Chellie Pingree for Congress

Slideshow: The Campaign in Photos

2008-11-20T14:46:54Z

Chellie Live from Washington

2008-11-20T01:45:06Z

Chellie talked to Channel 13's Gregg Lagerquist from Washington about her experiences during New Member Orientation on Capitol Hill.

Return to Paradise: A Different Election Story

2008-11-13T16:30:16Z

November 13, 2008 _HuffingtonPost.com_ by Robert J. Elisberg. For all the circus-like turbulence that the American political system goes through every four years, there ended up being only one headline this election. But there were many stories. Most occur far from the limelight, yet they have their own impact, even if just on the local lives they touch. Occasionally, though, some manage to have an effect nationally, as well. Back in June, 2006, I wrote a piece here, "Paradise Found! An Actual, Good Person in Government." It told about a remarkable person, Chellie Pingree, who had been Majority Leader in the state senate of Maine. She ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002, but got bowled over by the Bush Tsunami that year. It didn't help that she ran against the Iraq War, just months after 9/11. But she felt it important to speak out, knowing it could cost her the election. She also ran on a reform-minded health care platform, guaranteeing she'd be a target of the pharmaceutical lobby - especially since, as Maine's Majority Leader, she had lead bus trips into Canada to help residents buy inexpensive prescription drugs there. She's a person who's generally been ahead of the curve, but as solid, grounded a Down Easter as they come. Yet her best attribute, as the article explained, was her decency as a person. Fortunately, there was life after losing, and Chellie Pingree was made president and CEO of Common Cause, where she kept up their high standards working for reform and the public good. Although the article was about a good person "in government," it's true that Chellie Pingree was not an elected official. However, she had been, and she was nonetheless working in the service of government. Regardless, I ended the piece by writing - "I have no idea if Chellie Pingree will run for political office again. Or be appointed to some post. Or continue with Common Cause, or elsewhere. But as I look at the mean-spirited, divisive political landscape today and cringe, I only know that whatever she does, we all are served best when people like Chellie Pingree are part of the process." Well...nine months after that, Chellie Pingree decided to try getting back into elective politics. When Rep. Tom Allen took on the challenge of running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Susan Collins (a race he ultimately didn't win), it left his First District seat open. And Ms. Pingree entered the highly-contested primary. One of the great difficulties of politics, though, is to attempt a second act. Most people - wisely - don't even try. No matter your credentials, lose once, and it's "thanks for trying before, but...next!" But some stories have a happy ending. On Tuesday, Chellie Pingree was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She won by 15 points. Two years ago, she may not have been "officially" in government - but that story is over. She is, once again. And we're all better for it. We understandably think of the House Representatives as being about local concerns. But the moment they sit in Washington, their voices and actions impact all of America. And having Chellie Pingree sitting in Washington, all of America has a strong and profoundly decent voice representing it, not just the First District of Maine. Ms. Pingree remains one of the earliest, most ardent voices against the Iraq War and ending America's involvement there. She not only remains an outspoken proponent of health care reform, but helped pass Maine's law to negotiate for lower prescription drug costs. She doesn't just speak for renewable energy as a popular issue of the day - her college degree is in human ecology. She has long-pushed for campaign finance reform, ethics reform and far more - you don't become the head of Common Cause without having a wide palate to work from. And perhaps just as important, you don't become the Majority Leader of a state senate without having the ability to accomplish your goals. To be clear, it's just one voice in a sea of voices. But it is a voice that speaks with honor, kindness and fairness as its hallmark. I don't live in Maine. I'm not represented by Chellie Pingree. I reside 3,000 miles away on the opposite side of the continent. But I'm okay knowing that the country I live in is represented by her. We're all of us now in two, new, good hands. There was a monumental headline on Election Day. But it's wonderful when you turn the page and can also find that the day signaled a vibrant change on so many different and deep levels. And that among those many, an actual, good person in government beat the odds and returned to government. "**Link to the article.**":http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/return-to-paradise-a-diff_b_143553.html

