The Great State of Maine can stake claim to many different strengths that are unique to us. We have found a way to blend in high-tech advancements into our historical industries. We have found a way to balance the harvesting of natural resources while maintaining a high environmental standard to preserve Maine’s natural beauty. We are open to blending and balancing.

And, blending and balancing has, over time, produced a legacy of moderate politicians from our state that is respected far beyond our borders. There is something about our small town communities that cultivates civility, compassion, and compromise.

Margaret Chase Smith, a moderate Republican, was the first woman to ever be elected to both houses in the U.S. Congress, in large part because of her approachability and connectedness with voters, and her independence. She frequently broke with her party on votes and spoke out against her Republican colleague in the Senate, Joseph McCarthy, who was driving hyper nationalism "through the selfish political exploitation of fear, bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance."

She is still an inspiration to young women and men across our state.

George Mitchell, although liberal in his political leanings, knew the value of give and take in negotiations and maintained a positive relationship with his Republican counterpart, Senator Bob Dole. Knowing full well the benefits of collaboration he, along with Democrat Tom Daschel and Republicans Howard Baker and Bob Dole, co-founded the Bipartisan Policy Center in 2007.

William Cohen, is a Republican "maverick" who was one of seven in his party to support Nixon's impeachment. That happened in his freshman term in Congress. His reputation as one who put ideals and morality above party loyalty and his experience on the Senate Armed Services Committee were instrumental in Democrat President Clinton's decision to nominate the Republican as Secretary of Defense.

In more recent history, our great state replaced retiring moderate Republican Olympia Snowe with Independent Angus King to the U.S. Senate. Snowe cited the "atmosphere of polarization and 'my way or the highway' ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions" as the reason for her retirement. King, who was elected with nearly 53 percent of the vote in a three-way race, has continued in this independent vein, adding to our already rich history of moderation.

I would never be so bold as to compare myself with these moderate and pragmatic stateswomen and statesmen. However, they are my inspiration and are part of why I have always been an Independent. Studying their accomplishments, the how as much as the why, has led me to the approach I take to public service.

I have a personal ideology, crafted overtime from my diverse experiences, but my ideology isn't my ending place. It is my starting place. From there I systematically branch off into various directions to see what is out there that might address the issue at hand. I move along, gathering information from as many points of view as I can until I feel that I have a blended and balanced perspective. Then I act. I'm a kind and gentle U.S. Marine but I'm still a U.S. Marine and when we act, we act with vigor.

Doing the right thing isn't always popular but I'm not running for representative to be popular. I'm running to do the right thing. Please join me in sending a message to the State House. It is a message that hyper-partisanship in the two-party system has gone far enough. It is a message that compromise, moderation, and flexibility is valued. It is a message that we, the citizens of Maine, don't want to continue going Left or Right but Forward. The only way to go forward, is together.

Owen Casas is seeking to fill the District 94 (Camden, Islesboro, Rockport) representative seat in Augusta.