Iraq War Town Meeting
University of Southern Maine - Portland
April 21, 2006
Billed as a listening session for our political leaders, this event was hosted by about 40 organizations, and more than 400 people turned out, to listen and to talk about their frustrations, their hopes, and our options.

The people who did NOT attend were the invited guests -- Gov. John Baldacci, plus all the members of Maine's Congressional delegation (Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud) -- although both Congressmen sent staffers.

I was among the 60 or so people who spent three minutes at the microphones set up to take comments. The focus of my remarks was to urge people to vote for the politicians who shared their views, on the Iraq War and on other issues, as the only way we now have of changing the dynamic in Washington.

Other candidates among the speakers were Chris Miller, Democrat for Governor; Pat LaMarche, Green Independent for Governor; and Dexter Kamiliewitz, Independent for Congress, 1st CD.