In some ways, Pingree can follow in her own footsteps

2008-11-12T21:23:24Z

November 11, 2008 __Portland Press Herald__ by Justin Ellis, Staff Writer. _Her experience with policy issues and the ways of Washington should help her get off to a fast start._ Unlike some of her fellow freshmen in the 111th Congress, Maine's new 1st District representative may not need a map to get around Capitol Hill. Democrat Chellie Pingree, who was elected last Tuesday to succeed Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, may be able to hit the ground running in January thanks to her time working for a government watchdog group and her previous campaign for U.S. Senate. Observers say even small advantages will help Pingree establish connections and build coalitions that could benefit Maine. Pingree campaigned on ending the war in Iraq, creating jobs by exploring alternative energy and moving toward a single-payer health care system. She defeated Republican Charlie Summers of Scarborough, winning 55 percent of the vote. Regardless of her stature as a new lawmaker, Pingree said the biggest priority will be fixing the economy. "I have a feeling that the number one agenda of everybody is going to be the economy and what we can do to get jobs going again," she said in an interview last week. Next week, Pingree will attend an orientation with other new members of Congress, before being sworn in after the beginning of the year. She said a lot of factors can determine her committee assignments, which will be a critical factor in her ability to pass laws that help Mainers. Pingree, who lives on North Haven, said she believes seats on the Armed Services, Energy and Commerce or Appropriations committees would have the most benefit to Maine. Armed Services, for example, would put her in a position to vote on shipbuilding projects that could affect Bath Iron Works or the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. Pingree said the biggest thing will be to remember it takes teamwork to get laws passed. "It does not pay to go into Congress thinking I am going to single-handedly pass this agenda on my own," she said. After her unsuccessful bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in 2002, Pingree became president and chief executive officer of Common Cause, an organization aimed at reforming campaign financing and reining in special interests. In four years at Common Cause, Pingree worked in Washington and traveled around the country talking about issues such as public financing for campaigns, the impact of redistricting and media reform. Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, another Washington-based reform group, said Pingree is a natural organizer and consensus builder. She said Pingree was proactive as president of Common Cause, and realized that it takes initiative to make changes on big issues such as campaign financing. "Whatever committee she gets on, whatever issue that comes up, I'm sure she'll be a leader on that," Claybrook said. Ronald Schmidt, a political science professor at the University of Southern Maine, said getting bills passed takes connections and clout, something freshmen legislators typically lack. "The fact that she has Washington experience is a good thing," said Schmidt. "But the biggest thing now is figuring out which committees she winds up on." Schmidt said 2nd District Congressman Mike Michaud could help Pingree because a good committee assignment benefits both of them and the state. The biggest task Pingree is likely to face is helping pass President-elect Barack Obama's legislative agenda. Although that may not leave room for individual legislators' priorities, it could help raise her profile, Schmidt said. Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat who represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District from 1995 to 2002, said just knowing your way around the building is useful to new legislators. Early in his time in D.C., he would get lost in the tunnels that snake underneath the Capitol, he said. Baldacci said meeting leaders, setting a staff and establishing a working relationship across the aisle will be key to Pingree's success. Her experience already has her off to a good start, he said. "I expect her to be a fast riser. We can start to see her really making a difference," he said. "It's great to have her voice added to Congressman Michaud's in the House." Staff Writer Justin Ellis can be contacted at 791-6380 or at: jellis@pressherald.com Copyright © 2008 Blethen Maine Newspapers "**Link to article.**":http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=221367&ac=PHnws

Dear Friends,

2008-11-05T22:15:33Z

Thank you! Today marks an incredible new era in our country -- full of hope and energy. I am thrilled and honored that you have given me the opportunity to be a part of that new direction. Thank you for all you did in this campaign. I am grateful to all of you who volunteered over the weeks and months, to my team, and everyone in the First District who has honored me with their support. I know you expect big things. You want to see a return to an economy that works for all of us, you want energy self-sufficiency, affordable quality health care, and an end to the war in Iraq. There are no simple solutions but I know that, working together, we can get our country back on track and accomplish great things. I do believe that when the voters say they want change, that's the easiest time to make change happen. None of us are feeling complacent -- we want to see significant progress. I can't wait to arrive in Washington and begin working with the Obama Administration and my Congressional colleagues to push through the programs that will get our country back on the right track. I began this race in March of 2007. For 21 months now, you have been with me -- telling me your stories and sharing your perspective. I'll carry these things with me to Washington. We did this together, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Stay in touch. All my best,

Pingree and Collins best for Maine

2008-10-23T19:15:21Z

October 23, 2008 _Portsmouth Herald/SeacoastOnline.com_. Maine is blessed this election season with four very capable candidates for higher office. Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and challenger U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat, are seasoned legislators who have each spent a dozen years in Congress. Both have served the residents of Maine and the country well. Vying for Allen's District 1 seat are two veterans of Maine's Senate, each with experience beyond the state's borders. Democrat Chellie Pingree served as president and chief executive officer of the advocacy organization Common Cause. Republican Charlie Summers served on U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe's staff and was regional administrator for the Small Business Administration. All of them, we are sure, would effectively represent the best interests of Maine in Congress. Having said that, the next U.S. senator and representative will be part of an historic, even unprecedented, session of Congress with decisions to be made on financial regulations, health care, the war in Iraq and climate change. We believe Collins and Pingree will do the best job. Collins is one of a vanishing breed in Washington -- a legislator who truly works in a bipartisan manner. The truth is in the numbers. The Congressional Quarterly gives Collins and Snowe the highest ranks in the Senate for voting with members of the Democrats to get legislation passed. And the proof is in the record. With Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent and former Democrat, she sponsored sweeping intelligence reform legislation in the wake of Sept. 11. The bill created a director of national intelligence to serve as principal advisor to the president and created a National Counterterrorism Center. This work was done when she was chairwoman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which also oversaw the investigation and revamping of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after Hurricane Katrina. She's been in several notable "gangs," too. She is part of the "gang of 20" who signed on to bipartisan energy bill. And she was part of the "gang of 14" who worked to block Democratic filibusters of the president's judicial nominees and the Republican's threat of a "nuclear option" to change Senate rules. Collins also sponsored a bill to strengthen security at U.S. ports and legislation increasing security at the nation's chemical facilities. Pingree first caught our eye in 2000, when she created and championed Maine Rx, the first law of its kind in the country, giving the state the ability to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs bought in bulk. That was a grueling effort undertaken when she was state Senate majority leader and required convincing those from the other side of the aisle to back the plan. Pharmaceutical companies fought the law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and lost. That kind of ability to fight for the disenfranchised and poor is exactly what Maine needs in Washington. Pingree was further shaped by four years at Common Cause, when she lobbied, as she said, the likes of John McCain and John Kerry, and received the grudging respect of folks like Grover Norquist. She's lobbied Congress. She knows the rules of engagement and will have no learning curve. She's politically progressive, but also a small business person who started a knitting kit business in the 1990s and is currently the proprietor of an inn and restaurant. This kind of broad-based, thoughtful, grounded experience will serve the residents of Maine well. Certainly, Mainers would be ably represented were either Allen or Summers to win on Nov. 4. Maine voters are so fortunate to have an embarrassment of riches from which to choose. But in the end, for their leadership and bipartisan efforts, we endorse Collins and Pingree. "**Link to the article.**":http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081023-OPINION-810230408

