Steven Edmondson’s May 27 letter to the editor (“Only LePage has record of private, public achievement”) took the reader through his decision process among three candidates – the governor, Mike Michaud and the third candidate who shows up every four years.

Edmondson promptly dismisses the odd man out due to no evidence of public service or presence during the intervening years. He notes Michaud’s 16 successful elections, but does not value his years of service in Maine legislative bodies or Congress. Instead, Edmondson negates that service because “at no time has (Michaud) served as a CEO … .” Apparently only in the private sector would a “buck stop at (Michaud’s) desk.”

In Edmondson’s judgment, CEOs are what we need in Maine. He is correct that the dollars stop at a CEO’s desk, but not for accountability – they stop on the way to the executives’ pockets.

CEOs do not represent employees or customers, as governors are expected to represent citizens. Some CEOs fail to pay a living wage and are responsible for creation of the working poor. Other CEOs pay employees handsomely and, like Warren Buffett, feel it is a crime when a secretary pays a greater percentage of her salary in taxes than the boss does of his.

The real error in choosing a CEO over a servant of the people is assuming the buck stops at the governor’s desk. In a democracy, the buck stops at the people’s feet.

Every time there is an election in a Maine community, its outcome is based on the people’s vote. Corporations don’t vote – yet.

Perhaps the choice is between someone who has an impeccable record of serving and meeting the needs of the majority of Maine’s population, or someone who doesn’t value majority votes of his own party when he disagrees. I leave the voter to decide.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb