Our lives have been all COVID, all the time, for many weeks. However, this still remains a critical election year. Elections have occurred during the 1918 pandemic, through economic catastrophes like the Great Depression, during both world wars and even in the midst of the Civil War.  

State legislators have historically given great weight to physician opinions in Augusta, and certainly appreciate the work you do to keep their constituents healthy. However, the voice of physicians is being diluted in many debates. Nearly every profession and well organized advocacy group now has a solid presence at the Capitol. The vocal diversity of interests can positively or negatively sway opinions, such as the immunization debate and the physician assistant scope bill respectively. Therefore, any time we can have more physicians involved in the debate and in the seats making decisions, the better.

At this time, we are aware of 6 active or retired physician candidates for the 130^th Maine Legislature and we wanted to make you aware of their candidacies and of opportunities to provide financial support for the campaigns if you are so inclined. 

• Charles Pattavina, M.D., Senate District 11, Waldo County. Dr. Pattavina is an emergency physician, Past President, and current Board member. He running as a Democrat for this seat in his first run for the legislature. He does have a primary race with other Democrats. He is running under the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA) and is collecting seed money contributions which is the initial step in qualifying under the MCEA. He could really use help in raising 30 contributions of $100 for this purpose. Seed money cannot exceed $100 per contribution. Please note that you DO NOT need to live in the district in order to contribute seed money. You can contribute to his campaign by going to this link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/charles-pattavina-1. If you prefer to write a check, you can make it payable to “Pattavina for Senate” and send it to his home address: 709 N. Main St., Winterport, ME 04496.

• Richard Evans, M.D., House District 120, Dover-Foxcroft area. Dr. Evans is a general surgeon who is a Past President and current AMA delegate. He is running as a Democrat for this seat for the third time and he is running as a traditional candidate, meaning that he can accept campaign contributions up to a limit of $400, per election. This means that you could make a contribution during the primary election period between now and the primary election on July 15^th and another during the general election period between July 16^th and November 3^rd. You can make a contribution to the campaign by going to this link: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/drevansmaine. If you prefer to write a check, you can make it payable to “Evans for House” and send it to his home address: 14 Winter St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

• Sam Zager, M.D., House District 41, part of Portland. Dr. Zager is a family physician with Martin’s Point and is running as a Democrat for this seat in his first campaign for the legislature. He is on the Board of the MAFP and has been very active in statewide advocacy on matters of health policy. He has already qualified as a Maine Clean Elections Act candidate, and if you live in the district, you can make a $5 contribution to his campaign by going to this link: https://apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/ethics/cleanelection/home.pl

There are also three incumbents running for reelection:

• Senator Ned Claxton (D), Senate District 20, Androscoggin County. Dr. Claxton is a retired family physician and faculty member of the CMMC family medicine residency program. He serves as the Senate Chair of the State & Local Government Committee and as a member of the Health & Human Services Committee. He is running for his second term in the Senate under the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA). If you live in the district, you can make a $5 contribution to his campaign by going to this link: https://apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/ethics/cleanelection/home.pl

• Representative Patty Hymanson (D), House District 4, Ogunquit and parts of York, Wells, and Sanford. Dr. Hymanson is a retired neurologist who serves as House Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee in the current legislature. She is running for her fourth and final term in the House under the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA). If you live in the district, you can make a $5 contribution to her campaign by going to this link: https://apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/ethics/cleanelection/home.pl

• Representative Heidi Brooks (D), House District 61, part of Lewiston. Heidi trained in family medicine. She serves on the Insurance & Financial Services Committee in the current legislature. She is running for her fourth and final term in the House as a traditionally funded candidate, meaning her campaign can accept contributions up to a limit of $400, per election. This means that you could make a contribution during the primary election period between now and the primary election on July 15^th and another during the general election period between July 16^th and November 3^rd. You can make a contribution to Heidi’s campaign by writing a check, payable to “Heidi for State House” and send it her home address: 1 Pleasant St., Apt #2, Lewiston ME 04240.