By Carroll Conley
About six years ago, while leading the Christian Civic League, I was approached multiple times by trusted friends who urged me to meet a man named Bobby Charles. These were not casual observers of politics—they were experienced, discerning individuals convinced that Bobby should run for governor.
At the time, I had never heard of him.
Out of respect for their judgment, I agreed to meet. We had lunch in Waterville, and I went in with no expectations—certainly no positive ones. In fact, Bobby himself wasn’t even convinced that running for office was a realistic or worthwhile pursuit.
But by the end of that meeting, I was struck—not by a single position or personality trait, but by the rare convergence of tested character, consequential life experience, and disciplined intellect—a combination I’d rarely seen in Maine politics.
Having spent nearly a decade working in Augusta, I’ve encountered my share of candidates and elected officials. It takes a great deal to impress me. Yet I walked away from that first conversation more encouraged about a potential leader than I had been in years.
A couple of weeks later, I met with him again to test whether my initial impression would hold. It did. By the end of that second meeting, I was convinced that Bobby Charles was exactly the kind of leader Maine needs to begin pulling out of the political and cultural quagmire we find ourselves in today.
I told him then: You should run—and if you do, I’ll help however I can.
I was grateful when he eventually chose to enter the race.
There are other honorable and capable candidates in the Republican primary. But my support for Bobby is rooted in what sets him apart: unmatched life experience, exceptional intellect, and a rare ability to take on complex problems and actually solve them. Just as important, he has a genuine love for Maine and a courage—grounded in faith—that equips him to confront the hard issues many others would rather avoid.
What I find especially compelling is that Bobby is an aspirational leader. He refuses to accept the limits that so often define political thinking in our state. Whether it’s our budget challenges, the devastation of substance abuse, or the rise in crime, too many voices insist, “It can’t be done,” or “That’s not realistic.”
We’ve heard that before.
Those same criticisms were once directed at Paul LePage. Unfortunately, some of the loudest skepticism came not only from opponents, but from supposed allies—voices that ultimately became self-fulfilling.
Maine cannot afford that kind of small thinking any longer.
No one is pretending that winning this fall will be easy. But I believe Bobby Charles is exactly the kind of leader Mainers are looking for—a crime fighter, a fraud buster, and a problem solver for a state that has grown weary over the past eight years.
Maine is at an inflection point. The challenges we face demand leadership grounded in character, shaped by real experience, and guided by clear, disciplined thinking.
Leadership, after all, reveals what a person truly believes—about truth, responsibility, and the people they serve. Having spent time with Bobby Charles, I am convinced his convictions are not campaign rhetoric, but the compass by which he lives and leads. I’m proud to support him, and I invite Mainers who want more for our state to join me in doing the same.
