Several people were less than pleased about something I posted yesterday on Facebook regarding Biddeford mayoral candidate Susan Deschambault.
Several of Deschambault’s supporters questioned my take-away observations of Monday’s mayoral debate, in which I wrote that candidate Susan Deschambault tripped over herself and made a big “gaffe.”
Some folks speculated that I was supporting the other candidate (Martin Grohman) and just looking for a gotcha moment. They accused me of “taking things out of context” and playing “loose with the facts.”
Well, I have some bad news for Deschambault and her supporters: The video record of that debate paints a rather unflattering picture, much worse than anything I posted on my Facebook page.
Former State Sen. Susan Deschambault (Facebook photo)
To those of you who demanded Deschambault’s “exact” words about the closure of the Maine Energy Recovery Company’s solid waste incinerator (MERC), here they are:
“I served under Joanne Twomey, and I served under General Nutting. I could mention to you that General Nutting and the council at that time bought MERC. How did they buy that? “
“We put out a referendum, we will buy it for 10 million dollars. You guys were smart, you said no. We went back to the drawing board, by that time we got MERC all upset, and they wanted to leave, we knew that. We brought it down to six million dollars and you, the taxpayer, paid for that. You wanted that and look what happened. Magic.”
Let’s examine the facts:
1.) Mayor Wallace Nutting and his council did NOT buy MERC. That facility was still operating many years later, long after Nutting left office. In fact, MERC was still there during Mayor Twomey’s two terms in office.
2.) There was only one municipal referendum, which was rejected by a margin of 2-1 by the city’s voters. There was never a second referendum.
3.) Magic??? Are you kidding me?? MERC’s closure took a Herculean effort by many individuals. It was most certainly not “magic.”
4.) The city finally found a way to end the nightmare in the summer of 2012, during Mayor Alan Casavant’s first term in office, The ensuing development was not instantaneous, and it took solid leadership and a new positive and professional approach from City Hall.
The transcript of this debate shows that both candidates were not really well-prepared for some rather softball questions, but if you watch the video, you will see Deschambault had a hard time staying on topic.
I’ve told this story before, but I think it bears repeating, especially since we are about to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and because our nation seems increasingly divided as our focus becomes more and more about our own individual concerns and less about the nation as a whole.
It’s also because today is July 2, the 41st anniversary of my Basic Military Training start date in the United States Air Force.
What you are about to read is all true: a little bit of humor, a little bit self-realization but mostly the justification for why I believe every American citizen should undergo basic training.
Continue reading at your own risk. Remember, I am sharing my story. Things may operate much differently today at Lackland Air Force Base than when I was there more than 40 years ago. Secondly, I may get some minor details wrong, but again I’m going back more than four decades.
******
It was a long day of travel, from waving goodbye to my mother and sister at the Portland Jetport, to a connecting flight in Boston, landing at Dallas/Ft. Worth and finally San Antonio. It was July 2, 1982.
I had no fucking clue about what I would soon experience.
I learned two very important lessons within 30 seconds after stepping off the bus at Lackland Air Force Base. First, if you are considering military service, work with your recruiter so that your first day of training doesn’t fall on July 2 in southern Texas.
It was so friggen hot! The heat hit me like an unforgiving concrete wall. I was also tired. I had been awake since 4 a.m., filled with equal parts anxiety and excitement. By the time we got to Lackland, it was close to midnight, not considering I was now on Central Time.
Lesson Two: Pack Lightly. Seriously, there is no need — despite my mother’s best advice — to bring your own iron to boot camp. You will also not need several changes of clothes, a box of Twinkies or a camera or even a jar of your grandmother’s pickled dandelion greens. Trust me on this.
From the darkness, a voice began screaming at us. “Drop your bags next to your right foot!” Easy. So far, so good. This isn’t so bad.
“Now pick your fucking bags up!,” the voice screamed only two seconds later. Okay, dude. No need to yell. “Put your fucking bags next to your right foot!,” the voice screamed again. Wait. What? Didn’t we already do this? “Pick your bags up, you stinking piles of shit!” Okay, there’s no need to scream, and we can certainly do without the insults. Just make up your mind.
“Put ‘em down! Pick them up! Put them down! Pick them up!” This went on for a few minutes. Most everyone else had a very small bag. Maybe some toiletries and clean pair of underwear. I had like 165 pounds of shit in my bag. (Okay a bit of an exaggeration) But I did, unfortunately, catch the attention of my Technical Instructor (commonly known in other branches as a Drill Instructor).
