I first saw Hannah Pingree as a young girl, modeling wool sweaters in a knitting book published by her family’s North Haven sheep and yarn business. Perhaps that’s where Hannah began her business education — learning at home, in the family business.

I met 14-year-old Hannah when she and her mother co-presented a Camden Conference session on girls’ leadership. Hannah was already developing her own leadership, working alongside her mother to inspire the next generation of young women.

Years passed. Hannah, then age 26, was elected to the State House. I watched her chair a legislative committee hearing in Augusta and was struck by her professional, respectful demeanor. Unsurprisingly, Hannah’s colleagues went on to vote her their speaker of the House, the youngest speaker in the history of the state. I have recently spoken with former legislators who have consistently praised her leadership and enthusiastically supported her candidacy for governor.

Hannah’s leadership of the Office of Policy and Innovation put her on the front lines of moving Maine forward and provided her with the insights and connections so valuable for our next governor. 

Hannah has the temperament, integrity and experience that make her a good leader for all Maine’s people. Her leadership skills, her experience at the state level and the relationships she has established since all put her in an excellent position to guide our state in a positive manner and be an outstanding governor.  I hope everyone will join me in voting for Hannah.

Mary Orear
Rockport