The world we live in, and the news and opinions that help shape that world, never stop changing.

The business of news constantly changes, too. We’re always trying to fine-tune the product we present to our readers and advertisers.

This week, I’m happy to introduce the latest change at The Forecaster: Julie McDonald and her new column, “The Right View.”

Julie leads a busy life.

She’s a registered nurse, the mother of three young boys, chairwoman of the Cape Elizabeth Republican committee, and she is selling her home in preparation for a move to North Yarmouth.

And as if that’s not enough, she’s getting married soon, too.

She has also worked on Capitol Hill, worries about the world her children will inherit, distrusts the Democratic Party, and is skeptical about the press (she’s an equal-opportunity doubter: not a big fan of either MSNBC or Fox News).

I think she’s the perfect person to add a conservative voice and perspective to our Opinion pages. 

I was sold on Julie’s ability to articulate her opinion by the end of our first, Friday afternoon meeting at Cia Cafe in South Portland. I was convinced she could handle the responsibility of writing a recurring column by the following Monday morning, when her first column was waiting in my email.

You don’t have to agree with Julie (I’m pretty sure she and I disagree on a lot of things), but I think you’ll agree with me that she pulls no punches and will broaden the spectrum of opinion The Forecaster presents.

•  •  •

Also on the subject of change, I’m sorry to say this is staff writer Dylan Martin’s last week at The Forecaster.

Dylan joined our staff almost two years ago, fresh out of the University of Southern Maine and an internship at the Bangor Daily News. He threw himself into his beat with energy, determination and a competitive desire to be the go-to source for news from Brunswick and Harpswell.

I think he succeeded, and I know everyone at The Forecaster wishes him continued success in his new job as online editor at Mainebiz.

Dylan’s successor, Peter McGuire, will join us in a couple weeks from the Norway bureau of our “mother ship,” the daily Sun Journal of Lewiston.

Peter, who was previously a reporter and editor for another Sun Media paper, the weekly Advertiser Democrat in Norway, possesses all the tools needed to hit the ground running at The Forecaster. We’re looking forward to welcoming him aboard.

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Mo Mehlsak is editor of The Forecaster. He can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 107 or mmehlsak@theforecaster.net. You can also follow Mo on Twitter: @mmehlsak.

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