This guest column, written by Edward Reiner, was originally published in Central Maine.
I recently met Hannah Pingree, candidate for governor, at a meet and greet in Portland. I came away thinking: “How could you have a more sincere, trustworthy, service-oriented candidate than Hannah?”
She spoke at length on issues confronting Mainers. She has an impressive track record, 25 years of addressing the issues we all face here: affordable housing, child welfare, job creation, cost of living, health care availability, economic development, a safer, cleaner environment.
We’re learning that South Portlanders have been exposed to toxic levels of benzene and other vapors from tank farms near their homes. I am one of those who wonders whether my bladder cancer may have been triggered by living close to the tank farms.
Hannah is fully aware of the need to create a safer environment, one where children can play outside and not risk daily exposure to toxic fumes. She has already worked on ridding dangerous chemicals from children’s toys and bedclothes. We are now facing the dilemma of how to deal with ubiquitous PFAS (“forever chemicals”) found throughout the state and in our drinking water. I believe we can trust Hannah as governor to tackle environmental problems head-on.