Pingree in District 1

2008-10-23T19:12:50Z

October 23, 2008 _Times Record_. Chellie Pingree offers residents of Maine's 1st U.S. House District a mix of experience and vision that would serve the district well if she's elected to Congress. Her résumé and blueprint for representing Maine values in Washington make Pingree the choice over Republican Charlie Summers in the contest to succeed Tom Allen. As a small business owner, legislator and executive director of Common Cause, Pingree spent 30 years honing leadership skills necessary to bridge the cultural gap between southern Maine and Washington, D.C., and to serve as an effective first-term member of Congress. Pingree and Summers both merit high praise for running honest, positive campaigns. Their focus on issues and promoting positive agendas provides welcome respite from the acid-spewing that dominates the presidential election and contaminates the U.S. Senate race between Allen and Sen. Susan Collins. In a competition between two laudable candidates, Pingree's positions on the war in Iraq and energy policy elevate her above Summers as the best candidate to represent District 1. Her long-standing, principled stance against the Iraq war and her commitment to press for a systematic but timely withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq represent a realistic appraisal of the war's debilitating impact on both this nation's economy and our status in the world. Recognizing that a discussion of whether the United States can "win" the war only exacerbates the negative repercussions and elevates the casualty toll, she asserts that the United States needs to stem the flow of a $10 billion monthly war tab and divert it to pressing domestic needs. "We can't continue to squander our resources on the worst foreign policy mistake in our country's history," Pingree asserts on her Web site. "Leaving will be complicated, but staying only continues the tragic loss of our soldiers, Iraqi citizens and almost unthinkable amounts of money." Dating back to her days as a state senator, Pingree has advocated promotion of clean, renewable energy production as a way to create and retain good jobs in Maine. Conversely, Summers toes the Republican Party line that the United States can achieve energy independence by more widespread offshore drilling and greater reliance on nuclear energy. Those positions ignore the fact that U.S. oil reserves fall far short of demand and that, if anything, the nation is further removed from a solution on spent fuel storage than it was when Maine Yankee was decommissioned in 1997. Pingree's admirable accomplishments as Senate majority leader to move Maine forward on health care reform, which will be a key topic for the next Congress, also positions her well to be the best representative for the 1st District. "**Link to the article.**":http://www.timesrecord.com/website/main.nsf/news.nsf/0/F8FBDFA454676653852574EB005C6503?Opendocument

Pingree sports refreshing dose of bipartisanship

2008-10-21T19:09:27Z

October 21, 2008 _Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel_. Chellie Pingree has changed from her more partisan days as a leading Democrat, in chambers comfortably controlled by Democrats, at the Statehouse in Augusta. Perhaps that's what four years as the national head of Common Cause, a nonpartisan, open-government lobbying group, will do for you. Perhaps, too, Pingree's losing bid for the U.S. Senate has something to do with the change. Today, Pingree is personable, a good listener and a refreshingly skeptical politician, even wary of her own ilk. She said she learned from her defeat at the hands of Sen. Susan Collins six years ago. Pingree also believes that her tenure running Common Cause will give her an unusual level of credibility, if not affection, among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, should she win her campaign against Republican Charlie Summers. We liked her straightforwardness. When asked if Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the right person to lead that chamber, into a much-needed era of bipartisanship, Pingree said: "I'm not sure that she is." When challenged on whether Democrats would be any better than Republicans at running things and avoiding partisan faceoffs at the federal level, Pingree again said she wasn't certain but added for emphasis: "If we (Democrats) can't solve this partisan divisiveness, then we don't deserve to govern." Pingree displays a deep knowledge of Maine and Maine issues. She can relate to problems facing small-business owners because she still owns and operates an inn on North Haven island. She's learned about the state's many other challenges because she has traveled Maine so extensively. She's beginning to demonstrate flexibility. Once a strong supporter of a national health-care program, Pingree acknowledges that recent economic upheaval and moribund national and state economies make such a venture unlikely, both politically and financially, in the near-term. She described the economic situation as "immediate and dire." She said working toward energy independence is a more pressing issue than universal health care, in light of the mess on Wall Street and the economy. She displayed optimism. With its potential for wind power, wood pellets and ocean tidal and wind farms, Pingree says Maine can benefit now that the country seems to have lost some of its thirst for high-priced, Middle Eastern oil. And she notes that as people think of simpler lives in response to the economic downtown, organic and small farmers in Maine seem to be doing well, or at least better. Her stance on energy has its weak point. Pingree clearly is reluctant to support offshore drilling for oil or building nuclear power plants. While neither, taken separately, represents a solution to the nation's energy woes, both have a role as we develop a long-term strategy for U.S energy independence. Pingree's opponent, Republican Charlie Summers, also is a veteran of the Statehouse, where he served two terms as a senator. Likewise, he's a veteran of Washington, where he worked for nine years for Sen. Olympia Snowe. Summers has run for Congress twice before and is 0-for-2. He's worked many jobs and headed the U.S. Small Business Administration in New England. Summers also is a combat veteran who served in Iraq from 2007-08. He stressed that, if elected, he would be one of a handful of people in Congress who would have that on-the-ground, combat experience. We believe he would use that experience well. Summers said he would seek a seat on the Armed Services Committee, where he would keep the 1st Congressional District's 84,000 veterans in mind. He displayed a cold-eyed assessment of what has gone wrong, and right, in Iraq, since the war began. Summers would seek to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in April 2009. He would begin shifting U.S. dollars from Iraq to Afghanistan. And he'd push for a "peace surge" in Iraq following our military effort, with Peace Corps, education, health-care and other efforts. Summers has the misfortune of also being ready for Congress -- but he's campaigning during a year when Republicans face an uphill political challenge. We endorse Pingree, the Democrat, for Congress. But we have a request: That she keep up her guard around Pelosi and the other Washington-beltway types, should she take office. Pingree promised to keep "what Maine needs," not what her party needs, at the forefront of her thinking, should she win. It's easy to forget that after a few months, a few years, a few terms of being wooed by the powerful in our nation's capital. Pingree said she'll do better than that. We expect her to do so. "**Link to the article.**":http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/columns/5523979.html

