As a person who has been involved in education policy for more than 20 years, I have come to understand the many facets of pre-K to 12, adult education and higher education.

I am pleased to support Steve Rowe for governor.

He knows the foundation for lifelong learning is largely lain during the first few years of a child’s life. With early cognitive, social and emotional development, a child arrives at the kindergarten door ready to learn. That allows K-12 teachers to spend more of their time teaching and substantially reduces the number of dropouts. It also saves hundreds of millions of dollars. He believes it is one of the best economic investments and it must be a priority.

As a legislator, he worked to improve high-tech labs, libraries and upgrade technology at Maine’s community colleges and universities.

I will be voting for Steve Rowe for governor.

Jim Handy, Lewiston