Brewer quoted in BDN editorial on political participation

Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, was quoted in the Bangor Daily News editorial, “Maine: Where people speak, representatives hear them.” Maine is more open to public participation than most other states, according to the article. “The more open and level a political system is, the better chance an outsider has at being elected and of participating in government,” Brewer said. He added Maine is one of a few states where local decisions are made at town meetings and where citizen participation — through public hearings, letters and one-on-one discussions with easily accessible legislators — influences policy decisions, the article states. “Average people matter here,” Brewer said.