If the rise of DeSantis is a Trump-era phenomenon, his record is rooted in traditional conservative priorities – textualist judges, school choice, tax cuts, spending restraint and law and order. He also has a more pragmatic side, increasing teacher pay even as he has pushed for educational reforms and pursuing a robust environmental agenda.
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.
Susan Friend: Advocacy during a global pandemic
As we all grapple with this past year and keep holding on strong together, our team is so very grateful for the opportunity to continue creating new connections and developing new strategies to deliver our messaging.
Bob Neal: The Countryman: Cursed if they do, cursed if they don’t
Governing can get you cursed. Not governing when you should can get you cursed, too.
David Griswold: Ads about corridor’s forest impact untrue
The ads against the Clean Power Corridor imply that the 53-mile power line from West Forks to the Canadian border would pass through special Maine forests that would be compromised by the project. In fact, most of this land has been working forest for generations. If one looks at the area on Google Maps, the […]
In rebuttal: Dave Griffiths: The harm of one-sided media
My thanks to Gregory D’Augustine for his well-written April 3 letter responding to my letter about the sad state of the GOP. Such back-and-forth is always welcome in a functioning democracy. But by decrying such “decisive comments,” Mr. D’Augustine misses the point that it was Trump and his congressional minions — aided by FOX and […]
Nancy Leeman: Being white doesn’t always mean privilege
These days all one hears about is white privilege. I am not minimizing racism; when I was growing up my home environment was one of daily abuse, both physical and emotional. I was often in pain also, because of hunger. I was beaten, bloodied, and told that I was stupid and would never amount to […]
Jamie Beaulieu: Fear causes many to reject vaccinations
I believe we can learn something about our reaction to COVID-19 from the challenges I and other Marines confronted as we prepared for war in Iraq in the early 90s. Most of what I’m going to tell comes from the time I spent with members of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, which recently returned from […]
Sandi Howard: Vote yes to nix CMP corridor
A few weeks ago, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held a public hearing on three bills to curb the influx of foreign campaign spending Maine has been subjected to recently, as the result of a loophole in Maine’s election law exposed by Hydro-Quebec. I participated in the hearings along with dozens of concerned Mainers […]