Gideon will fight for climate policies

To the Editor;

As someone who studies the economics of Maine’s forest industry for a living, I can tell you one thing for certain about the upcoming U.S. Senate race: there are a lot of forest industry jobs and family wood lots on the line. We need more high-paying, long-term jobs like those from the coming GoLogic mill in Madison and the LignaTerra mill in Lincoln. We need more opportunities for small private forest owners to get paid for keeping their forests healthy and intact.

The truth is that these economic lifelines that are restoring our towns are the result of action on climate change, including people choosing our sustainable timber products over imported building materials. We need a senator who will make Maine a leader in the national transition to a green economy. Whether you believe in climate change or not, fighting climate change will create forest-related jobs and income in your community. Without these opportunities, our forest industry and our communities will continue to struggle.

The only U.S. Senate candidate who has shown that she is still willing to fight for climate policies that benefit rural Mainers is Sara Gideon. We need Sara Gideon as our senator if we want our forest economy to thrive again.

Mary Ignatiadis

Orono