Pingree is our pick for 1st District post

2008-10-19T11:57:02Z

October 19, 2008 _Portland Press Herald_ and _Maine Sunday Telegram_ editorial. _Her leadership and forceful personality make her the best choice to send to Congress._ Southern Maine will enter what promises to be a historic session of Congress without the benefit of a seasoned representative. In a period in which the federal government will be called on to rewrite the laws governing financial regulation along with energy and health-care policy while continuing the oversight of a two-front war, many decisions that will affect the lives of Mainers will be made. With Rep. Tom Allen's decision to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, the 1st District will lose a veteran lawmaker, seasoned by 12 years in Washington. In this volatile time his best replacement is Chellie Pingree, the Democratic challenger for his seat. Pingree is a proven leader who has demonstrated her ability to rise to the top in a variety of different circumstances. She would take that ability with her to Congress, promising the people of Southern Maine a forceful voice in the debate during this crucial period. Pingree started her career in municipal government in the island community of North Haven, where she also ran a small business. During her eight years in the state Senate, she rose to the position of majority leader, spearheading the bipartisan effort to pass first-in-the-nation legislation aimed at providing lower-cost prescription drugs to state residents. After she was term limited out of the Legislature, Pingree ran a hard-fought campaign against Collins in 2002, and then was appointed president of Common Cause, the national non-partisan government-reform lobbying group. This year, back in Maine, she ran in a six-way primary in which she drew 44 percent of the vote in a strong field of challengers. Each step of the way in her career, Pingree has stood out as a leader, and that's why the residents of Southern Maine would benefit from her representation in Congress. Which is not to say that we agree with every position that she has taken during this campaign. During the primary, Pingree said that, if elected, she would favor holding impeachment hearings for President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney during the short period between the day members of Congress are sworn in and a new president is inaugurated. While this might have been a popular position for party activists likely to turn out for a primary, it would be a wasteful and destructive way for a new Congress to get to work. Now that a worsening financial crisis portends a deep recession, the next Congress should waste no time or good will on partisan battles. Pingree faces a tough challenger in Republican nominee Charlie Summers. Like Pingree, Summers has been a small-business owner and a state senator. He has relevant experience working on the staff of Sen. Olympia Snowe and as New England's regional administrator of the Small Business Administration, and he has first-hand experience regarding the war in Iraq, from his service there as a Navy Reserve officer on active duty. Summers is a moderate Republican whose positions on many issues would also would reflect the make-up of the 1st District. That makes this a close call. But in the end, Pingree's forceful personality and proven ability as a political leader give her the edge for our endorsement. "**Link to the editorial.**":http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=216521&ac=PHedi

Pingree: Opportunity knocks for U.S.

2008-10-17T13:10:23Z

October 17, 2008 6:00 AM _ SeacoastOnline.com_ by Deborah McDermott. Chellie Pingree is pragmatic. Yes, this country is in a world of hurt, she says, and Americans do nothing about it at their peril. No, she says, it is not the end of that world, and with some tough decisions and far-reaching legislation the country can turn itself around quite nicely. It is a message that must be resonating with voters. Pingree, the Democratic candidate for the District 1 congressional seat, was ahead of Republican rival Charlie Summers by as much as 10 percentage points during the last poll in early October. "But I'm superstitious about this whole 'getting elected' thing," she said. "There's still a ways to go." Pingree is no stranger to politics. A former state senator and Senate majority leader, she was for four years CEO and president of the citizen activist group Common Cause in Washington, where she lobbied Congress on a number of issues. This fact, she said, is one of the keys to understanding what she would bring to Maine as its congresswoman. "I lobbied John McCain as much as I lobbied John Kerry. I've worked with (anti-tax lobbyist) Grover Norquist," she said. "I know these people. Some of them have said to me, 'I'm still not with you on this issue, but I'm with you on that one.'" She said she does not believe she would have voted for the $700 billion bailout measure, although she's quick to add, "It's very easy to say that when you're a candidate and not in a caucus." She said the bill, in her opinion, did not go far enough. "I understand why the government had to step in. I just wanted to see the people to get the same deal as Warren Buffet," she said, also bemoaning the earmarks strung on the bill in the U.S. Senate. "If we're really going to clean out the junk in there, I wanted to see more oversight." But in this moment of calamity, she said, there are opportunities. "It may seem perverse, but when there are times of great crisis, it's the best time to be a policy member," she said. "People are angry. They want changes. But there are a lot of good trends at the same time. We can push federal investment in the right direction. It's a great opportunity to do big things." Her pragmatism is nowhere more evident than when talking about the future -- how, with the economy in the gutter and a deficit at $10 trillion, the government can right itself and begin to climb out. For one, she said, about 40 percent of the deficit comes from President Bush's tax cuts, and another 40 percent from the cost of the war. To begin with, it would be incumbent upon Congress to roll back the tax cuts and stop the war, she said. As for growth, she said, it's clear to her that it lies in green energy and technology, "which is great for Maine. We're perfectly poised to be a part of that." She cites manufacturing facilities that could be retooled to build components for wind turbines, for instance, and to Maine's significant wind and tidal power potential. "We're at the right place at the right time." Unlike Summers, she does not favor new offshore drilling. "There are 68 million acres of leases out there. A reasonable amount of drilling can go on right now." She said instead of creating the infrastructure for new offshore drilling, which will take time, she would rather see the country put its money into new energy development. Pingree is in favor of a single-payer health care system, but said, "I'm just not convinced that's where Congress will go. If they want to keep private insurance, fine. But I think insurance should be mandatory. Doing nothing isn't an option. I know we hate this debate, but we've got to talk about it. If the Democrats don't fix health care, we don't deserve to govern." She has come under attack by Summers because her campaign has taken $52,000 in donations from hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman and his colleagues at Paloma Partners, where he works. Summers has said that at this time when hedge fund managers are responsible for much of the problems on Wall Street, it isn't seemly for her to take the contributions. "Donald Sussman held a fund-raiser for me," she said. "He and all my donors support my campaign not because they think they can influence my vote, but because they feel I'll make a good member of Congress. "I'm also a strong supporter of public financing. I raised money under the rules as they exist. I can't wait to change them. It would take the whole question out of the debate," she said. Asked why she wants to be a small cog in a wheel of 435 House members, she said she doesn't think that cog's so small. "Maine has this kind of cache you bring with you, the cache of (Sen. Edmund) Muskie and (Sen. George) Mitchell and (Sen. Margaret Chase) Smith," she said. "I'm very grounded in what it takes to run. And I'm a fighter. I want things to be just right." Editor's note: This is the second of two profiles for the Maine District 1 congressional seat candidates. "**link to article**":http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081017-NEWS-810170434

