I grew up in the paper-mill town of Rumford on the banks of the Androscoggin River. The mill was important to the town’s economic life, but it came at the high price of polluted air and water.

Sen. Ed Muskie also grew up in Rumford. He went to Washington, D.C., to address these environmental health problems for Maine and the nation by passing the Clean Water and Air Acts. These safeguards are now threatened. It’s time for a new leader to be the champion for our natural resources.

Janet Mills is the only candidate for governor with a record of protecting the air, waters and lands. She has defended greenhouse gas emission standards, secured millions of dollars for air quality improvements, opposed oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Maine and fought to protect our waters from mercury emissions.

I am proud to support Janet Mills for governor.

Barbara Trafton, Auburn