Like many engaged voters who are tired of negative campaign ads, I was saddened to see the recent ad, endorsed by Gov. Mills, attacking Graham Platner’s past misogynistic posts on Reddit. As we are all coming to learn, those posts were written more than 14 years ago — they are posts that Platner has apologized for and no longer hold true. 

I was impressed that the Platner campaign quickly held a press conference in response to the ad, bringing a number of folks, mostly women, to speak on his behalf. Included among the speakers was a sexual assault survivor from southern Maine who passionately expressed her support for Platner. 

Also speaking was Rep. Valli Geiger from Rockland. Rep. Geiger raised Gov. Mills’ veto of a bill Geiger sponsored two years ago that would have funded improvements on how sexual assault cases are tracked. For both of these women, and I am sure for the other 30 or so women who were standing behind Platner at the press conference, protecting the safety of women is extremely important to them. 

These women have moved on from Platner’s past comments. So should we all, and focus instead on the issues at hand.

Harry Nelson
North Yarmouth