Chellie Pingree: Maine island living shapes longtime politician's views

2008-10-06T11:47:16Z

October 4, 2008 _Bangor Daily News_ by Walter Griffin. NORTH HAVEN, Maine -- Chellie Pingree's political life has taken her from Augusta to the nation's capital, but it is this island in Penobscot Bay that is the source of her convictions and inspiration. "People in a small town have a very good sense of how to work together, how to push to get things done," she said. "You can learn a lot living in a small town. We all know each other's business, but we keep an eye on each other, too. I could never live anywhere else." Pingree, who is the Democratic candidate in the race to replace Tom Allen as representative from Maine's 1st Congressional District, has been involved in politics for decades. She served on the island as assessor and on its planning and school boards. She served in the Maine Senate for eight years, ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002, and headed the public interest group Common Cause until last year when she announced her candidacy for Congress. Pingree also had a career as a successful businesswoman. She now is the owner of Nebo Lodge, a restored inn and restaurant near the island ferry landing. Pingree, 53, grew up in Minnesota and moved to North Haven right after high school, where she met her future husband, Charlie Pingree, at an Outward Bound program. It was a time when people were in the streets protesting the war in Vietnam, the counterculture was taking hold and young people were heading back to the land. "It was 1971 and we all had a copy of Helen and Scott Nearing's 'Living the Good Life,'" she said. "We wanted to get involved in all those things that people were talking about then, living off the land, heating with wood." The couple set up in a small cabin on the island, and though they tried to make a go of it, they quickly realized they needed to acquire the necessary skills if they wanted to realize their dreams. Pingree enrolled at College of the Atlantic and her husband learned boat building. Upon completion of their education, they returned to North Haven and Chellie began farming while Charlie started building boats. Along with building a way of life, the couple also started a family. Daughter Hannah now represents North Haven and the surrounding islands in the Legislature. Cecily is a filmmaker who lives in Portland, and son Asa is an actor and carpenter living in New York City. The Pingrees divorced, but both still live on North Haven. The farm eventually added cows and a flock of sheep, and she and some of her neighbors began gathering the wool for yarn. Pingree and her friends began knitting sweaters and selling them to tourists. It wasn't long before North Island Designs evolved into a full-time business providing income for a number of island women. The cottage industry grew to the point where its products were sold in 1,200 stores nationwide with catalogs distributed to more than 100,000 homes. The business was sold after Pingree entered politics. "It was a great business for women. It employed the most women on this island," she said. "It really upped the business at the post office." Pingree's political life off the island began one night in Portland when she and daughter Hannah attended an appearance by then-Rep. Patricia Schroeder of Colorado, one of the country's foremost women politicians at the time. Schroeder spoke of the need for more women in public life, and a friend suggested that Pingree consider running for the Knox County Senate seat. "Hannah said, 'Go for it, Mom,' and I did. It was one of those crazy ideas that you should know better not to do, but you can't get away from." Pingree had never taken an active part in Democratic Party politics, but she was embraced by party leaders. Historically, the seat was held by someone from one of the county's more populous communities such as Rockland or Camden. Coming from an island with just 350 year-round residents, Pingree knew she had to work. And work she did. In what was traditionally a Republican-held seat, Pingree won in a landslide. She served four terms in Augusta, the last two as Senate majority leader. Term limits brought an end to that phase of her life. Pingree served one term in the state Senate with Charlie Summers, her Republican opponent in the November election. While in the Senate, Pingree led the fight to permit the state to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. It was the first legislation of its kind in the country and was bitterly opposed by the pharmaceutical companies. "We took on the drug fight and Maine definitely set a precedent," she said. "They took us all the way to the Supreme Court and we won. There was a lot of lobbying against us, but we did it." After her loss to Susan Collins in the 2002 U.S. Senate race, Pingree was approached with the offer to serve as president of Common Cause. Although she initially balked at the thought of leaving Maine, she realized that had she won the election she would have ended up in Washington anyway. "One door closes and another door opens," she said. "I knew I still wanted to be in there fixing things and being in the fight. We did a lot of things in Maine that Common Cause was interested in. I know what it is to take on the tough issues and fight lobbyists. I never planned to move, but it was a great experience." Living on an island and running a small business, Pingree said she encounters many of the same problems as people on the mainland, only they are amplified. Energy and food costs are higher, and the ability to provide health care continues to be difficult. "Everything comes on a truck, on a boat or you go to the mainland to get it," she said. "I know the difficulty of meeting a payroll. It's been brutal, but it's a great business." As she campaigns across the district, Pingree said people are worried about their livelihood, energy costs and the continuing war in Iraq. She said the current economic situation, while dire, can be corrected with proper leadership. "When people are angry, you have a much better chance to change things. Today, people are angry about everything," she said. "We need to regulate Wall Street, and we cannot let this unfettered greed continue." As for the war in Iraq, Pingree said she opposed it from the start and had not changed her mind. She said Congress should pull the plug on war funding and take steps to withdraw the troops. She said the country should work toward a diplomatic solution of the conflict. "We're not going to win the war. We're seen as an invading force and an occupying army," she said. "We need to embrace a new foreign policy to restore our reputation and work cooperatively with other nations." Although a strong supporter for alternative forms of energy, Pingree said she opposed exploration for offshore oil. She said the oil companies have millions of untapped oil leases out west and they should drill there instead of the ocean. She said North Haven and Vinalhaven recently voted to spend $12 million to build a wind power facility. If two small towns can invest in alternative energy, the rest of the nation can, too, she said. "Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Maine when we already have problems with our fisheries? I can't imagine the fishermen going along with drilling offshore," she said. "The people would much rather look at a wind tower than an oil rig." "**Link to article.**":http://bangornews.com/detail/90382.html

