ENDORSEMENTS
THE LGBTQ VICTORY FUND
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ officials at all levels of government. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped elect thousands of LGBTQ people to positions at all levels of government. These LGBTQ voices have made significant contributions to advancing equality for LGBTQ Americans – from passing non-discrimination laws to defeating amendments to ban marriage equality.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAINE ACTION FUND
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund (PPMEAF) is the nonpartisan advocacy and political arm for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. The recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe makes it crystal clear why we need legislators in Augusta who will protect safe, legal abortion, and we are proud to support candidates who are committed to protecting the right to make personal, private decisions about a person’s health care and pregnancy.
LPAC
LPAC's mission is to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer women and nonbinary people. LPAC’s focus is on electing LGBTQ women candidates who share our values: LGBTQ and women’s equality, women’s health, and social justice, while helping coalesce LGBTQ women as a concrete and powerful political demographic.
MAINE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The Maine Education Association is a member-driven professional union representing more than 23,000 educators statewide. MEA formed as an association in November 1859 and has been advocating for teachers and students for over 150 years. Educators know that Laurie Osher will fight to defend and improve Maine's public education system, as well as the MEA's core values of Democracy, Equal Opportunity, and Social Justice.
EQUALITY MAINE
Our mission is to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration. We envision the day when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and their families have full equality in the hearts and minds of Maine people and in all areas of the law.
MAINE SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
The Maine Service Employees Association is a member-run union representing over 12,000 Maine workers. MSEA knows that it takes good legislation and accountable leaders to make meaningful change. We're all about making a difference and helping Maine people. Laurie Osher knows what it takes to get it done, and will be a powerful voice for Maine workers in the legislature.
SIERRA CLUB MAINE
The Sierra Club is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in North America. Our mission is to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. The Maine Chapter, celebrating our 29th year in 2022, is a volunteer-run grassroots organization working to protect Maine’s wilderness heritage, fight global warming & promote smart growth, safeguard Maine’s clean water and coastline, promote clean air and energy efficiency, and support pro-environment candidates for public office.
MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE
The mission of Maine People’s Alliance is to create a world where everyone has what they need, contributes what they can, and no one is left behind. Over the past three decades, MPA has worked to build a powerful statewide grassroots movement for progressive social change. By forming community with people from all walks of life, we build power, inspire new leaders, heal divisions—particularly across lines of race—and win campaigns that change what is politically possible.
MAINE AFL-CIO
The Maine AFL-CIO Is a state federation of over 160 local labor unions representing over 40,000 working men and women and retirees across the state. We work to improve the lives and working conditions of our members and all workers in the state. We are dedicated to represent the interests of working people at the state and local level. We mobilize our members and community partners to advocate for social and economic justice and we strive daily to vanquish oppression and make our communities better for all people—regardless of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin.
MAINE CONSERVATION VOTERS
Maine Conservation Voters (MCV) cultivates and uses political power to conserve and protect Maine's environment. MCV helps pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, elects pro-environment candidates to office, and holds our elected officials accountable. To protect the environment, we need the right laws in place. To pass the right laws, we need to elect the right lawmakers. Maine Conservation Voters works to elect environmental leaders who will advocate for laws that protect Maine's natural resources, outdoor heritage, and climate future.
314 ACTION FUND
314 Action is on a mission to elect more scientists to Congress, state legislatures, and local offices. As trained problem-solvers, STEM professionals are ready, willing, and able to find solutions for the significant challenges facing America in the 21st century. With a millions-strong grassroots network of engaged supporters in every part of the country, 314 works to promote scientific and evidence-based policy. 314 Action is excited to endorse Laurie Osher, an environmental scientist, for re-election.
WABANAKI ALLIANCE
The Wabanaki Alliance advocates for federal and state legislation, and policies that improve the lives of tribal citizens and their neighbors around the state of Maine, protect and preserve our environment, and honor Tribal history and culture. They partner with a broad coalition of racial and social justice groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses to promote the sovereignty of the Wabanaki. I am proud to accept the endorsement of the Wabanaki Alliance this election cycle.
DEFEND OUR HEALTH ACTION
As the action partner of Defend Our Health, we’re working to prevent harm to Maine families from toxic chemicals in everyday life. That means acting now on the science linking chemical exposure to chronic diseases, disabilities and early death, and protecting the health of the most vulnerable among us, including pregnant women and children. That means pushing to create a groundswell of grassroots demand for a healthier Maine. And joining with nurses, doctors and health advocates calling for preventive action.
2020 Support from Community Members, Activists and UMaine Faculty Members
Karl Kreutz
Professor of Earth and Climate Change Science at the University of Maine
I have known Laurie for 20 years and have always admired her dedication to the environment. Her scientific training and research experience lend her a unique perspective on many of the challenges we face with local, state, national, and international issues. She translates that experience into practical solutions for citizens as an energy efficiency professional, saving consumers money and lowering their carbon footprint. That combination of experience, problem solving, and environmental advocacy is exactly the kind of thinking we need in our political leaders right now.
