Bill Cohen endorses Rick Bennett for Maine governor

MAINE (WABI) - Independent candidate for Maine governor Rick Bennett has picked up support from former U.S. Secretary of Defense and Maine politician Bill Cohen.

Cohen said Bennett “puts people ahead of a political party.”

“Rick understands that public service should not be about partisan bickering or seeking cheap headlines,” Cohen said. “It is about solving problems, telling people the truth, and doing the hard work required to make government serve the public honestly and effectively.”

Bennett will be going up against Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree and Republican nominee Bobby Charles in November.

Cohen, a Republican, served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1997 to 2001 under the Clinton administration. He also served as a congressman in the U.S. House and as a U.S. senator.