Like Margaret Chase Smith, Janet Mills inspires future women leaders

To the Editor;

Gov. Janet Mills will be sworn in on Jan. 4. She had a very special role model as a little girl, former U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith.  

Smith inspired Mills to public duty, to earn her leadership skill set with service, and Smith’s role model taught Mills to be a pioneer, a ground breaker. It would be too simplistic to think of Mills’ service exclusively while she has been governor. Her service is so much bigger, longer, and more distinguished than that!!   

Most people might not remember Smith’s votes. We sure can’t miss the fruits of her role model — all these generations later — when Mills is sworn in as Maine’s first, successful and reelected, woman governor. Mills stood on Smith’s shoulders, and we get to watch, in real time, as Maine’s future women leaders now stand on Mills’ shoulders.  

Bob Jean 

Lubec