Connie Carter
Operation Breaking Stereotypes
I am pleased to endorse Laurie Osher to represent Orono in the Maine Legislature. Laurie is smart, progressive, compassionate, and energetic. She is committed to researching and sharing the truth about many issues that concern our town, state, and country. As the director of Operation Breaking Stereotypes, I have seen Laurie work tirelessly for racial justice and equity. She supports education and is an especially strong advocate and supporter of arts in the Orono schools. She is responsive to her constituents and will serve the people of Orono and of Maine with integrity.
Alan Cobo-Lewis
University of Maine Professor and Disability Rights Activist
Laurie Osher is committed to equity, justice, and environmental sustainability and to leveraging the resources of government and the wider community toward achieving those ends. One of our children has a significant disability, and in the two decades that she has known our family, she has helped integrate us all into the wider community. Laurie frequently thinks “outside the box”, and she has helped us achieve a level of inclusion that exceeds our early expectations, and she has helped advocate for policy change in Augusta to improve support and respect for populations that have been marginalized but who have every right to full participation—including LGBTQ+ people, Black and indigenous people, other people of color, and people with disabilities. I’m confident that she would continue this advocacy in the House.'
Judy Berk
Longtime Environmental Advocate
I am pleased to support Laurie Osher, who is running to represent Orono in the Maine House of Representatives. I’ve known Laurie since 2012, when she joined the Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition as the representative for Maine Interfaith Power and Light. Laurie has worked to protect our environment as both a professional and citizen volunteer, focusing on protection our air, waters, and climate. She has taken the time to study environmental issues and to speak out regularly, participating in panel discussions, radio call-in shows, press conferences, and more. I think we need more people like Laurie in the Maine Legislature and I’m rooting for her!
Sarah Marx
Welcoming Immigrant Neighbors
I have known Laurie Osher for ten years - first as fellow parents at Asa Adams school and later through my work at the Wilson Center and the Church of Universal Fellowship - and I wholeheartedly endorse her for state legislature. Laurie is smart, persistent, and listens carefully to the needs of others, always speaking up for those who are disenfranchised or silenced in any way. She is a big-picture thinker who collaborates generously with others and she is committed to staying the course and getting things done. She brings to her work a wealth of experience in business, science, advocacy and government and will be a fierce advocate for Orono and for the environment. Please join me in supporting Laurie Osher for Maine House District 123.
Sonja Birthisel
University of Maine Instructor and Environmental Activist
I have known Laurie for most of the 10 years that I have lived in Orono, and have always admired her commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship. Laurie is a person of courage, conviction, and kindness who is unafraid to speak truth to power. In this way, I see Laurie as the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of this race! I hope you will join me in supporting Laurie Osher for Maine House District 123.
Diane Russell
Pollitica Emeritus
Laurie Osher is committed to social and environmental justice. As a scientist, she knows has to craft evidence-based public policy so taxpayer dollars are spent in the most efficient way possible. The next legislature must take bold and decisive action on climate change and COVID19 economic recovery. Laurie Osher of Orono is the leader Maine needs in Augusta to achieve results.”
Angela Okafor
Bangor City Council
I met Laurie at our multi- religious community dinner about two years ago. She volunteered to knock on doors with me last fall when I ran for Bangor City Council.
Laurie sees potentials where so many do not and is never afraid to explore it with everything in her to make her community better and to help lift up others .
If sent to Augusta, Laurie will be an outstanding and invaluable representation especially for the under represented and marginalized.
MJ Smith
University of Maine Student and Activist
I am a student, activist, survivor, and person of color in the LGBTQ+ community. I am also a Laurie Osher supporter and proud member of her campaign staff. It is important in all areas of the work that I do that I am respected for the many intersections of my identity. Laurie Osher does this; I know that when I speak to
Laurie, she hears me and values my perspective. This is what makes her a unique candidate, and the best for the job. Laurie respects all members of the Orono community; she will listen to us and consider us in all decisions. She genuinely believes that Maine’s young people should be helping to create policy. Laurie is a woman of reason; a woman of science and she is going to be a fantastic spokesperson for progressive change in Augusta.
Dina Yacoubagha, LCSW
Social Justice Coordinator
Islamic Center of Maine
It is an honor to be writing today to endorse Laurie Osher to represent
Orono in the ME Legislature.
I have known Laurie in the last couple years as we collaborated to organize events that benefit the homeless population in the greater Bangor area. I have found Laurie to be caring, compassionate, and dedicated to improving the community, protecting the environment, achieving equality and fighting injustice. Laurie has the experience, enthusiasm, and integrity to represent Orono, traits that make her, undoubtedly, very qualified for the position.
