This guest column, written by Dana Totman, was originally published in the Bangor Daily News.
In May of 2025, Hannah Pingree met with a group of affordable housing leaders in Portland. I was honored to be among them. Hannah appreciated our feedback but also realized that a room full of credentialed professionals would not provide her with all the information she needed to develop Maine’s affordable housing policies.
For the next six months, Hannah visited every county and every corner of the state to hear directly from Maine people about what their housing challenges are. She listened to older Mainers, rural Mainers, coastal Mainers, urbanites, Gen Xers, young families and others. She visited Belfast, Dover Foxcroft, Kittery, Deer Isle, Bangor, Rockland, Brunswick, Ellsworth, and many other Maine communities.
Last November, Hannah shared her bold and broad affordable housing plan. Because I believe Hannah knows how to listen, understands what Mainers think and need, and is so familiar with every Maine community, she is the perfect policy leader for our state.
I will be voting for Hannah because she understands Maine and values affordability.
Dana Totman
Bath
