Pamela Trinward, running for a second term in the Maine House from Waterville's District 77, is an energetic, quick-thinking and straightforward woman unafraid to tackle the hard stuff. Asked how to meet an anticipated state budget shortfall in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Trinward says firmly that the Legislature will need to cut funding for education, despite its promise to pay for 55 percent of local school costs.

"We've got to put on our big girl pants and do it," she says.

That's strong medicine, and it comes from a longtime education advocate who has retained her seat on the Waterville Board of Education while serving in the Statehouse.

Trinward is similarly committed to making progress on another difficult issue: legislative ethics reform. Efforts to pass meaningful conflict-of-interest rules have been stymied by legislators unwilling to give up their freewheeling ways; Trinward says if re-elected she will fight for passage of the full ethics reform bill that was gutted by Senate leadership this last session.

Trinward's Republican challenger is a Thomas College sophomore, Ryan Lorrain. A brave soul to take on an effective Democrat in a Democratic city, Lorrain's lack of experience is amply balanced by enthusiasm. He has the makings of a solid public servant in the future.

We endorse Pamela Trinward for re-election to the Maine House of Representatives; the state needs more lawmakers like her.