Five Things to Know about Chellie

2008-05-19T15:50:47Z

]]> p(#section1). **1. Chellie comes from a close-knit middle-class family, is the mother of three grown children and is a grandmother.** Her father was an accountant and her mom was a nurse. On top of running a business and raising her children, Chellie volunteered for public service; she eventually became the chair of the North Haven school board -- which she still says is the toughest political job there is. In 1992, she was elected to the Maine Senate, and served as Senate majority leader in her last four years, before being term-limited. Chellie's oldest child, Hannah, followed in her mother's footsteps and is now serving as a state representative and is the majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives. "Back to the top":#section6 p(#section2). **2. Chellie is a successful entrepreneur and small business owner who understands the importance of creating and sustaining jobs in Maine.** In the 1980s, Chellie started a business called North Island Designs, which sold yarn and knitting kits to thousands of stores across the country and provided year-round jobs to ten North Haven women for many years. More recently, she opened Nebo Lodge, an inn and restaurant in North Haven. Her experience as a small business owner gives her a realistic perspective of the economic needs of both employers and workers. Chellie has been endorsed by a number of unions, including the UAW and the Teamsters Local 340. "Back to the top":#section6 p(#section3). **3. Chellie has shown a lifelong commitment to environmental protection**, beginning with her degree in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, continuing with her experience as an organic farmer and as an early staff member of Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), and extending to her work in the Maine Senate, where she sponsored a bill to start the Farms for Maine's Future program and helped pass Maine's largest ever public land bond (Land for Maine's Future). Chellie received recognition from the Natural Resources Council of Maine for her work on behalf of Maine's environment and has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters and Friends of the Earth Action. "Back to the top":#section6 p(#section4). **4. Chellie has already achieved real healthcare reform of national importance.** After witnessing her brother Bob's struggle with terminal cancer, his insurance coverage, and the devastating effect on his illness on his family's finances, Chellie translated her personal zeal for healthcare reform into Maine legislation with national influence. She led the effort to pass the Maine Rx law, which made it possible for Maine to negotiate prices on prescription drugs. Against all odds, she succeeded in beating the drug companies by building a strong coalition of legislators, healthcare activists, and citizens. "Back to the top":#section6 p(#section5). **5. As the Maine Senate majority leader and then president and CEO of Common Cause, Chellie earned a reputation for taking on tough fights - and winning - through principled negotiations, working with colleagues and the community, and saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done - even when it's hard to do and isn't politically popular.** As a state senator, she fought against Big PHARMA, one of the most powerful special interests in the country; stood up to MBNA and Nautica Corporation when they threatened the interests of their employees in her district. While campaigning against Senator Collins in 2002, Chellie clearly stated her opposition to going to war in Iraq, even though political experts warned her that it might harm her election chances. As the president and CEO of Common Cause from 2003 to 2007, she fought the huge media conglomerates on the issue of media reform, lobbied congressional leaders about ethics reform, and spoke out early in the media about the abuses by Haliburton and other contractors in Iraq. Chellie has always stood up for what's right, no matter how powerful the interests on the other side. "Back to the top":#section6

