In Senate District 15, the two candidates are both women. But that’s where the similarities end, leaving voters Nov. 2 with a choice between almost exact political opposites.

The incumbent is Democrat Neria Douglass, a three-term senator who chairs the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. The challenger is Republican Lois Snowe-Mello, a term-limited, four-term member of the House who was the ranking member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Voters have a clear choice between two experienced lawmakers.

Douglass, however, has the better understanding of the issues important to a majority of voters in the district and wins our endorsement.

Snowe-Mello has motivated her supporters to fill the in-basket at the Sun Journal with letters to the editor. But support from good letter writers does not always translate into a qualification to win an election. Her campaign organization is formidable, but the candidate falls short. We believe she was on the wrong side of an effort to increase water quality standards for the Androscoggin.

Snowe-Mello touts her scores from conservative-leaning business groups, where her votes against the minimum wage increase and regulation earned her high marks. Douglass did not fair as well.

But on the environment, the liberal-leaning Maine League of Conservation Voters gave Snowe-Mello a zero for 2003; Douglass scored 88.

Snowe-Mello is a hard-core conservative, which is no insult, especially to her base in the Republican Party. Lower taxes are at the top of her agenda.

Douglass, on the other hand, recognizes the important role government plays in protecting the environment and providing a safety net for people in need. She also understands the importance of fiscal discipline and the threat high property taxes pose to the elderly.

Between these two longtime politicians, Douglass should be re-elected. She’s right on the environment, she’s right on education, she’s right on health care and she’s right for District 15.