As bad as it all has seemed, Maine government has so far been inoculated against the worst effects of the epidemic that is raging through our economy. Maine and its local governments have been injected with federal stimulus funds to partly mitigate this deep recession.

But our federal booster shot wears off next July at the same time as the state must first begin paying for substantial investment losses in public pension funds.

The legislature that convenes this January must contend with what will surely be the worst looming budget crisis in anyone’s living memory.

Tom Saviello has the “savvy” to meet this challenge as he steps up to become the next State Senator from Franklin County and Northern Kennebec. With eight years of prior successful service in the Maine House and decades of professional experience in the forest industry, he is a citizen we can trust with the hardest decisions to be faced by any modern day legislature.

Tom is diligent. He is attentive to the issues and to his constituents. He deserves support not only for the election this fall but also for the crises he will contend with in the term ahead.
Peter Mills
Cornville