Hannah Pingree gets our vote as Maine’s next governor | Letter

Pamela Thomas urges voters to support Hannah Pingree’s property‑tax plan

South Portland – In a letter to the editor this week, a South Portland resident, Pamela Thomas, called on Maine voters to back Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree’s affordability agenda, especially her proposals to ease property‑tax burdens on low‑ and moderate‑income homeowners and renters.

Thomas wrote that “affordability” is the buzzword these days and that the lack of it is why “Help Wanted” signs line the streets. She said low‑wage workers can’t afford to live in the communities where they work, which in turn hurts local businesses. The letter defines affordability as the ease with which people can pay for essentials such as housing, heating, food, health care and childcare relative to their income.

Pingree, who is campaigning for governor in the November 3 election, has a detailed plan to tackle those affordability problems. According to the candidate’s website, her property‑tax proposals include:

• Doubling the Homestead Exemption, which has not kept pace with rising property values.
• Expanding eligibility for Maine’s Property Tax Fairness Credit to more low‑ and moderate‑income homeowners and renters.
• Requiring non‑Maine second‑home owners—whether seasonal or investment properties—to pay their fair share of property taxes, thereby reducing the burden on residents who own their primary homes in the state.

Pingree’s background lends weight to the plan. She served as speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, where she worked across the aisle to pass legislation, and she previously ran the Office for Policy Innovation and the Future for former Governor Janet Mills. Her experience has given her a record of working on fiscal policy and affordability initiatives.

In her letter, Thomas urges readers to “make a plan. Vote on Nov. 3 or earlier. And, please spread the word—Hannah Pingree gets our vote.” She signed the letter from South Portland, emphasizing that the affordability crisis is felt by hourly and per‑day workers as well as mid‑level managers who rely on a livable wage to support their communities.

The letter was published on the Maine Press Herald’s website. It was tagged under election 2026 and governors‑race‑2026 and appears in the “letter to the editor” section. While the piece is a personal viewpoint, it highlights the growing concern among Maine residents about the rising cost of living and the need for targeted tax relief measures. The upcoming election will decide whether Pingree’s affordability agenda will move beyond discussion and into policy.