The Bangor Daily News and Portland Press Herald recently printed an op-ed by a writer claiming she favors enthusiasm over experience in her picks for employment. She extends her logic to include picking the completely inexperienced  Graham Platner over experienced Sen. Susan Collins for Senate. Heck’s practice in employment choices may seem to make perfect sense, but in the case of choosing a representative to the U.S. Senate her logic fails.

Experience and enthusiasm are good only if supported by character, integrity, intelligence and an agenda that supports our Constitution, family and state of Maine values. Platner’s character and integrity are in question.

Experience matters in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Collins can pick up the phone and call anyone in Maine, Washington, D.C., or around the country — and they will answer. Graham Platner does not even know who to call about anything in Maine or D.C., let alone the U.S.  

Sen. Collins has a long list of accomplishments for the state of Maine. See Saul Anuzis’ op-ed on Page D2 in the Dec. 7 Maine Sunday Telegram, “Maine — and America — benefit from Susan Collins’ steady leadership.” Collins’ experience will allow those benefits to continue.

If voters think that replacing Sen. Collins with an inexperienced novice will benefit the state of Maine, then they have a misunderstanding of how the system works. 

It makes no sense to elect an enthusiastic novice with a questionable reputation. Enthusiastic though he may be, I doubt Sen. Chuck Schumer will answer a call from Platner. 

Brian Jones
Gorham