More jobs in the factories of Maine. More opportunities for Maine’s commercial fishermen. That’s the good news President Donald Trump brought to Bangor on Friday as he celebrated a dramatic expansion of swab production for COVID-19 testing in Guilford and signed a proclamation reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts area to commercial fishing.

I read earlier this week about President Trump coming to Maine with little advance warning for the state, against our governor’s wishes during a pandemic, and potentially at significant cost to taxpayers in Maine. I hate to disabuse the residents of Guilford, but this does not seem to be a compassionate trip by him to praise factory workers making swabs, but rather a campaign strategy for which he is willing to create havoc, act in unsafe ways, and create a financial burden for Maine (that is not reimbursed by the federal government) just to have a photo op.

Please support Sen. Paul Davis for the Maine Senate in the upcoming primary. He has done a lot for his community and his understanding of the process of government and record of bipartisanship is stellar. He works well and effectively across the aisle if you will, and gets things accomplished.

As anti-racism protests grow across the country and coronavirus continues to spread, a presidential visit to Maine on Friday feels misplaced. Worse, it has the potential to spread dangerous violence -- and the deadly virus -- to rural Maine while taking precious financial resources away from local and state agencies that need them to serve their citizens. President Donald Trump is headed to Guilford anyway. Here is our message to our president. You should not be coming here. Not now. 

It can be quite hard to talk about the issues circulating around the death of George Floyd, as well as the protests that death sparked, without everyone tuning you out. Depending on not only what you are saying, but who you are, people can discount what you say before you utter a single word.

Our nation is torn asunder by systemic racism, police brutality and the protests they have ignited. Another black man is dead, under the knee of a police officer. George Floyd’s name is added to a long list black people killed because of the color of their skin.

With the news that President Donald Trump is visiting Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, I felt it was important to highlight the phenomenal work he has done fighting for Maine throughout this pandemic.

In the June 2 BDN article concerning Trump’s visit to Guilford on Friday, Gov. Janet Mills is quoted as asking him to tone down his rhetoric and not foment “seeds of distrust.” She also stated that his visit could cause “security problems.”

Earth to President Trump: stay out of Maine. 

Please fellow citizens, when President Trump visits Maine, stay at home. It is the very best way to send a message to him.

Sadly, there is a dark, underground river of bad faith that has come to the surface in public discourse, and it has made its way to Maine, where neighbors and friends are getting played, writes guest columnist Joel Clement

I need to express my concern regarding  Trump’s planned visit to Guilford, Maine. I am afraid the visit will bring out some of the worst elements seen in much of the protests in recent days.

I don’t know what President Trump was trying to accomplish Monday evening when he ordered federal officers to disperse with tear gas and flash grenades peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceable assembly so that he could walk over to historic St. John’s Episcopal church for a photo op. What struck me was how small and alone he looked standing on the broad sidewalk in front of the church.

I understand that this week President Trump will visit Puritan Medical Products, the maker of swabs for coronavirus testing.

I am writing to voice my support for Paul Davis in his bid for re-election to the Maine Senate. During his time in the House and Senate, Davis has been a voice of reason in an increasingly partisan political climate, without the bombast and posturing that drives people with differing viewpoints apart from one another, and is respected on both sides of the aisle in Augusta.

Candidates are always promising change and this is a time that we really need it. That’s why I’m proud to support Sara Gideon.

What's this? A letter to the editor from Paul LePage with advice regarding his “plan for reopening”? With all due respect (which isn't much), I must admit I didn't bother to read it.

In a recent letter, Paul LePage all of a sudden says that he cares about poverty and domestic violence and substance abuse: "Excessive, lengthy closures are having a devastating effect. Increased unemployment leads to poverty, hunger, domestic violence and substance abuse."