OK, Waterville peeps, election day is a week away. Reckoning time is here. Before going to the polls, there are several questions you might want to ask yourself.

Here on the local level those questions might include: “Do I want a mayor who quit his job but continues to allow his supporters to believe he was fired (because Karen Heck has that kind power over the president of Skowhegan Savings Bank)?” The result of the mayor’s unwillingness to take public responsibility for quitting his job incites comments like this exchange I saw on Facebook: “Where does Karen Heck work?” “She owns Tree Spirits don’t buy that nasty s**t.” “Let’s organize a protest out front of Tree Spirits and then run inside and yell at her and spit in her face.”

Betsy Sweet, candidate for governor speaks at the Democratic state convention in Lewiston. Staff photo by Ben McCanna

Or this one: “Karen should be over later to [perform an act not suitable to describe in a family newspaper]. Ughh. I just threw up in my mouth a little.”

Or maybe ask yourself this quesion, “Am I OK with a mayor whose supporters exchanged the following comments below a picture of Councilor John O’Donnell with a fist coming at him?” One person comments, “High capacity bullet clips” and someone else responds, “Someone needs to shut this fascist group up.”

Also, maybe ask, “Am I good with a leader who never passes up an opportunity to have his picture taken with the president of Colby yet never misses an opportunity to rail against ‘elites’ who are taking over the town?”

After living for over 40 years in this town, I don’t consider myself an “outside influence,” as the mayor likes to suggest. I have faith that the majority of people who live here don’t either and will join me in voting “yes” to recall the mayor.

Here’s a question you might ask in deciding on local and statewide candidates: “What keeps us from having universal healthcare? Clean water, clean air, and clean energy? Lower drug prices?” The answer would be “money in politics,” and the only way to combat that is to get money out of political campaigns.

Fortunately, Betsy Sweet and Karen Kusiak, two of the candidates you can join me in voting for, understand that, and they are willing to take the risk of showing that it can be done by running “clean.”

Betsy Sweet helped write the Clean Elections law. As governor, she would be accountable to us, not to corporate interests. Over 4,600 people helped get her on the ballot with their $5 Clean Election campaign contributions, and 1,000 Maine voters contributed seed money of $100 or less. She has raised more money than most of the other candidates from either party, and it was all from people who want a governor who will put us first.

In addition to fighting for the things that will make for a cleaner Maine, Betsy’s idea of two years of college for Maine kids in exchange for one year of community service is an innovative way of helping today’s students afford the education they need for jobs that pay well. She will continue the fight for universal health care, reproductive rights, fair taxes, and funding for mental health, disabilities, and domestic violence and sexual assault prevention — all battles she and I have been fighting for since the 1980s.

Not only will she work for us, she is, amazingly to me, able to talk with the trolls who stalk her. One who called to berate her on the phone even admitted by the end of the conversation that his postings didn’t represent his “better self.” He then sent her an apology. That is the kind of leader who is actually able to work across lines.

Kusiak, who is running for Senate District 16, which includes Waterville, supported adequate funding for Clean Elections when she was in the House. She fought to restore revenue sharing and adequate state funding of our schools to keep property taxes low. As an educator she understands the importance of fully funding our schools at the state level, and she will continue to advocate for a revenue-sharing formula that will reduce our property taxes. Karen supports universal health care and the expansion of Medicaid because she understands we need affordable health care. When she was a representative for District 108, she worked across party lines to make sure local interests were addressed.

Your last question might be, “Do I want a pro-choice legislator representing me in the Maine House of Representatives?” If so, Tom Ferris is the only choice. Tom is also committed to preserving LGBT rights. He has been a strong supporter of Waterville schools, will fight for revenue sharing, and he was active in the recall petition drive. While he is not a Clean Elections candidate, those stands are important to me.

There are distinct choices we can make as voters, even within the Democratic Party on June 12. If you envision a Maine that thrives on innovative ways of addressing our challenges and leaders who can disagree with opponents in a respectful way while staying true to their progressive, I urge you to join me in voting for Betsy Sweet, Karen Kusiak, Tom Ferris, and, of course, yes on Question 1 to protect our first-in-the-nation law allowing ranked-choice voting.

Karen Heck is a resident and former mayor of Waterville.

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