hannah also championed affordable health care, housing, rural broadband, reproductive rights, marriage equality and Maine’s working waterfronts. On all of these issues, Hannah successfully collaborated with diverse stakeholders and built broad and bipartisan coalitions.

Hannah also has extensive experience in the executive branch. When Janet Mills became governor in 2019, she tapped Hannah to serve as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy
Innovation and the Future. Hannah developed and led initiatives to strengthen health care, housing, our economy and more. She chaired Maine’s Cabinet on Aging, the Children’s Cabinet and the Maine Climate Council.

I have attended climate council meetings and currently serve on the council’s Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and I have seen Hannah in action leading with her collegial and collaborative style and an unwavering commitment to climate action.

Under her leadership, the council issued two high-level reports that made recommendations for evidence-based legislative and executive actions, including building community resilience to protect against extreme storms and helping Mainers transition away from dirty fossil fuels to heat pumps and other forms of renewable energy, which in addition to reducing pollution has created valuable jobs in Maine.

Once again, Hannah’s leadership has positioned our state in the lead, tackling the impacts of climate change that are already affecting us, right here and right now.

As a lifelong Mainer, Hannah understands the diverse challenges and opportunities we face. She is a highly engaged and civic-minded resident of a small Maine community. She is raising two children and has run a small business, tackled housing issues and chaired her local school board. We served together on a nonprofit board, whose members greatly valued Hannah as a strong and informed voice of experience.

Everything Hannah has done for Maine is in collaboration with others and puts communities at the center. She works with Mainers from all walks of life, and as governor, she will continue her approach to reach across political divides to get things done. She has the most government experience — legislative and executive — of all the candidates, and she will be ready to go on her first day as governor.

She has a longtime proven record of success developing state policies and programs that have improved the lives of all Mainers. Hannah Pingree is the best candidate for governor, and she has my enthusiastic support.