Scontras: Rebuild Reagan’s house

Dean Scontras is wrong when he claims that Chellie Pingree has no business experience. In fact, Chellie has started and managed several successful businesses.

I first heard of the name Chellie Pingree through a graphic designer who was doing some work for my now-defunct small business back in the 1980s -- long before Chellie ran for the Maine senate (in 1992). He would often stop by my office on his way back from meeting with Chellie about her business, and would tell me how smart she was and what a sharp business sense she had. This was in the days of her successful company, North Island Designs, which sold knitting kits all over the country, produced several beautiful books of knitting patterns, and employed a number of the residents of North Haven, mostly women, for whom there were very few other year-round job opportunities on the island.

Prior to that, Chellie ran an organic farm, selling a variety of farm products, including milk and eggs, to people in her community. Today she is a partner in an inn and restaurant in North Haven called http://www.NeboLodge.com. Chellie's close connection to her community stems in large part from her business endeavors -- in each case, she sought to fill a niche and successfully did so.

Once in the Maine senate, in recognition of her interest in growing small business opportunities for Mainers, Chellie was named co-chairman of the Maine Economic Growth Council. In 1993, she was named to the International Trade Committee at the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 1997, she was named senate chair of the Housing and Economic Development Committee.

Clearly, her interest in and experience with business management is wide, deep, and enduring -- albeit leaning toward the small business, rather than corporate, side.