After I attended a tea party rally in Augusta of 2010, I got more involved by way of social media, and joined political groups and posted rants, even sharing non-factual memes. Finally, after a couple of years of this, with what felt like no change around me, I decided that I had to get more involved and not just be posting my rants on social media. I raised my hand at the Republican Caucus here in Biddeford this past February. I thought I was volunteering to help out at the polls in November and be able to pass out LePage signs to my family (my husband, some local friends, my father and brothers are all LePage supporters).

Before I knew what happened, I was nominated for treasurer of the Biddeford Republican City Committee. I accepted the position. Since being on the committee not only has it given me the chance to grab some LePage signs for my family and friends, but it gave me the chance to actually meet the governor.

This past June, the governor was invited to the La Kermesse Parade. He and his wife, Ann, accepted. I was so excited to meet Paul and Ann. Imagine, me, a “welfare queen” in Biddeford in the 1980s, shaking the governor’s hand, as treasurer of the Biddeford Republican City Committee.

I introduced myself and quickly told him my experience with welfare pre-reform and reform act of ’96. He listened, I know because he was looking into my eyes and leaned into me closer to hear. There was a crowd growing, waiting to meet him, they were loud with cheers. I explained to our governor that I was living proof that welfare reform works. If it weren’t for the welfare reform act of ’96, I’d still be on welfare to this day. When I thanked him for his efforts on his own welfare reform, he stepped back and said to me, people need to know this. To which I replied, “I know!”

Carrie Pelletier, Biddeford