It was my very first time meeting TSgt. Edward Ramirez face-to-face. It was not a pleasant meeting. “What is your major malfunction?” he screamed at me, only inches from my face even though I was about a foot taller. I didn’t know what to say. That, apparently, really pissed him off and pretty much set the tone for the next six weeks of training.
There we were. Roughly 50 of us rainbows standing there on the hot asphalt next to the bus, with no idea what would happen next.
When you first arrive at Lackland you are referred to as “rainbows” because you are all wearing different colored clothes. You stand out from everyone else because you are different. Rainbows get zero respect from either the instructors or other troops who are further along in their training.
In fact, a popular chant is: “Rainbow, rainbow, don’t be blue – My recruiter screwed me too”
We were marched to the place that would be our home for the next six weeks. It was a relatively modern building, not much different than what you see in the movies. There was a line of cots (no bunk beds) lining both sides of the room. Upon arriving, we were told to “Find a bunk, Now!” Fifty-one guys scrambled to find and stake out one of 50 available cots.
I was lucky. Found one near the door. Airman Basic Stanton from Iowa was not so lucky, so — much to my chagrin — he stood at attention right next to me. We kept our eyes straight ahead but could hear the approaching clicking of Tsgt. Ramirez’s heels on the tile floor. “Are you two sweethearts gonna sleep together?” he inquired. “Sir, no sir,” I replied, as instructed.
*****
Essentially, basic training in the Air Force (at least back then) is pretty much divided into three equal categories. During the first 12 days or so, your instructors do everything possible to break you down into your most basic form. You are no longer an individual. No one is concerned about your individual needs or wants.
On the first full day of training, your head is shaved. No facial hair is allowed. You receive your fatigues, a pair of combat boots, six pair of black wool socks, six white crew-neck t-shirts and six pairs of briefs. You are no longer rainbows. You are now pickles. All green and prickly.
On about the fifth day of training, you receive your name tags that are worn above your left pocket. Just your last name. No one gives a rat’s ass about your first name. Now you are canned pickles. You have a label. The tag above your right pocket reads: USAF. That’s it. No rings. No jewelry. Nothing. You are part of a unit. You are all eat the same food. There is no special treatment. You are an Airman Basic. E-1 on a scale that goes all the way to E-9 for enlisted men.
E-1. You are worth about as much as a pint of frozen cat piss. You get zero respect. You are worthless. You are nothing. You do not think. You follow orders without hesitation. You do not speak unless spoken to. You are worth less than a fart in church. You are not Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Atheist or Muslim. You are not white, black or Hispanic. Nobody give’s a rat’s ass about your level of education, your parents’ bank statements or where you were raised.
None of it matters. None of it. You are now part of something far more important and meaningful than you. You are part of a unit. If the unit fails, you fail. If the unit succeeds, you succeed. There is no quiet time. You go to bed when told. You get up when told. You get five minutes (no more) every morning to “shit, shower and shave.” Enjoy it. That’s about as relaxing as it gets. At least for the first few days of training. You are responsible for every other man in Flight 016, Squadron 3704. They are responsible for you. There are zero exceptions and you do not ask questions. You follow orders. Period. End of story.
Back then, Basic Military Training in the Air Force lasted roughly six weeks. I say roughly because you must complete 30 days of training in order to graduate. Weekends and holidays do not technically count as days of training, but there is no such thing as a day off during basic training. Every day is a new challenge. Every day is a new opportunity to learn to become better, to exceed expectations.
Now you see why starting Basic Training on July 2 was such a bad move. July 2 (our travel day) was on a Friday. Saturday, July 3 did not count as a day of training. Sunday, which wouldn’t count, regardless — was the Fourth of July and Monday, July 5, was a federal holiday. That’s four days of shit with zero credit. It is tough and demanding. But if you can’t handle the rigors of basic training, what are you going to do if you find yourself in a combat situation?
****
A bunch of canned pickles. I am top row, third from right
Within 10 days or so, things start getting a bit easier. Make no mistake, it’s still rigorous but the culture shock has started to wear off. You begin to form friendships with your fellow trainees. You can perfectly execute an about-face maneuver; you begin to absorb military culture. The routine itself becomes somewhat comforting. You laugh to yourself when you see a new group of rainbows getting off the bus. You begin to look forward to that final week of training when you trade in your fatigues for your dress blues.
