Endorsements

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The voters in Brunswick of house district 49 seem to have two excellent choices for representation this election year. I am writing to share my experience with one of the candidates. As a registered Republican (formerly of Durham) I was surprised to get a phone call from Poppy Arford when she decided to run for House Representative. I have known Poppy socially for the last 10 years and have known her to be polite, honest, straight forward and dedicated to the Brunswick community. When I asked Poppy for the purpose of her call, as I am out of district for her campaign, I was pleasantly surprised by her response. She proceeded to ask me, as a Republican, “what issues at the state level were most important to me”? When I asked her why she was calling me, an out of district member of the opposite party, her response was quite remarkable. She said, “I want to understand what is important and front of mind for the entire political spectrum, not just mine”.

I want you to think about that for a moment. I cannot remember the last time someone from “the other side” asked me to help them understand my political point of view. With the ultra-divided, political partisanship that exists in Augusta and Washington DC, isn’t this the exact type of person you want working for you in Augusta? Someone that picks up the phone and says, help me understand what is important to you? 

I can’t vote for Poppy Arford on Tuesday November 3’rd, but if I could, I would vote Poppy. Brunswick voters in house district 49 should know she is excited to work for all constituents, regardless of their political party. Poppy is exactly the type of person we need working for all of us in Augusta.

David C. Holt II

Rome, ME

I am writing to encourage residents of House District 49 to elect Poppy Arford to the Maine state legislature.  Poppy has lived and raised her family in Brunswick for 35 years, and is devoted to our community. She will work tirelessly for the best interests of everyone if elected to serve in the House of Representatives.

It goes without saying that we are living through challenging times, especially because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Quality, affordable health care is essential for all Maine people, and Poppy's highest priority issue is making sure that all citizens can receive the health care they need.  With the Affordable Care Act under attack by the Trump Administration, we need every capable advocate for access to medical care on duty where it counts. 

Poppy's passion for quality health care comes from her own experience.  Some years ago, her husband was seriously ill, and was hospitalized for a month.  Fortunately, the family had good health insurance.  She realized that many families were less fortunate. That experience propelled her into the realm of patient advocacy and led her to becoming a founding member of Maine AllCare, an organization committed to universal access to affordable health care.

Poppy has also worked effectively to protect Maine's environment.  While on the Brunswick Town Council, she was a leader in creating and strengthening the town-wide recycling program.  She also founded a program for schools and nonprofits in central and mid-coast Maine, ShareCenter, which collects reusable material from the commercial sector and makes it available to educators. She has always been a passionate outdoors woman, having led wilderness expeditions for Outward Bound early in her career. Poppy will listen to all constituents, and will do what is best for Brunswick and Maine. Please vote Poppy Arford for House District 49.

Poppy Arford would be an experienced, reliable addition to the Maine House of Representatives. She is running in Maine House District 49, which is downtown (north of the railroad tracks) and most of western Brunswick. Please give her your vote.

Arford is a former Brunswick Town Councilor.

She is currently a mediator with the Attorney General’s office, busy resolving myriad consumer complaints. Her substantive expertise is strongest in the area of health care, flowing from her college degree in social work. She has a rich history of teamwork: Outward Bound instructor, substance abuse counselor, social program director, patient advocate and mediator.

Notably, Arford was a founding board member of Maine AllCare, a non-profit group promoting healthcare coverage for all Mainers.

The people of Maine, and legislative policymakers, would profit tremendously from Arford’s deep knowledge and experience in health care policy at the consumer level

I encourage all the voters of Maine House District #49 in Brunswick to vote for Poppy Arford to represent them in Augusta.  I have known Poppy for many years and have always been impressed by her energy and get-things-done attitude.  She founded the SHARE Center, an amazing way to recycle materials and help our teachers find supplies without having to reach in to their own pockets.  The SHARE Center encourages teachers to be creative by suggesting all kinds of possible projects that could be done with the materials they had.  Poppy created this place!  More recently, I have seen her efforts to improve access to affordable health care for all Mainers.  She has come up to Augusta multiple times to listen and to testify in the committees that deal with Healthcare issues.  Poppy will be there for YOU, I know she will be accessible and energetic in supporting her constituents.  Poppy Arford deserves your vote!

Sincerely,

Denise Tepler

Thank you again to everyone who has written a letter in support of my candidacy. If you would like to hear from more members of the community, offering their support and endorsement, please click on the button below. Thank you.