Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Alice Haines: Sheats offers ‘practical solutions to conflicting needs’
Bettyann Sheats and Eric Brakey both spent four years in the Maine Legislature. Sheats enjoys solving problems with practical solutions to conflicting needs. We expect this because of her engineering background, small business ownership, and community volunteering. She’s served in the military, raised a family in Maine, goes door-to-door to ask for our vote. Brakey […]
Audrey Murphy: Weisner offers independent perspective to House District 89
Ben Weisner for state representative is the fresh face we need in Augusta. Ben is an independent who puts people before politics. As a business owner, he knows the problems that face small business owners. He promotes economic growth and would fight inflation by finding ways to reduce costs of fuel, groceries, electricity and heating […]
Sara Boyer: House 87 candidate Boyer understands Mainers’ hardships
I encourage the voters of Poland and Mechanic Falls to vote for my husband, David Boyer, for House District 87. David considers every issue before making a decision and understands the stakes are high. What used to be families deciding to skip a planned vacation or dinner out at a restaurant are now families deciding […]
Caleb Dunn: Brakey aims to restore value of Mainers’ paychecks
As inflation makes it more expensive to fill our gas tanks and grocery carts, Eric Brakey would work to restore the value of our paychecks. As our state senator, Brakey would bring down the cost of living, suspending taxes of life necessities — like heating oil. Brakey would reform welfare, getting able-bodied adults back to […]
Bob Moorehead: ‘We should be careful who we vote for’
Among the great ideas of civilization is the notion of organized government in its various forms, most effective and efficient when it’s democratic, transparent and aimed at benefiting the largest number of citizens most of the time. The most striking example: the Democratic Party in the U.S., creator of Social Security (President Franklin Roosevelt, 1935), […]
Greydon McGloon: Rabasco ‘the best choice’ for tri-county DA
It’s obvious that we have some crime problems. It’s also obvious that staying the course in our current law enforcement and prosecution methods will do nothing to solve them. Ed Rabasco knows that and has a plan. That’s why he’s the best choice for district attorney. His plan to implement policies to reduce prison recidivism […]
Anne Goorhuis: Sheats a strong supporter of education
Bettyann Sheats is a candidate for Maine Senate who has always taken an interest in education. When her children were at Fairview Elementary in Auburn, Bettyann was a parent volunteer on the PTO for numerous years. She will listen to our educators and parents alike, because her practice is to build consensus. When Bettyann sat […]
Trudy Jacqmin: Brakey would hold D.C. accountable as state senator
I’ve known Eric Brakey since he was a young man, working on the Ron Paul presidential campaign a decade ago. Even then he was an excellent leader who listened and collaborated with everyone to achieve results. During his two terms in the Maine Senate, I was proud to know someone was representing me to defend […]
Debora Cleveland: Sheats an empathic, caring candidate for Senate District 20
Bettyann Sheats is a respected and effective legislator as well as an involved community member. As the former head of Children’s Services at the Auburn Public Library, I had the occasion to work with Bettyann to connect our elderly veterans with cards created by the children in our community. Bettyann was easy to work with, […]