I came away from the recent opening of Angus King’s senatorial campaign headquarters in Brunswick with one thought: Angus King is the right person in the right place at the right time with the right motivation to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Here’s why:

l. He’s a proven leader of Maine and he remains a popular force across the political spectrum.

2. He’s running as a genuine independent, a necessary move given the fiercely partisan nature of Congress today.

He wants to solve problems, not perpetuate a broken system.

He’s willing to vote his conscience and not be beholden to toe-the-party-line-or-else political pressure.

3. He’s not running as a career move or to amass power or to lay the groundwork for a lucrative post-office lobbying job.

He’s running because he thinks he can help alter the current political climate.

4. He’s promised not to engage in negative political ads, and as a man of integrity, he will keep that promise.

Leaders in both political parties — in Maine and beyond — have already tried to besmirch Angus’ character and motivation.

That’s understandable. They’re running scared.

But they’re about keeping their power.

Angus is about working together in civil discourse to solve problems.

I urge Maine citizens of every political persuasion to support a candidate who can work for Maine and, by example, the nation.

David R. Treadwell

Brunswick

The current state of national politics is a disgrace.

Members of Congress spend half their time raising enormous sums of money so that they can secure re-election, and the other half of their time demonizing the other party.

I submit that the cure for this ailment is to elect more independents to Congress.

That is one reason I support Angus King for election to the U.S. Senate seat held by (the departing) Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Former Gov. King has shown himself to be level-headed, practical, sensible and — last, but not least — civil.

If all members of Congress were independents they could spend their time finding sensible solutions to the problems our nation faces — such as lowering the national debt, increasing employment, funding health care and replacing our insane tax code with something workable.

Philip Moss

South Portland

I am a Democrat, writing to support the candidacy of Angus King for the U.S. Senate.

During his terms as our governor, Angus King proved that he knows how to work effectively with all, regardless of political party.  

This is especially important in the present polarized political climate.  

Angus has pledged that he will support positions that he believes are in the best interest of the people of Maine.

And he will not be told how to vote by political leaders of any party.  

It was not so long ago that this was the approach to governing that all U.S. senators and representatives took.  

It is not a dream. Rather, it is a return to good governing that we once took for granted.

Angus King is a man of high integrity, admirable character and all-encompassing intellect.

I trust his judgment in looking out for our interests.

Angus King will be a senator that will make Mainers proud to send to Washington.  

Daniel E. Harris

Selectman, Boothbay

Behavior in city’s parks becoming a summer worry

It’s only mid-April and I’m already worried about what the summer will bring, if the behavior I saw today at Tommy’s Park and Post Office Park is any indication.

A quick trip to grab a cup of coffee and I saw kids smoking and tossing cigarette butts, yelling and hollering, littering and swearing loudly.  

I felt badly as a mother tried to wheel a stroller through as a boy zoomed by her on a skateboard.

Sadly, I’m used to the reality that warm weather draws out kids and that those kids will sometimes be a little unruly.

But I would find the situation to be very off-putting if I were just visiting Portland.

 And while I’m quite accustomed to seeing this kind of behavior, I’m really not particularly interested in walking through an area that reeks like an ashtray and having a kid hurl F-bombs at someone that is flying by on a bike.  

It’s really not the way I’d like to start or end a trip in which I’m likely drop $100 plus on a dinner for two in one of the Old Port’s restaurants.

I can’t imagine how I’d feel if were just a visitor.

I should think that Portland would be interested in maintaining the integrity of these city open spaces, particularly with the summer tourism season looming.

 At a minimum, these spaces should be clean, well-lit and a safe place for both young and old.  

Too often, the these parks are none of these things.

Kevin Fay

Raymond

Gentle conversationalists weren’t gentle (wink, wink)

In response to the recent pro-homosexual “marriage” column written by Bill Nemitz (“No Wonder Anti-Gay Group Went Confidential,” April 1), I have to say “wink yourself, Bill” as you make out the homosexual marriage supporters as gentle “conversationalists.”

After the last campaign, these diversity lovers met in private at my place of work (a public school) to come up with a complaint against my professional license.

Also, I have been called bigot, Nazi and other wonderful words by these conversationalists, because I dared to publicly oppose this bizarre movement that seeks to vilify anyone who disagrees with the notion that all urges and behaviors are equal.

At my “hearing” at the state licensing office, I got to hear one of the committee members wax on about my case being “like pre-war Germany.”

Luckily for me he was out-voted by folks who had a crazy, and probably a bigoted notion (wink, Bill), that I had a right to express my opinion.

Don Mendell

Palmyra