Juice Conference Remarks

Midcoast Magnet is a networking organization that seeks to attract, connect and retain talented people in Maine and the midcoast. In November, Midcoast Magnet presented the Juice 2.0 conference, "Building Maine's Innovation Networks." The conference was organized through collaborative efforts and funding from organizations as diverse as the Maine Arts Commission, the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Realize! Maine program of the Maine Development Foundation. To learn more about Midcoast Magnet visit:


www.midcoastmagnet.com

On November 14th, 2009, I was invited to the Juice 2.0 conference to speak as part of the "Get Involved, Get Elected" panel with Speaker of the Maine House, Hannah Pingree, and State Senator Seth Goodall. Below are my remarks from the event:

JUICE CONFERENCE TALK

I’m honored to be on this platform with such an exciting group of people, including one of the folks that really inspired me to run for office -- Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree.

It’s easy for folks to be cynical about politics, politicians and the political process. That cynicism is nothing new and it is not relegated to one political party or one end of the political spectrum -- right or left. If you look at the political blogs - national and state, left and right -- what they all seem to have in common is cynicism. Just to prove that the cynicism is nothing new -- here’s one of my favorite quotes from Harry Truman -- delivered in an interview on his front porch in Independence Missouri after he retired from the White House: "My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference. I, for one, believe the piano player job to be much more honorable than current politicians.”

I never learned to play the piano, so my career choices were even more limited than President Truman. I did however, have the chance to work as an advocate in the Maine State Legislature for several years on behalf of people with a disability as well as for direct care workers who provide home and community based services to seniors and people with a disability. I was passionate about that -- because it was all about my life and my experience. When I first went to Augusta, I expected to find out that Harry Truman was right -- but I had just the opposite experience.

What I found in Augusta was not what people like to characterize as the “no good politicians,” nor did I find the legislative process like the proverbial “sausage making.” Instead, what I found were people who were committed to serving their fellow citizens and brought their experience, their interest and their passions to that discussion. I found people hungry for the best ideas, the best ways to serve others, the best ways to invest our limited and hard-earned tax dollars to produce the most possible benefit.

I was ready to be skeptical, and I came away a true believer -- filled with admiration and respect for people like Hannah -- who were giving up big chunks of their life and times, putting other career and personal choices on the back burner to serve their fellow Maine citizens. I saw people like Hannah working hard -- and I knew she was smart enough and talented enough to write her own ticket and do just about anything she wanted to do -- but she wanted to serve in a citizen legislature -- far from a full time job, but enough work to keep you from pursuing any other career very successfully.

I got inspired by those citizen legislators, and especially the younger members who were trying to make a difference. The Maine Legislature is diverse -- people of all ages and backgrounds -- and that is what makes it work.

I was there to advocate on some specific issues, but I couldn’t get enough. I sat in Committee meetings and the Appropriations Committee for hour after hour -- and I couldn’t get enough. I expected I would glaze over, but my experience was just the opposite. I was fascinated to talk with lobbyists and people who had been around the state house for years. I was interested in the personalities and the institution and the interactions of the two that resulted in compromises -- and good legislation. I was hooked. I was interested in just about everything that went on under the golden dome.

I got to be good friends with the Legislator who was serving my hometown of Rumford, and when he was term-limited and could not run for re-election, he asked if I would be interested in running for the seat. It was a tough decision -- took me about one day to make up my mind. I knew it would be hard. To get elected in Maine -- the politics is all retail and that means knocking on every door of the district -- meeting as many voters as possible, listening, and getting out the message. Knocking on doors in Rumford Maine is pretty tough when you are in a wheelchair -- it added to the challenge. But it gave me a great opportunity to organize friends and supporters to help me in that task. I built a network -- and that network got me elected -- I couldn’t have done it any other way. I like Bean Suppers -- but how many can you attend?

Since I’ve come to the Legislature, I’ve continued to work on building that network. Not because I want to use those relationships to move ahead -- but because those relationships are how I learn -- about issues, about what Maine people need and want, and about how to use government effectively to solve problems. It’s all about relationships.

Being in the Legislature, I’ve had a chance to work on many key issues -- long term care and home based services for seniors and people with a disability has been a passion -- but that’s something I really know about -- you can say “I’m experienced” and I want to share those experiences with my peers so we can make improvements for all Maine citizens. I am also a big fan of Mixed Martial Arts, so I’ve been able to work with others to create a framework that will regulate that sport and bring it to Maine. This session, I’ll be working on issues of internet availability and pricing, as well as joining colleagues in the search for ways to make our budget more sustainable while ensuring that we don’t damage the vital safety net. I’ve found myself increasingly in the middle of the discussion of wind energy -- since there is one project approved for my district and another on the drawing board. I guarantee you -- people have opinions about those projects -- and it’s not just one opinion.

I could keep on going -- but I’ll stop there. Let me just say -- If you have passion for working with others, if you have a passion for serving other people, if you like long hours and low pay -- and if you think you’d enjoy getting nasty voice messages and e-mails for your hard work -- running for the Legislature is for you. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life -- almost as exciting and interesting as breaking your neck, but way more fun. If a guy like me, who is trying to start a career, wanting to get married, buy a house, start a family, and do all those “normal” things can run for office and be elected in Rumford Maine -- nothing should be holding any of you back. With great role models like Madame Speaker -- what are you waiting for?