Jan. 27 � To the Editor:

We can all agree that there is a big divide in our nation. Historians even see similarities in the time leading up to the Civil War. So what can we do to avoid further polarization?

Elect a president who is in a unique position to appeal to young and old, rich and poor, Veterans, hipsters, and blue collar and college-educated employees. I know that this candidate is Pete Buttigieg.

Coming from the same generation as me, we can both rewind a VHS and understand Snapchat. Why is this important? Because the country needs someone who can relate to the most people right now more than ever.

In a way, Pete�s versatility also reminds me of Dover, NH. Full disclosure, I am a Massachusetts transplant. What attracted me to Dover, and what has made me want to become a lifelong active community member, is how it can accommodate so many different types of people. We are full of nature lovers, city-goers, innovators and builders. I see the same adaptability in the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana. I see him finding common ground with both leaders in the Middle East and farmers in Iowa.

There are many reasons Pete Buttigieg would bring about the right kind of change for our country: from his service year initiative, including starting a climate core, to his strategies for fixing the systemic problems in Washington. I am mostly attracted to his approach of not pushing others down to achieve his goals, but rather elevating all Americans up to our highest potential.

Danielle Festa

Dover