This guest column, written by Beth Ahearn, was originally published in the Maine Trust for Local News.
I spent years at the State House in Augusta advocating for Maine’s environment — its forests, its waters, the places that make this state worth fighting for. In that kind of work one meets a lot of people. Most are good. A few are exceptional. Hannah Pingree is in a category of her own. She has an authenticity and a warmth that finds people immediately. And she is the most determined, clear-eyed fighter I have ever stood beside.
As speaker of the House, Hannah took on the chemical industry and passed one of the nation’s first laws protecting children from harmful chemicals, earning broad bipartisan support. As co-chair of the Maine Climate Council, she helped lead Maine’s transition to cleaner, more affordable energy while saving people money.
Hannah is ready to tackle Maine’s biggest challenges — from housing and healthcare costs to climate and the economy — because she already has. Just as importantly, she brings people together. Maine would be lucky to have her as governor.
Beth Ahearn
Freeport
