I am a multigenerational Mainer, and my husband’s family has deep roots here as well. We have spent our lives in this state: growing up in Belfast, living in Portland, now raising our family in Oakland. We always envisioned putting down permanent roots here, hoping our children would choose to stay and raise families of their own.

Today, that dream feels increasingly out of reach.

The rising cost of housing has made home ownership unattainable for many lifelong Mainers. Too often, homes are purchased as seasonal properties while local families struggle to remain in their beloved communities.

My husband works 60 to 70 hours each week providing for our family while I stay home homeschooling our four children. Despite those sacrifices, home ownership still seems beyond our reach. The hardest part is watching those long hours come at the expense of family life. Too often, our children see their father leave on Tuesday and not truly have time with him again until Sunday.

I am deeply proud of Maine and want my children to experience the same sense of belonging that shaped my life. I believe the policies of the last eight years have made it harder for working families to build a future here. It’s time for change. We need to give Bobby Charles a chance to address these challenges.

I love this state, and I want to see Maine become a place where hardworking families can once again afford to stay, thrive and put down roots for future generations.

Celeste Keyes
Oakland