Dear Editor:

There are many reasons to be proud of our community. We live in a place where people look after each other, no matter their politics or differences of opinions. This is reflected in our two candidates for Representative for House District 89, where both are well-known as engaged and connected community members. So why do I believe we should vote to keep Holly Stover in the Maine House?

Holly Stover has a long history of dedicated service to our community and our state, as evidenced by her 23 years at the Maine Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and Department of Health and Human Services, as well as her work with a multitude of local nonprofits, such as Lincoln County Dental, the YMCA, and the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council. Our collective health has never needed a stronger advocate than today, as a pandemic ravages the country; we have that advocate in Holly Stover. Stover has the experience to keep our seniors, our children and our families safe through smart, science-backed decisions, and has supported the difficult measures that have kept our state not only safer, but also operating at one of the highest “near-normal” economic rates in the entire country.

Beyond her extensive background in health, Holly also has a passion for protecting our environment. We need a strong Representative in Augusta to protect our resources and way of life, with the climate affecting everything from the sustainability of fishing, availability of natural resources, and the health and safety of our children. Holly is that Representative, with a history of sponsoring and voting on bills that protect our environment and our ocean, and the economy we have built around it.

Holly Stover is an active advocate for women who experience domestic violence; for individuals struggling with drug abuse; for people struggling to find housing or employment. Holly Stover has proven time and time again that she is here for all of us. She’s a multi-faceted, accessible, and compassionate Representative. Let’s send her back to the Maine House on Nov. 3.

Tory Paxson

Boothbay