Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Well as we all know, last week, the American people participated in a sacred tradition that is the foundation of our democracy – the election of the next President and the Vice President of the United States.

It shouldn’t come as any surprise to most of you that I was hoping Vice President Kamala Harris and my friend, Governor Tim Walz, would win that election.

But, as the Rolling Stones famously said, “You can’t always get what you want.”

Yes, I was disappointed in the result. But the American people have spoken – and President-elect Trump will assume office in January.

Since then, a lot of folks have asked me for my reaction. What do you think? What will your approach to the President-elect be? How will this impact your last two years in office?

Well, I’ve been around long enough to know that shaking the magic eight ball to predict the future does not pan out in reality, so I guess I’d just say this: while the majority of Maine people voted for the Vice President, Kamala Harris, there are a lot of people – including many in the Second Congressional District where I live and have lived most of my life – who voted for the President-elect.

The opinions and perspectives of Maine people differ. And that’s the way it is.

And, we don’t know what’s going to happen. There’s a lot of campaign talk. We’re going to see how things shake out. And, you know, I disagree with the President-elect on a lot of things and a lot of the things he’s said.

And you may agree or disagree with him, or with me, on a lot of things too.

At the end of the day, this is about Maine people as far as I’m concerned and what’s best for you. It’s always been important to me to try to be a governor for the entire state, not just for those who agree with me.

And that’s why my approach to every president, regardless of who it is, is the same.

If the president does something good for Maine people, I will join and support them. If they do something that’s bad for Maine people, I will oppose them with everything I have. We’ve done that under several different administrations.

That’s no different now with a new administration in Washington.

Maine people know me.

And you know that I will do everything in my power for as long as I am your Governor to protect the future and freedoms of Maine people and Maine families and stand up for the rule of law.

And I promise you I will continue to do everything I can to keep building a state and a country where every person can have a good education, access to good healthcare, clean air and water, a good paying and fulfilling job, and be successful and create a better life for themselves and for their family and their children.

And to that end, I look forward to working with the newly elected members of our State Legislature, including Republican and Democratic legislative leadership and membership, as well as our Congressional Delegation, to keep making progress for Maine people.

We are one state and one people, and we are bound together by far more than a single election. We share a history, a broader community, and a deep, abiding affection for this place we are fortunate to call home.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, National Apprenticeship Week is celebrating its 10th anniversary of raising awareness of the vital role that Registered Apprenticeships play in providing opportunities to the people of Maine by allowing apprentices to earn while they learn and preparing a pathway to good, quality jobs and well-paying careers and the ability to advance in those careers; and

WHEREAS, children and young people across the State of Maine experience grief after the death of an important person in their life, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, mental, and social well-being; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that 1 in 10 children in Maine will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18, a life-altering event that requires compassionate support from families, schools, organizations, and communities; and

This Monday, November 11th, marks an important day in Maine and around the nation: Veterans Day.

Hello. This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Our state can proudly say that we are home to one of the highest number of veterans per capita of any state in the country. Well, when you consider Maine's long and proud history of military service, that should come as no surprise. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, to World War I,  World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Maine people have always defended our nation and its ideals, and our state has always shouldered its responsibility to protect our country.

In fact, during the Civil War, our state contributed a higher proportion of our citizens to the Union Army than any other state in the nation. That proud history is reflected in the fact that our great Veterans Medical Center, Togus, was the very first veterans facility created by the United States government to house Union veterans after the Civil War.

That proud history of military service is also at the heart of my family. My father served in the Pacific during World War II, surviving the biggest battle of naval history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Two uncles of mine also served in World War II, also in the Pacific. And my brother served several tours of duty in Vietnam. As the daughter, niece, and sister of veterans, I'm always thinking about what more we can do to support those who wore the uniform and their families.

This Veterans Day, I encourage all Maine people to thank a servicemember and to honor the rights and freedoms those servicemembers have fought for – many rights which are also so fragile and too often taken for granted. Like the right to disagree, and to express an opinion, whether anyone listens or not. The right to personal privacy in one's home, and in the fundamental decisions of life. And the right to ask for help from the government from time to time, and the right to be free from governmental intrusion.

Maine veterans teach us, all of us, to cherish our rights and to remember those who gave their lives for these freedoms. They teach us to remember that our sons and daughters today stand ready to defend those very rights in postings across the globe. They teach us the strong sense of responsibility that comes from hard work and hard times. They teach us honor. They teach us dignity. They teach us service.

In the wake of an election with strong and differing opinions and feelings this past week, let us spend this Veterans Day reflecting on the values that we share, and remembering the people who have defended those values here at home and abroad. May we remember that we are one state and one people, and we are bound together by far more than a single election or one political party's wins or losses. We share a history, a broader community, and a deep and abiding love for this place that we're so fortunate to call home.

