As a former Janet Mills voter, I’m disappointed in the Mills campaign’s decision to revive decade-old Reddit posts from Graham Platner, which feels less like accountability and more like a political calculation.

Those posts surfaced last October, just after the Senate race began. Platner addressed them directly, explained the context and apologized. Voters heard him out, and his campaign has continued to gain support since.

What’s missing from the current attacks is any acknowledgment of what came next. Platner wrote those posts after returning from multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, struggling with depression and PTSD. Like many veterans, he faced a difficult transition home. But he sought help through the VA, rebuilt his life and chose to serve again — this time by running for public office. That matters.

We shouldn’t ignore mistakes, but we also shouldn’t define people solely by their lowest moments. Growth, accountability and resilience are qualities most of us say we value — especially in those who seek to represent us.

The Graham Platner many Mainers see today is someone who has faced hardship, taken responsibility and moved forward with purpose. That’s a story worth considering, not dismissing.

As voters, we can decide what carries more weight: a person’s worst moment, or what they’ve done since.

David Harvey
Cape Neddick