Paradise Found! An Actual, Good Person in Government

2007-10-19T02:55:29Z

p. June 15, 2006 Huffington Post By Robert J. Elisberg People have been cynical about politicians since the Roman Empire. ("O, that Marcus Aurelius. He too hath a lean and hungry look.") It's just that these days - between Bill Frist diagnosing brain-dead strangers via television, the Vice-President shooting someone without investigation, and the White House outing a covert agent for spite - Republicans have turned cynicism into an art form. However, it's important to remind oneself that there actually are incredibly good people in government service. I don't mean "people I agree with." I mean, simply, good people. Kind, decent, thoughtful. While banging my head against the wall, weary of yet one more outrage (I think it was conservatives comparing Al Gore to Hitler), I was saved a concussion when I thought of Chellie Pingree. It's good to always recognize that the Chellie Pingree's of the world exist. It brings comfort. I was covering the 2000 Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. In fairness, "covering" is too grandiose. I was covering it like one snowflake covers the Alps. I was dong a single article for the Writers Guild of America magazine. A delegate from Maine named Chellie Pingree saw my press badge. Mentioning that I'd worked briefly in Maine and loved it, that's what we talked about. Politics didn't enter into the conversation. This was the National Democratic Convention. If two mimes met, politics would have entered into the conversation. But we talked about Moody's Diner, Campobello Island and wild blueberries. She just wanted to chat. But after 15 minutes, I didn't even know what this Pingree person did. She was about to floor me. "Oh, I'm a delegate from my local area," she said, and left it at that. So, I had to drag out more. How'd you get to be a delegate? "Oh, I'm in politics." Well, okay, what do you do in politics? (By this point, I figured she's a poll watcher in Waldoboro.) "I'm the State Senate Majority Leader." Okay, here's the thing: that's not what amazed me. It's that I still had to do yet more questioning to find that she was running for the United States Senate in 2002. Again, remember, this was the Democratic Convention. Candidates will trample little children to reach someone with a press badge - but it had to be dragged out of her that she was running for the U.S. Senate There was enough politics there; she just wanted to chat. But even that isn't what impressed me most about Chellie Pingree. It was a small matter later - small, as in, "bizarrely insignificant." But its very insignificance is what speaks volumes. Over the next year, we exchanged periodic emails. That she took the time during her exhaustive Senate campaign was notable enough. We discussed politics, and chatted frivolities. Once, I even mentioned buying a University of Maine baseball cap while there, but bemoaned losing it. She kindly commiserated. Many months later, she came to Los Angeles for a fund-raiser. Noticing her get off the hotel elevator, I wandered over to re-introduce myself. But before I could say a word, she greeted me with a big hello, and said, "Wait, I have something for you." At that, she reached into her bag, and pulled out...a University of Maine baseball cap. I didn't live in Maine, I couldn't vote for her. I wouldn't be writing about her. We'd met one time. And yet she listened, tracked down a cap, remembered to pack it, remembered to bring it downstairs, and the first thing she did at her fundraising event - for the United States Senate - was deliver it. This was an insignificant act, make no mistake. But the ability to notice small things and be thoughtful about them - even at the times of greatest stress - is what speaks to a person's character. I wish the story had a perfect ending. Unfortunately, she got caught in the Republican mid-term steamroller after 9/11. She came close in her race, but lost to Susan Collins. But at least the story has a good ending. Because of Chellie Pingree's reputation for decency and ability, she was approached to be President and CEO of Common Cause, positions which she holds today, working for the public good. I've avoided mentioning the issues Chellie Pingree has worked for, because issues color our perception of a person. But basic decency, that's core. I have no idea if Chellie Pingree will run for political office again. Or be appointed to some post. Or continue with Common Cause, or elsewhere. But as I look at the mean-spirited, divisive political landscape today and cringe, I only know that whatever she does, we all are served best when people like Chellie Pingree are part of the process. Link to "ARTICLE":http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-j-elisberg/paradise-found-an-actua_b_23068.html

James Boyce's Meet Your Candidates Interview with Chellie Pingree, April 2, 2007

2007-09-12T05:33:49Z

The following is an interview with Chellie published on the Huffington Post website on April 2, 2007. The Huffington Post is a weblog founded by Arianna Huffington in 2005 to present arguments and opinions posted by leading progressives. You can read posts from Chellie and more contributors at www.huffingtonpost.com.

So, there's some talk that you are going to run for Congress in Maine?

Yes, I am planning to run for Congress and looking forward to taking on that challenge. In February, I left my position at Common Cause so that I could do this. For the last four years, while I have been working in Washington and around the country leading Common Cause, my residence and home has continued to be in Maine -- and my heart has certainly been there. I am very excited about this chance to campaign to represent the people of my home state.

I know you ran for the US Senate in 2002, against Susan Collins; what did you learn from the race, and what do you think about Tom Allen's chances to defeat Collins in '08?

I learned a great deal from that campaign and from my four earlier successful races for the Maine State Senate (including two terms as Maine Senate Majority Leader). More than anything else, I learned that in order to win you have to work hard. And more than anything, you must be willing to be courageous and honest. To win in Maine you have to take the campaign directly to the people -- whether it is knocking on 5000 doors, as I did in my first state senate race, or working with lots of hard working young canvassers in an unprecedented field campaign, as we did in my 2002 US Senate race against Collins. I learned some difficult lessons in 2002 about when to listen to DC "Beltway" advice and when to follow your own gut on how to run a campaign. I also learned that political years have their own personalities and there are times when -- no matter what a candidate does -- there is nothing you can do about the political climate of the state and country. We started the US Senate campaign prior to 9/11, after which the mood of the electorate changed completely, eventually making it nearly impossible for a Democrat to win a seat. In fact only one Democratic challenger did win (in the US Senate) in that cycle.

During this past election, the mood of the country was so different than 2002 -- the anger about the war, the disgust about the corruption and rancor in Washington, and voters made it clear that they were ready for a change. In 2006, candidates whom no one expected could win did and those who people never thought could be defeated -- like Lincoln Chafe and Nancy Johnson -- were. I don't think that we have seen the end of this political cycle, and I expect that Congressman Allen will have a tremendous opportunity in his bid for the US Senate in 2008. He will run a great campaign and the frustration of Maine people with the current Republican administration will bolster his chances.

Since then, you were the President and CEO at Common Cause. What are you proudest of accomplishing within the organization?

