I met Melissa May Stevens several months ago and was impressed with her strong work ethic and passion for serving others. I will vote for her for House District 59 on June 14.

We share a call to help build real opportunities and solid futures for young people. I have worked with underprivileged youth since high school, as a summer camp counselor and as a middle-school math teacher in public schools in low income communities. Each day, I see students who face enormous obstacles to success. Such challenges, often rooted in poverty, take their toll in poor nutrition, health problems, families in crisis and learning difficulties.

Adequate funding for public schools is desperately needed to tackle those problems.

Melissa May Stevens testified eloquently at public meetings in Augusta and Lewiston for a fair public school budget. She is fighting to make sure that all students get a quality education.

Kaelyne Thompson, Lewiston