From The Scarborough Leader

Editor:

I am writing to support Sean Flaherty for Maine House Representative from Scarborough. I have direct experience working with Sean in the “political arena” – we served the class of 2003 as president and secretary at Scarborough High School. Sean’s busy schedule as a phenomenal athlete, great student and dedicated member of many student organizations never got in the way of his commitment to our class. He was always there for last minute meetings and spent many late nights helping me and the other officers plan and execute class events. He was always careful to consider how our responsibility as class officers to be representatives for each classmate should guide our actions and decisions.

Sean carried out his commitment as class secretary as more than a title and an obligation to be somewhere; instead, he took it as an opportunity to help transform our class from students who went to football games and prom together into a cohesive and spirited community. Such a community forms when its leadership encourages the participation of its members – Sean understood this idea as a high school student. I am confident that his cognition of the transforming power of leadership has only sharpened with time.

As a student of leadership studies, I have learned to value the depth of leadership beyond authority and position. James MacGregor Burns, esteemed scholar of leadership in American politics, wrote, “The genius of leadership lies in the manner in which leaders care about, visualize, and act on their own and their followers’ values and motivations.” Sean Flaherty is this kind of leader — attentive, engaged, committed – and I urge you to vote for him on Nov. 4.

Rebecca Condon
Scarborough