Brenda Piampiano lives in Brunswick.

On Monday, May 11, I wrote to columnist Douglas Rooks in response to a recent column (“Graham Platner’s inexperience is the point”).

I then voted by mail as I expected to be in Colorado for the birth of my grandchild. I returned home due to an unexpected medical emergency. The primary campaigns were still raging when a woman knocked on our door and asked if she could speak with us about why she supported Graham Platner.

She was young, articulate, passionate and smart. She said that ordinary hard-working Maine people were struggling to even put food on the table, many were unable to afford either health insurance or critical medical care, day care costs were out of reach and the right to bodily autonomy and freedom to speak out about a range of important issues felt threatened. Pretty compelling subjects.

I expressed my concerns about Platner’s “lack of experience” and “hot head” tendency. As for his “lack of experience,” the woman responded that Sen. Susan Collins and others, with the benefit of all their so-called “experience,” were passing laws that reduced or eliminated programs helpful to the working class while simultaneously reducing taxes for the wealthiest among us, including the deep-pocketed donors supporting their campaigns and their fancy lifestyles.

From the young woman’s perspective, these politicians “experienced” a skyrocketing balance in their own power and bank accounts and forgot about the struggles of ordinary Americans. As for my concerns about Platner’s troubled past, the woman acknowledged his problems but pointed out that Platner developed PTSD as a result of fighting for our country, he had recognized that his behavior was unacceptable and had sought therapy.

With help from medical providers, friends and family, Platner had dug himself out of trouble and reached a sweet spot of stability and happiness. He hoped to now help others move forward, including others who might be facing their own struggles.

This young woman firmly believed in the potential for redemption and positive change. She believed Platner had changed and had a lot to offer. She also thought that people who had never been utterly down and out might be unable to empathize and give proper credit to those who have fought their way out of a very dark place. She admired Platner for working hard to be a better man. I had my doubts, but …

I sat listening to a passionate volunteer for Platner for a good half-hour or more. It was a shocking conversation. Five members of my family, including my husband and my father, were military veterans and three of them faced brutal, unimaginable, inhumane conditions in wartime. I understood her point.

The person who gets a deferral from military service due to bone spurs or political pull, the person who routinely discourages offspring from foolishly joining our country’s military, the person who collects dividends from defense contractors, should not disparage those who put their life on the line for country.

Nor should they abandon the men and women injured physically and emotionally while acting on the directive of our commander-in-chief. PTSD is as real as losing your leg. Give our veterans the respect and gratitude they deserve.

My vote had already been cast. And I had not voted for Graham Platner. And when this young advocate for the ordinary, powerless, hard-working Mainer left my house, I was shaken.

Maybe, just maybe, in November, I would vote for a young candidate with a lot of heart, a silver tongue, a troubled past. Not a powerful 30-year “veteran” of the Senate who has never experienced war, poverty or the embarrassment of idiotic behavior and supports her party’s position 94% of the time.

I would bide my time, listen, watch and remain open to change.

Today is Thursday, July 9. Less than two months have passed since I wrote to Rooks about his column and subsequently invited the Platner volunteer into my living room.

The big news: An ex-girlfriend has come forward alleging that about five years ago she was forced to have sex by a drunken Platner in her home. Platner denies the account.

Shades of the past. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accused Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh, a kid she barely knew, of drunken sexual assault at a high school party. Kavanaugh also denied that he forced himself on the alleged victim. Like Platner. He may even have denied knowing the girl.

Kavanaugh is now a confirmed Supreme Court justice who voted to repeal Roe v. Wade. Think of that. The irony. Meanwhile, Platner is under attack and feels compelled to withdraw. He has less money and less power than Kavanaugh.

I did not support Platner. There are others I prefer. However, I appreciated his passion, his belief that positive change personally and politically is possible; his focus on injustice,
affordability, the cost of unnecessary wars; his capacity to inspire others to action.

Many voiceless ordinary people felt heard for the first time. Finally heard. I want to say this to Graham Platner: Thank you. For your service to our country, for the gumption to become active in civic life and inspiring others to do the same, for describing the struggles of ordinary citizens in a way that resonated. And doing all of that at the age of 41. Amazing.

Our country is in trouble. Current “leaders” brought us to this dire state. How’s that working for you? It is not working for me. We need new voices, different voices. Not the same old, same old. Graham Platner may not be the best candidate for the U.S. Senate, but he speaks to the need for change. Perfection not required.

As for Platner supporters, roused from day-to-day routines to attend rallies and knock on
doors advocating election of an unlikely candidate? You too inspired me. What you did
mattered. Keep on keeping on. Your future self will thank you. I thank you, and I thank
Graham Platner for inspiring such engagement.

I plan to haul myself off the couch and do what I can in this election in support of a candidate of my choice. Why? Because Graham Platner and his legion of fans reignited my belief that ordinary people can indeed change the course of history.

Please join me. Whatever your party, your belief, your opinion. Be that woman who knocks on doors and changes minds one person at a time. Our country thanks you for your service.