The way Gov. Janet Mills stood up to the president deserves much more attention. When the federal government tried to paint her as a villain for doing her job, it wasn’t just political — it was bullying. Executive orders are not laws, and she was well within her rights to act in the best interest of Maine. The administration then tried to punish the entire state for her refusal to blindly obey. But she didn’t flinch.

What stood out to me is that she didn’t govern just for her supporters. She stood for everyone in this state, regardless of how they voted. That’s leadership. She showed how a public servant should act — with principle, with courage, and with commitment to the rule of law.

The controversy around transgender teens playing sports may have dominated headlines, but to me, that wasn’t the biggest takeaway. The real story is that Gov. Mills showed she’s willing to defend all of us — even when the so-called “most powerful man in the world” tries to intimidate her into backing down.

I’m proud to be a resident of the great state of Maine. We’ve got a long tradition of producing strong, respected women — and she’s just one more example.

Billy-Joe Smith
Standish