I met Janet Mills 45 years ago. I’ve danced at her wedding, shared her grief after we both lost our husbands and admired her as she has worked hard to make Maine a better place for all. She personifies Maine. There is no pretense; no hidden agenda. What you see is what you get. She is independent, determined, has a work ethic that won’t quit. She is a plain speaker; you can take her word to the bank. And she loves Maine. She wears a silver cutout of the state around her neck every day to remind her of what matters most to her: the well-being of the people of Maine and the place and space they occupy. If someone tries to hurt Mainers, she is like a mother bear protecting her cubs. She’s been fighting for Mainers for years.

Join me Nov. 6 in voting for Janet Mills.

Joan Macri, Auburn