Kylie Bragdon has been a math teacher, a physical trainer and a lobsterwoman.
Now she’s looking to add state representative to her resume, in part thanks to former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
“Women like her influenced me to believe that women deserve a bigger place,” said Bragdon. “I hope I can act as a similar role model, particularly in my community where there’s really a dearth of women (leaders).”
She took her first step in June 2017, defeating the chairman of the Winter Harbor Board of Selectmen.
“The biggest thing that led me on this journey, was that I felt within my own community we needed a greater range of diversity in leadership,” Bragdon said. “It’s the same idea on a state and national scale.”
The Winter Harbor economy is driven by lobstering, she said, which is a male-dominated industry.
“Most women are perceived to be second-class citizens,” she said.
Bragdon, who attended Emerge Maine leadership training for Democratic women, said she always wanted to get involved in politics, but wasn’t sure when it would happen.
The election of President Trump in 2016 has changed that, she said.
“Honestly, I didn’t plan to run this early in my life,” said Bragdon, who is 28 and pursuing a doctorate. “But everything lined up the right way.”
“I believe that I can make a change.”
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