Dear Friends,

As one of my longtime supporters, new friends, or someone who has recently joined our team, I want you to be the first to know. Sunday, May 20th at 1:00pm, on the grounds of Reiche School in Portland, I plan to formally announce the formation of the Strimling Congressional Exploratory Committee.

I also want you to be the first to view a special video message that Mary and I recorded. A special peek will go live for you tonight at www.Ethan08.com Check it out. Also, please stay tuned for our new website which will go live on Sunday!

The decision to run for Congress is obviously not something to take lightly. My wife Mary and I have talked about it for months. We have been holding gatherings across southern Maine since January, meeting with you all town by town, one family at a time. What has been inspiring to us is that hundreds of you have already signed up to volunteer, be a town chair, or donate your hard earned money to the possibility of what this exploration may become.

From these conversations Mary and I have heard you speak about how sad you are about what has happened to our country in the past six years. From the war in Iraq, to climate change, to rising health care costs, to the widening gap between the rich and the poor, there is great cause for concern.

But we have also heard the distinct sound of optimism about the possibilities that lie ahead; the possibility that we are on the verge of taking back our country and entering a new era. An era that takes care of its children, that restores America's place in the world, that takes care of our environment, and that finally creates a health care system that is affordable and universal.

We've heard loud and clear that you are looking for something new. Someone who will do things differently. Someone who can break through the partisan divide. Someone who will bring new life to the Democratic Party.

I can't tell you at the moment whether I am that person. What I can say is that many of you have encouraged me to get into this race, and now I will take a first step. And that step will be to formally announce on Sunday and begin to listen very carefully to what Maine people think is best for Maine. If in the months following I am able to determine that I can fill a need, and that I can win, I will enter the race for Congress.

Until then, I hope you will join me, my wife, and our friends and family Sunday at 1pm at Reiche School. We want the day to be the beginning of something very special. Please join us.

Ethan