To the editor:

As a small business owner in Brunswick and a member of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber, I was angry to read in the Portland Press Herald that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has purchased ads to try to influence the Maine U.S. Senate race.

Their target is the frontrunner Angus King, who is running as an independent.

The national chamber has a mission to support only Republican congressional candidates and according to the article “will spend $100 million to influence elections this year.”

In addition, “campaign finance laws do not require the chamber, a nonprofit organization, to disclose its donors.”

The U.S. Chamber seems very one-sided in their efforts to support pro-business candidates rather than candidates who have a grasp of all local, state and national issues and who will remain independent of party interests.

I find it hard to believe that all chamber members are of one political persuasion; namely, Republican. If this is the case, then the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not representing all business owners equitably and ethically.

I support the election of Angus King. He is intelligent, trustworthy, honest, disciplined and, above all, has great integrity and will do the right things for the state of Maine and its citizens. As our U.S. senator, Angus King will be a formidable leader and speak for the principles of Maine and not for the dictates of a political party or political action group/committee.

Anne V. Marr
CheckList, LLC
Brunswick