Nirav Shah has decided to run for governor and lots of people, remembering him from our COVID shutdown days, are supporting his candidacy. A word of caution …

Shah’s background in disease prevention does not translate into the leadership skills Maine needs in a governor. Shah brings no legislative or executive experience. Can he build coalitions, negotiate budgets or navigate the realities of state governance? With an education from elite institutions and a career in policy analysis, I have doubts.

After the COVID crisis subsided, he left Maine to take on a more lucrative high-profile position in D.C., raising serious questions about his long-term commitment to the people of Maine. He appears to have lived in Maine fewer than five years. His return now appears opportunistic rather than rooted in sustained service, and voters are left to wonder whether Maine is a calling — or just a stepping stone.  

Troy Jackson is who Maine needs. A Mainer by birth and a fifth-generation logger, his commitment to what’s best for Maine is beyond reproach. His record as the president of the Maine Senate is remarkable. I haven’t seen him support an issue or take a vote that hasn’t had the best interests of working class Mainers at their center. 

As we go into this primary season, I hope folks will consider who has shown a sustained and effective commitment to issues important in Maine and who can actually help out everyday Mainers.

Annie Gray
South Thomaston