To all Maine veterans and their families: I thank you for your service and for your sacrifice.

To all those who have served, and to those who continue to serve our country so well: our hearts are with you this Veterans Day 2024.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, recycling enjoys the support of the vast majority of the people of Maine who now have the opportunity to participate in recycling programs; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine recognizes that "closing the loop" and buying products with sustainable/recycled content is essential to the success of recycling and practices this principle in its purchases; and

WHEREAS, for over three decades, the State of Maine has made the commitment to the waste management strategy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; and

WHEREAS, every child deserves a permanent, loving family and the opportunity to grow in a safe, stable, and trusted environment; and

WHEREAS, adoption is a loving, nurturing way to build or add to a family and provides stability for children and youth who need permanent families; and

WHEREAS, state agencies, courts, and public and private organizations in Maine and across the nation are dedicated to finding families for children of all ages; and

WHEREAS, nurse practitioners (NPs) play a critical role as trusted providers of health care for patients in our state, working to expand health care access in underserved communities and promote health equity in care; and

WHEREAS, patients depend on the 3,775 licensed NPs in Maine to diagnose, manage, and treat their chronic and acute health care conditions; and

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Well, the election is right around the corner -- finally -- and there are a number of referendum questions on the ballot in addition to the candidates you'll be voting for.

People often ask me how I'm going to vote on the referenda, and while I don't feel the need to speak to every question, there are a few that I should talk about.

For instance, I'm planning to vote yes on Question 2, Question 3, and Question 4 at my polling place on Election Day. Let me tell you why.

Question 2 is a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization. When you talk to people who are experts in business or on the economy, they'll tell you that research and development is one of the most important forces for having a strong economy.

What is "research and development", or "R&D", as it's often called? The term sounds kind of boring, but actually is very interesting. It's basically the process of creating new products, Maine products, taking things we may already have and improving on them to make them better and more useful. It's how we end up with new products.

Take that little thing called the iPhone that's in most of our pockets now. Well, here in Maine, you've got a lot of companies and entrepreneurs who are working hard every day to improve their products and services or create new breakthrough. For example, Tanbark in Southern Maine is transforming wood products from Maine trees into sustainable packaging that could replace single use plastic. Food packaging. Supporting that innovation by investing in research and development can create economic growth and good paying jobs for Maine people.

In fact, our ten year economic development plan calls for both expanding our workforce and increasing investment in R&D. We've made some progress, but still, sadly, last year, Maine ranked 44th in the nation for R&D investment as part of our budget. So we've got to keep at it.

That's where Question 2 comes in. It's a $25 million bond that will be awarded through a competitive process to Maine public and private institutions to invest in research and development in some of the most important sectors of our economy, like advanced materials and precision manufacturing, renewable energy, forestry, agriculture and aquaculture and marine technology.

Bonds like this work. The last R&D bond that was approved by the voters in 2017 was for $45 million. And that bond generated $224 million in matching investments from the private sector and $1.4 billion in economic impact for Maine. We know that the companies that receive that funding through the bond are outperforming in their industries. So Question 2 has the potential to drive meaningful economic growth and job creation across the state, and that's why I will vote for it on Election Day -- and I hope you'll join me.

Now, I'll also be voting for Question 3 to restore Historic Community Buildings. That's a $10 Million bond, but it also requires a 25% local match, and I think that's a good investment in community buildings that otherwise may fall into disrepair and be vacant. We should preserve these buildings and facilities.

I'll also be voting for Question 4 which is a $30 million bond to design, develop and maintain multi-use trails statewide.

You know, outdoor recreation makes up nearly 4% of our economy, a greater percentage than any other state in the nation, almost. And it supports more than 30,000 jobs across the state. You know, Maine people have always valued the outdoors, and during the pandemic and since then, of course, a lot of folks have really taken to the outdoors and are able to enjoy the health benefits of it. That interest is great news for our economy, too, but it's put a strain on local trail infrastructure.

Question 4 will allow us to maintain our outdoor infrastructure for all people, residents and visitors alike, people who want to enjoy our state for years to come. That's why I'll be supporting Question 4 on Tuesday.

Finally, some folks have asked me how I'll be voting on Question 5, which is the flag issue. I know that's an issue on the top of everyone's minds, but you know what? It's up to you to decide that, and I'm not going to try to influence the vote.

State flags are a source of great pride, and however the vote turns out, I hope we can all support the outcome as a symbol of the State of Maine.

If you want to read the exact language of these questions or others that will be on your ballot, I encourage you to visit the Maine Secretary of State's website at maine.gov/sos. That's maine.gov/sos.

And remember, get out and vote on Tuesday. Your vote matters.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.