On behalf of American Association of University Women Maine, I would like to thank Sen. Olympia Snowe for her years of tireless service to Maine people and to Americans everywhere.

Sen. Snowe’s dedication to women’s issues over the years has helped to advance matters important to women and their families. Issues such as women’s health — Snowe provided leadership in establishing the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, and she worked to increase funding for women’s health research.

More recently, Sen. Snowe was an avid supporter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, working to ensure women have access to equal pay for equal work.

So, congratulations to Sen. Snowe for more than 33 years of public service to her state and country. We hope that she will continue to be a powerful voice for women and girls!

Charmen Goehring-Fox

president, AAUW Maine

Hollis Center

Jonathan Riskind is absolutely correct: Sen. Olympia Snowe’s decision to not run for re-election “rocked” the political landscape throughout Maine and in Washington.

Sen. Snowe’s announcement, while shocking, presents a great opportunity for all Mainers to be served by someone who understands the immediate and serious challenges facing our democracy and someone who can address the increasing gridlock and crony machinations pervasive in today’s political culture, which serves only the interests of the few and the well-entrenched.

Chellie Pingree is the right person to serve Maine in the U.S. Senate, by bringing independent, effective leadership, desperately needed in Washington to turn our country around. These are qualities intrinsic to who we are as Mainers.

As a member of the U.S. House, Chellie has an impressive record. She has worked tirelessly to improve the standard of living in Maine, and helped encourage economic development in our state by voting to cut taxes and increase lending for small businesses.

Whether playing a key role in delivering historic health care reform and ending discrimination by insurance providers, to honoring our veterans and their service, to advocating for tougher financial reform laws and holding the banking industry accountable, Chellie is a reformer in the truest sense.

Chellie Pingree has served Maine well in the U.S. House. She would certainly do the same in the U.S. Senate.

Adam Lachman

former president, Vinalhaven Chamber of Commerce

Vinalhaven

Did the editors of The Portland Press Herald really not see the obvious disconnect between the front-page headline “True statesman is bowing out” (Feb. 29) and the accompanying photo of Sen. Olympia Snowe, who is obviously a woman? What’s wrong with a headline reading “True stateswoman is bowing out”?

Such wording would have been more accurate and would honor her many political accomplishments as a woman: the first woman in American history to serve in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of Congress, and Maine’s second female U.S. senator (after Margaret Chase Smith). Why refer to her as a “statesman”?

With this ridiculous, gender-inaccurate headline, The Portland Press Herald has illustrated clearly what many aware people have known for some time: that the term “man” does not, in fact, stand as a universal reference to all of humanity, just as the phrase “man nurses his young” makes no sense. Why not choose to be accurate in referring to our accomplished female U.S. senator?

The editors had a choice here. Choice — a concept Sen. Snowe supports for all women. Too bad the editors made a bad choice when the opportunity to be accurate and respectful was possible. Shame on you.

Diana Crader Johnson

Gorham

I was glad to see the announcement of Sen. Snowe’s intention to not run for re-election. This is a demonstration of her integrity.

I’ve been appalled that Republicans elected from each state have refused to step up and represent the people who elected them. They have all paid strict attention to their leadership and voted as their leadership advised and have totally disregarded us.

Now let us send a strong candidate who can represent the people of Maine in a way that would make us proud. Each party deserves representation in our government, so thank you, Sen. Snowe, for your service to the people of Maine, and let’s move on to someone who can do what is right for us, not what is aimed at defeating President Obama.

Jane Metzler

Yarmouth

Clean Elections foes poised to start gutting measure

Republican legislators in Augusta appear ready to vote this week to start dismantling Maine’s Clean Election Act.

Enacted by a statewide popular vote 15 years ago, our first-in-the-nation Clean Election law is overwhelmingly supported by Maine voters, according to polls. For good reason. It works well. It is cited as a model by people all across the country who are working to reduce the political influence of special interest campaign donors.

Those special interests see their opportunity this week in Augusta.

Republican legislators hope people aren’t paying attention this week, and that their vote to start gutting Clean Elections won’t get much news coverage. Above all, they hope we won’t remember it when we decide who to support in the fall elections.

Party leaders have assured them it won’t matter — special interest donations and super PAC money will pour in to support them, and after their vote this week, Clean Elections won’t guarantee their opponents enough resources to fight back.

Will Maine voters notice? Will we remember in November? Will we restore Clean Elections? If democracy matters to us, we will. If we care about government of the people, by the people, for the people, we will.

Eric M. Johnson

Portland

This year’s White House hopefuls lack ability to lead

We need a new leader.

The upcoming presidential election will not solve our problems, no matter who wins.

The American people need a new leader, someone who will be able to unite us and lead us in the future. We need someone like George Mitchell, Colin Powell or even Bill (bite my tongue) Clinton.

Name that person. Come forward. I dare you!

Vincent McDermott

Brunswick