Ken Blow works
tirelessly for the people

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Ken Blow’s re-election to the Old Orchard Beach Town Council. Ken has proven himself as a dedicated and effective leader who deeply cares about our community’s future. His commitment to preserving the character of our town, while thoughtfully guiding its growth, is unmatched.

Ken’s leadership has consistently demonstrated a balance between fiscal responsibility and addressing the needs of our residents. He listens carefully to concerns and works tirelessly to find solutions that benefit everyone. Whether it’s improving local infrastructure or advocating for sustainable development, Ken has always prioritized the well-being of our town.

I believe that Ken Blow’s experience and passion will continue to positively shape Old Orchard Beach for years to come. Please join me in supporting his re-election to the Town Council.

Graham Roeber
Old Orchard Beach

Vote Craig Pendleton
for State Senate

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In the late 90s, I worked with Craig Pendleton in the creation of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a community-based and integrative approach to sustaining Maine fisheries. Involving both fishermen and environmentalists, Dee Hock, founder and CEO Emeritus of VISA, guided the effort. Craig was the first executive director serving with distinction for 12 years.

Craig possesses many natural leadership skills which he has honed over the years in various positions of community service. Having been a commercial fisherman, he has a boatload of common sense. Most importantly, he has a gift of working with people of all sorts. He is a clear communicator and tells it like it is. A man of principles and integrity, he has a deep sense of fairness and justice.

You could do no better. Maine’s future will be brighter and more hopeful with Craig in the State House.

Larry Yee

Re-elect State
Sen. Donna Bailey

Please consider re-electing State Sen. Donna Bailey. As a lawyer and former probate judge, Donna is a strong advocate for the rule of law and human rights, cares about people and was instrumental in working to pass the senior tax abatement program. She also worked on changing the insurance regulations to protect individuals from predatory practices including confusing advertisements.

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Bailey has worked with her colleagues on beach erosion issues and the revitalization of Camp Ellis in Saco. She supported enhanced awareness about coastline issues including beach access rights. She understands the importance of balancing new technologies and protecting our fishing, clamming, and lobster industries.

Donna has supported many issues. She volunteers in the communities and listens to constituents about challenges facing the district. We need a leader who is up to date on the current issues and has experience to in Augusta. Please join me in voting for Sen. Donna Bailey.

William “Bill” Doyle

I am writing to express my support for returning Donna Bailey to the Maine Senate. While we have two credible candidates, I have found Donna to be an effective advocate for our district. As a registered Republican, I might not always agree 100% on issues with her, but have found Donna to be objective, open and supportive to causes that directly affect us.

I’ve known Donna for more than 40 years. She has always been disciplined, hard-working and dedicated to the greater good. She has the highest level of integrity, which is important in this current political climate and is willing to collaborate with all stakeholders. Plus, as an attorney who must interpret laws and pending legislation, Donna has the knowledge to create, revise or provide opinions on bills that might otherwise create confusion. She demonstrates foresight that make the process more efficient.

William Zafirson

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Politicians should answer
questions truthfully

In Aaron Sorkin’s HBO series “The Newsroom,” Jeff Daniels portrays a journalist who demands direct, yes-or-no answers from politicians. While this approach cuts through the noise, real-life media struggles to extract such clarity from elected officials. I believe there are several reasons why journalists often fail to pin down clear yes-or-no answers.

First, politicians are skilled at controlling narratives. They are trained to avoid direct answers that might limit their flexibility or expose them to political backlash. A yes-or-no answer can be simplistic and fail to capture the complexity of policy issues. They often pivot to broader explanations, reframing questions to serve their agenda. We should not accept this!

Second, journalists may face institutional or corporate pressures. Media outlets rely on access to politicians for interviews, so pushing too hard for direct answers may damage relationships. Additionally, politicians’ teams often control the format of interviews, ensuring softer, less confrontational questions.

As for forcing politicians to answer yes or no, I submit to you a few strategies. Voters and the public must demand more accountability by supporting independent media that is less beholden to corporate interests. Holding politicians accountable during debates and town halls – where they face public pressure – can also be effective.

Finally, social media campaigns that highlight evasive answers can push politicians to be more straightforward, as public opinion is a powerful motivator.

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Ultimately, while it’s difficult to make elected officials answer in such binary terms, persistent public pressure can encourage more honest and direct communication.

In the meantime think about this: Americans should demand that all political debates for president or vice president should be held in a courtroom where the participants are sworn in to tell the truth and answer all questions with a Yes or No period!

Ralph Duquette
Old Orchard

With which party
would Pendleton caucus?

The contest for control of the Maine Senate is tight this year. With 35 total seats, the party that wins 18 seats will control the Senate.

Both candidates for Senate District 31, which includes Buxton, Old Orchard Beach, and Saco, are impressive.

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Incumbent Donna Bailey, a Democrat, is serving her second term in the Maine Senate and previously served two terms in the Maine House. She has also served on the Saco Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and as York County Probate Court Judge.

Her challenger, Craig Pendleton, an Independent, is the retired director of the Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit, former executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance.

My question is – which party will Independent candidate Pendleton caucus with if he wins and the final tally of Senate seats is 17 Democrats and 17 Republicans?

Richard Buhr
Saco

I wanted to take a moment to thank State Sen. Donna Bailey and State Rep. Lori Gramlich for participating in this year’s Old Orchard Beach Car Show. It made me proud to see our local state leaders participating in his annual community event.

When speaking to people in and around our community, I am most interested in whether people are registered to vote and encourage them to register and exercise their right to vote in November. I truly believe that average citizens can create change, at the local level, that can impact their lives while contributing to the national conversation on larger issues.

I’m indifferent to people’s political affiliation and more interested in whether they want to complain or participate in the process of electing community leaders working towards solutions. I encourage everyone: be part of the solution, register and vote in November.

Dru Laduke
Old Orchard Beach

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