I just wanted to put it out there that I'm a younger voter (28) and I received a lot of postage about elections and I was decidedly against one particular political party. Among the postage was a good bit for Bill Pluecker.

I didn't get a good read on the stance of his politics so I wanted to get a better idea before righting him off. I figured what the heck, I called the number I figured was for his campaign office. It rang and surprisingly, it was his home phone number. I was thrown off and started to leave an awkward message and then he picked up. We talked until I was convinced I could believe in him.

I just want to know that I personally would vote for a representative that is more than happy to put his family home phone on postage and send it to thousands of people.

Edit: sorry, he's the 95th District Representative

Comments

Bywater t1_irur2om wrote on October 11, 2022 at 4:42 AM

#75,547

I like how you can often get to talk to and get a feel for your local reps up here. I really wish our national politics were not such a focus and local politics mattered more. It's funny too, because the more you talk to you realize the more they tend to be aligned on about 80% of things regardless of mascot. For sure you get some fuckwit outliers but most of the shit they have us pissed off at each other about is not as decisive as the media makes out.

DidDunMegasploded t1_irv16ck wrote on October 11, 2022 at 6:47 AM

#75,964

...Who?

No, seriously, who? I've only received stuff for Mills, LePage, and Ingwerson. Never heard of this guy.

Which, of course, means I can assume the worst...

ToesocksandFlipflops t1_irvefff wrote on October 11, 2022 at 10:05 AM

#76,413

Replying to DidDunMegasploded (#75,964)

It may be a local rep. I haven't heard of him either.

Jah348 t1_irvj1n0 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:06 AM

#76,610

I had a fairly similar experience with a green party candidate who came to my door one afternoon. While we didn't agree over everything, particularly the right-to-food which does exactly nothing to guarantee food for people, I very much enjoyed talking with her. Its nice to calmly be able to bring up a few concepts that are necessary to earning my vote, eg., "Do you understand climate change?".

[deleted] t1_irvkjmc wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:23 AM

#76,664

[deleted]

[deleted] t1_irvkmls wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:24 AM

#76,671

Replying to DidDunMegasploded (#75,964)

[deleted]

JimBones31 OP t1_irvm5bt wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:40 AM

#76,753

Replying to [deleted] (#76,664)

That's a resource I didn't know about!

JimBones31 OP t1_irvmdt2 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:43 AM

#76,764

Replying to DidDunMegasploded (#75,964)

Sorry, his district is smaller than I thought. It's basically just Union, Hope, Appleton and parts of Washington.

JimBones31 OP t1_irvmroo wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:47 AM

#76,784

Replying to Jah348 (#76,610)

Exactly! On the phone with Bill, he didn't want to "polarize the conversation" by saying whether he was in support of Trump policies (which, some may argue that not condemning is the same as supporting), so I asked him other questions, like "Do you support the results of the presidential election?" and "What are your thoughts on alternative energy solutions?".

DidDunMegasploded t1_irvmx36 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:48 AM

#76,790

Replying to JimBones31 (#76,764)

Ah, that would explain why I haven't heard of him.

DidDunMegasploded t1_irvmzxo wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:49 AM

#76,796

Replying to [deleted] (#76,671)

Yeah, I live waaaaay further south in the state than that. Definitely explains a lot.

JimBones31 OP t1_irvn2ni wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:50 AM

#76,800

Replying to DidDunMegasploded (#76,790)

He supports the environment and doesn't believe the election was rigged.

DidDunMegasploded t1_irvn9eu wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:52 AM

#76,808

Replying to ToesocksandFlipflops (#76,413)

Yep. He only covers four or five towns way up north of the state, neither of which I live in.

DidDunMegasploded t1_irvnr00 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:57 AM

#76,838

Replying to JimBones31 (#76,800)

Well, that's a pretty good start.

JimBones31 OP t1_irvnsmt wrote on October 11, 2022 at 11:57 AM

#76,841

Replying to DidDunMegasploded (#76,838)

Sometimes I feel like the bar is so low.

SwvellyBents t1_irvp325 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:10 PM

#76,900

You mean your local candidates don't go door to door to introduce themselves and discuss topics of interest?

Just recently Eloise Vitelli did just that. Knocked on my back door, introduced herself and asked what concerns I have or what would I like her to take back to Augusta with her. She lives on Arrowsic Island, which is a good distance away from here.

Last election cycle Allison Hepler did the same thing. Several other Democratic candidates have done it in the past. No Republicans, ever.

For the record I'm an Indy, not registered in any party, and live on a 1/2 mile long dirt country road. It takes some effort to reach out this far.

Jah348 t1_irvpjjk wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:15 PM

#76,915

Replying to JimBones31 (#76,841)

lol he has both basic understanding of scientific principles and reality? Fuck, here's my vote.

10 years from now we'll just be asking if a candidate can feed themselves.

JimBones31 OP t1_irvq1l3 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:20 PM

#76,942

Replying to Jah348 (#76,915)

10 years from now we'll still be electing the coffins of Trump and Biden 😬

JimBones31 OP t1_irvqawb wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:22 PM

#76,960

Replying to SwvellyBents (#76,900)

Nope! Never met any politicians at my door! But I did meet Sara Gideon when she came in to buy a snack at the convenience store I was working at!

WellImFromNorway t1_irwhbhn wrote on October 11, 2022 at 3:44 PM

#78,418

Most state legislators publish their contact info online. For a lot of them, especially the reps, it’s literally just their regular home or cell number. Not sure how many include the number on mailers (or even have mailers) though.

JimBones31 OP t1_irwhg7l wrote on October 11, 2022 at 3:45 PM

#78,425

Replying to WellImFromNorway (#78,418)

It surprises me that they don't have an office number to give out.

WellImFromNorway t1_irwi5ax wrote on October 11, 2022 at 3:50 PM

#78,452

Replying to JimBones31 (#78,425)

There’s not really that many legislative staffers, not enough to handle all constituent communications anyways. And definitely not campaign staff. So they kind of just have to put themselves out there.

JimBones31 OP t1_irwi856 wrote on October 11, 2022 at 3:50 PM

#78,455

Replying to WellImFromNorway (#78,452)

Huh, thanks for the insight!

Tony-Flags t1_irwsxay wrote on October 11, 2022 at 5:00 PM

#79,030

He's my local rep, and I've met him a few times. He's a vegetable farmer, family man, generally all around nice guy. He strongly supports local industry, the environment and a woman's right to choose. He's an independent.

His district also includes Warren, which was left out of the other comments. I think he actually lives in Warren, if I remember correctly.