As a longtime Democrat who has gotten older and wiser, I have learned to vote for candidates based on their actions, not their words.

Roger Katz of Augusta is the kind of Republican that we have been missing for a very long time. He is not a strident ideologue. He is thoughtful and deliberate, and when he thinks an idea is a good one, regardless of it’s party origin, he is skillful at walking across the aisle to form bipartisan collaborations.

He was the lead negotiator for a sensible welfare reform package. Many of us want and Maine needs welfare reform. Katz offered a common-sense strategy that passed the Legislature and helped us better understand the complexities of Maine’s poverty.

Katz was also able to convince many of his Republican colleagues of the necessity of voting for Medicaid expansion.

I welcome more Republicans like Sen. Roger Katz.

Cheryl Clukey

Augusta