Valerie Adams should be Cumberland County’s DA nominee | Letter

Cumberland County DA primary: Freeport resident urges voters to back challenger Valerie Adams

Freeport, Maine – A letter to the editor of the Press Herald on May 26 urged Democratic voters in Cumberland County to elect challenger Valerie Adams as district attorney, citing incumbent Jacqueline Sartoris’ perceived lack of accessibility and responsiveness.

The letter, written by Freeport resident Michael Magras, highlighted a recent incident in which he contacted Sartoris’ office regarding a Class E gun‑related disorderly‑conduct case in the town. According to Magras, the office eventually replied but declined to intervene, a decision he described as “shocking” given Sartoris’ previous leadership role in the Brunswick chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Sartoris is often unavailable to her staff and the public,” the letter quoted her own words as a source of concern.

Magras added that he had reached out to Adams for a comment. “Understandably she couldn’t give a complete answer without knowing all the facts, but Adams’ response showed more thoughtfulness than the one from Sartoris,” the letter read. Adams replied in less than a day, according to Magras, a contrast he presented as evidence of her willingness to engage with constituents.

Sartoris, who has identified herself as a progressive, was challenged in the letter for what the author called “a progressive unwilling to use her authority is of limited usefulness.” Magras concluded by urging voters to “join me in voting for change” and specifically to support Adams in the upcoming primary.

The Press Herald article, dated May 26, cited the letter as part of coverage of the upcoming Cumberland County district‑attorney primary. The election will decide which candidate will serve as the county’s chief prosecutor, with implications for local law‑enforcement priorities and community relations.