Berry for Maine

by Seth Berry

133
Supporters 20,060
Raised $
 

Having served in Maine House Leadership for a term with Hannah Pingree and John Piotti, I am now a candidate to become the 100th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to serve as copilot to Hannah and John, and have learned all I can from them as their terms approach an end in late 2010.

The Maine League of Conservation Voters described our team this way:

"The perfect... score of Reps. Pingree, Piotti and Berry demonstrates the priority they place as a leadership team on policies to protect Maine’s air, land and water, to reduce our exposure to dangerous chemicals and to build a clean energy future. Pingree and Berry each sponsored significant legislation to protect human health, promote energy efficiency and advance clean energy jobs.

In addition to my bills on mercury pollution and pesticide drift, referred to as "pioneering" and "model legislation" by MLCV, I was fortunate to sponsor seven other signed bills last year regarding the needs of young children, the obesity epidemic, clean water and wastewater systems, and public disclosure. With my House colleagues, we enacted measures to strengthen our economy, modernize our tax system, green our energy mix, protect our environment, broaden access to health care, and extend basic civil rights to all.

This year, I am introducing bills to reduce fraud and predatory signature gathering in ballot initiatives, to increase the efficiency of Maine's electricity use, and to remove lifetime caps on health insurance benefits. It will be a very tough budget year as well. House Leadership will once again need to work hard to forge acceptable compromises with the Governor, Senate and Republicans.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and to the honor of giving back to a state that gave me so much.

In November 2010, we must again elect a strong, Democratic majority in 151 individual campaigns across the State. That same month, the new Democratic majority will elect its new leaders.

Your support will not only help me become Speaker at that time, but will also help Maine continue to set the pace for the nation. Your dollars help us hire staff who can help recruit and train our candidates, defrays their mileage and cell phone usage, and pays for targeted, independent mailings. I am determined to avoid the influence of large, corporate donors as much as possible. To do that successfully, I am counting on you.

The best House Speakers in Maine's history, from Hannibal Hamlin to Hannah Pingree, have been driven by the Latin motto "non sibi" – not for oneself. I am now asking your help, so I can continue to help others.

Donations can be made here, or by check to Berry for ME, PO Box 45, Richmond ME 04357. Thank you for giving and spreading the word!

To learn more, visit www.sethberry.org