Sen. Eric Brakey is not only Maine’s youngest state senator, he is one of the most independent and successful. Brakey is so successful because, unlike many in Augusta, he cares about the people of his community, not the partisan games of Augusta.

As my senator for the past two years, Brakey has served as chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee — one of the busiest committees in the Legislature — where he successfully worked with both Republicans and Democrats to pass welfare reform, finally prohibiting tax dollars from being spent on alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets.

He also shepherded through several other pieces of important bipartisan legislation, standing up for what he believes in and bucking party leadership when necessary.

For his independent outlook and commitment to working hard for no one but his constituents, I am proud to vote to re-elect Sen. Eric Brakey in November.

Bernie Button, Auburn