From the days of putting up campaign signs in Kennebec County with my Grandfather Hippler in the early 1960s, I have been a Republican. In most elections over the years, I have supported the Republican candidate because that candidate has most closely represented my views and beliefs.
This year, the candidate in the 2nd Congressional District race that most closely represents my views and beliefs is not the Republican in the race. I’ll be voting for Jared Golden and he has my full support. I know many other Republicans in my area who are doing the same, and I wanted to make the case for why more members of my party in our state should vote Jared over his opponents.
As I have personally said to Jared, “I may not necessarily agree with every position you have or every vote you cast, but above all, I believe in you.”
Golden is the type of person that we need in politics today. He believes that working across the aisle is the best way to get things done. He does not see the American political system as one that must always be an adversarial relationship. As he has said before, politics shouldn’t be a blood sport.
Golden understands that the best way to remedy a situation is to carefully research an issue, speak with his constituents, and when necessary, come to some type of compromise. He has a consistent top-five bipartisan voting record and he’s the most independent member of his party in the entire Congress. When Jared says that he’ll continue to put country above party as long as he’s in Congress, he’s got the record to back it up.
It’s a record Republicans can get behind. Golden voted against the two biggest spending bills put forward by the Biden administration, which added a combined $2.1 trillion to our national debt and helped cause the inflation we’re currently experiencing all across the country.
The bill Golden has voted for, the Inflation Reduction Act, will lower the national deficit by $300 billion. I don’t agree with everything in that bill, but it’s about time Congress started to take deficit reduction seriously and I’m glad Jared was a leader on that. He’s also stood up to his party on border security, the Second Amendment, NAFTA, supporting law enforcement, and more.
Above all, Jared Golden possesses the values that we should hope to see in a U.S. congressman from Maine, following in a long tradition of independent officials like Bill Cohen and Olympia Snowe. Jared is a person of great integrity. A man of outstanding courage and honor. Golden’s military record in Afghanistan and Iraq in our country’s fight against terrorism is exemplary.
When you meet Jared or see him in a political setting, you can see the respect that he has for others. Congressman Golden’s thoughtfulness, honesty and ability to analyze and question lead to what I feel is Jared’s greatest asset. He truly follows his conscience when making decisions for Maine and the country.
So, to my fellow Republicans: Please join me in voting for Jared Golden on Nov. 8. He will keep everyone in mind, consider every option, and truly look to find the best solutions.
Dave Poulin is a retired teacher and coach at Winthrop High School.
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