I empathize and agree with my Millennial and Gen Z friends’ belief that we need an infusion of youth to energize the Democratic Party. However, our democracy itself is young, and immersed in a perilous moment that calls for steely experience. It would be a mistake to dismiss Janet Mills because of her age. 

Mills has been an exemplary governor. Any disagreement I have with some of the governor’s policies weigh very little in light of her having shepherded us through COVID-19, built our state’s rainy-day fund to its legal maximum and stood up to the president’s repeated attempts to punish Maine for the audacious act of granting him only one of our four electoral votes. Her mind is nimble, her energy appears limitless and we already know she can — and will — stand up to executive branch overreach.

I’ll gladly vote for whoever wins the Democratic primary, because Sen. Collins has disappointed me too many times to count. But in the meantime, the message “Thank you, Governor; we love you; enjoy your rocking chair” feels short-sighted. I’m choosing the proven candidate whose iron spine is exactly what we need.

Monica Wood
Portland