I am especially proud of taking on issues most central to the health of our American democracy. They included tackling the huge problems with voting in this country -- as have we have seen to devastating effect in Ohio in 2004 and in Sarasota in 2006 involving problems as diverse as the untrustworthy electronic voting machines to long lines engineered by partisan elected officials. We have brought light to these issues, tracked them for the public and media, and pushed hard for significant reform.

Public financing of campaigns has also been a big interest of mine -- having come from Maine, where I served for 8 years in the senate and my daughter is now in her third term in the Maine House as a "Clean Elections" candidate. We had some great victories enacting Clean Elections in places like Connecticut and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Most recently, Common Cause has done a tremendous amount of work on the bill that Senator Durbin is about to introduce for full public financing for the US Senate.

We also took on the issue of media reform at Common Cause in a variety of ways -- everything from getting involved in the media ownership fight in 2003, to taking on bad actors like Fox and Sinclair Broadcasting, to getting our members to stand up for "Net Neutrality" back before most people knew what the word meant.

I also think that it has been extremely important for organizations like Common Cause to be vigilant watchdogs on the issues of ethics and accountability -- our real bread and butter for the last 36 years. We expressed our outrage and helped illuminate the role of Halliburton and no-bid contracts in the Iraq war. We worked hard to expose the ethics truce that went on in Congress for 7 years, burying real ethical issues. The truce was finally broken when Chris Bell filed a complaint against Tom Delay.

I know you did a lot of work to modernize the organization. What advice would you give to those managing other organizations that are facing the challenges of expanding the donor base to the internet, and a changing communications environment that includes things like the blogs and online video?

Like many older DC organizations, Common Cause has had to come a long way both in its use of the internet and its understanding of the great value of engaging people in a broader online dialogue. We were started in 1971 and used the most up-to date communications of those days, but when I arrived in 2003, we only had 27,000 people on our email list. With the help of a lot of creative young minds, the organization has greatly expanded the dialogue -- and the ability for our over 200,000 members and supporters to engage and support our work. Certainly, my advice is that communicating, lobbying, fundraising and engaging the public in policy and politics is far more exciting and inexpensive via the internet. Old guard organizations like Common Cause had to evolve to embrace this new environment. My advice for any organization like Common Cause would be "Change is good!"

Common Cause seems to favor regulation to level the playing field in regards to political communication, so how did you feel about the FEC ruling that declined to regulate these new forms of communication over the internet?

One of the reasons I wanted to leave my position at Common Cause and return to politics was to regain the freedom to speak out politically -- to not be constrained by a non-partisan organization. I have always felt using regulatory methods to "level the playing field" in political campaigns was less likely to achieve the desired outcome than proactive measures, like encouraging more candidates to run through public financing or making sure that more voices could be heard through the internet and blogs -- and sometimes I differed with my own organization in my opinion. I was very comfortable with the FEC ruling and I think that it clarifies this debate.

Maine has blogs like Turn Maine Blue and Maine Democrats now organizing locally. How do you plan to interact with the online progressive movement both locally and nationally?

As soon as I formally declare my candidacy, I am looking forward to developing an active and interactive website -- with regular blogging and short video from the campaign about the issues and people we encounter. I also expect we will interact with many of the other blogs (these are both great local ones) -- through our campaign and through our volunteers and supporters. I am an occasional contributor to the Huffington Post and now that I am fully back in the world of partisan politics, I am looking forward to being a more frequent contributor to this and other blogs. I have a lot on my mind and have learned a great deal during my time in DC and believe that this is a critical time to speak out.

What's your stand on the war in Iraq and dealing with Iran?

I was opposed to the war before it was easy to do so -- back in my race for the US Senate in 2002. Like most candidates, I was being told by our consultants and the Democrats in Washington that we should not take a stand against the war. Even then in 2001 and 2002, I knew that the war was the wrong approach and that it was going to be critically important to oppose the administration's plans. I also feared that states like Maine would pay a disproportionate share of losses -- as do other small rural states -- because of the involvement of the National Guard. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be all too true. I have always been opposed to the war, I have been angry about it like so many Americans, and I am deeply worried now about the likelihood of the administration making a disastrous move into Iran. This is one of the most important reasons that I chose to run for Congress.

I have also done some international travel for my work, and am deeply discouraged to see how this misguided administration has done enormous damage to our reputation around the globe. Even with a new congress and hopefully a very new direction in the White House after 2008, we will have a lot of repair work to do.

There is a huge class of newly Democrats in Congress. What do you think of their performance so far and how would you make an impact?

There are some wonderful new people who have been elected -- and some great veteran members who now have their voice and power back again. It is good to finally see a congress that is taking its oversight role more seriously and is willing to fight back on the war and worker's issues. That said, we have a long way to go and this Congress will not enjoy a position of power for very long if the public does not feel that they are showing courage in taking on the problems that concern Americans every day -- the war, the issues of health care in our country, and the loss of good jobs. I spent eight years in the Maine Senate, where I was never afraid to take on a big fight. I am proud to be one of the first legislators to lead a successful fight on drug pricing with the pharmaceutical manufacturers -- a successful battle that took us all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. I have also led on environmental issues, for workers, for low-income women seeking education, and on issues of corporate accountability.

I have found that we can't be afraid of bold ideas and taking on the big bully in politics. The people will be with us in these battles. I have learned that it is often the politicians who need to be convinced. I would love to be a force for real change in Washington and certainly wouldn't be shy about making my voice heard. Everyday working Americans are waiting for us to speak up for them and lead on the issues that impact

Recent News Clips

2007-09-12T03:07:30Z

Clips compiled from various news sources about Chellie or the campaign.