The bonding between trainees is inevitable and necessary. It’s basically one for all, and all for one. If someone screws up, they’re going to get shit from the instructors but they’re also going to get shit from their fellow trainees.
At first, it seems stupid to have to fold your underwear in six-inch squares. But as our TI told us, the Air Force is not going to let you work on Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) if you can’t figure out how to fold your underwear in a six-inch square. Pretty much makes sense to me.
Basic training is unforgiving. There is only one standard, and you have no choice. No variables. I could tell you lots of funny stories, including how I earned the name of “wet-man” while running the confidence course or about receiving a hand-written note from President Reagan, but none of that really matters today.
In retrospect, what matters is that Basic Training makes you a better person. What I learned during those six short weeks, some 40 years ago, made me a better employee. It makes me a better husband, a better friend and especially a better father.
But there is something much more important than all of that. Basic training made me a better citizen. It made me care about my country, about the world around me; about my fellow man.
In short, that’s why I think every citizen should undergo some form of basic training within a year of their eighteenth birthday. And now for the hard part . . .
******
For nearly 40 years, I have carried the following fact around with me like a chain of Kryptonite hanging on my neck. I did not graduate from basic military training.
Three days before I was scheduled to graduate, I was told to report to the medical office and a very kind Major told me that I was being sent home.
In my mind, I had failed. I was ashamed to my core. I washed out. I couldn’t hack it. I was a fuck-up. Those were the messages I played in mind that moment and almost every other day since then.
But here’s the thing, and both the Major and Tsgt. Ramirez told me: “You are receiving an Honorable Discharge. There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
I was too busy holding back tears to absorb their words. For nearly two years, I had waited to join the United States Air Force. I bragged about it throughout my senior year at Thornton Academy.
I had come so close. But no cigar. Now, just as most of my peers back home were heading off to college campuses, I was coming home as a failure.
Essentially, there are basically three different types of discharges you can receive once you complete your military career. Dishonorable, which means you were a class-A screw-up or convicted of a felony. General Discharge, sort of a don’t ask, don’t tell situation where the military sends you on your way without any benefits; and Honorable, which means you met the standards of the military, but your service is no longer needed, your enlistment has expired or there is a medical reason that prevents you from serving.
Yes, my discharge was honorable, but I always – until fairly recently – saw it as a failure. Today, a copy of my discharge is framed and hanging in my office. Slowly, I am beginning to reconcile myself with what I always considered as my first epic blunder as an adult.
What happened? Why was I not allowed to graduate with the rest of my flight?
Essentially, about five weeks into my training, I began to sleep-walk at night. I was found wandering the corridors wearing nothing but my underwear. I was told to go back to my bunk, I had no idea how I got out to the hallway. It happened again on the next night, and then once more.
In order to serve in the military, you must first pass a physical exam and a routine mental health questionnaire. If you develop problems during your initial training, the government basically doesn’t want to spend effort or time on your recovery. It makes sense. If you have a habit of sleepwalking, you are essentially a security risk.
So, there it is. I try to give myself credit. You weren’t drafted. You volunteered to serve your country, I try to tell myself. It didn’t work out, . . . or did it?
If I had to make that choice – about joining the military – knowing what I know now — the decision is easy. I would not hesitate to once again swear an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . .
A little more than 60 years ago, a young and idealistic President John F. Kennedy – a Democrat who would be considered a Republican by today’s standards – implored his fellow citizens to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
Today, it seems, we spend so much time worrying about being triggered; being offended by a book or movie or even a friggen’ beer can. We want to be constantly and incessantly recognized for our own, individual uniqueness; our own individual wants, desires and beliefs. We have little room for those who have different opinions and perspectives. We endlessly expect more and more from government, but what are we giving?
What are we doing, as individuals, to help our fellow citizens –even those whom we despise? Our nation is becoming a trove of self-serving, overly-sensitive and rather greedy bunch of souls, all glued to the mini-computers in our hands, rarely looking up to see where we’re heading.
How would you answer President Kennedy if he were alive today? What can you — yes you – do for your country?
And there you have it: I think everyone would benefit greatly from six weeks of basic training.
*****
P.S. Thank you so much to the roughly 1.4 million men and women who are today serving and protecting me and my fellow countrymen in the United States; and to the millions more who have served. Roughly 6.4 percent of our population joins the military, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
(The names of my training instructor and fellow trainees have been changed; they were all remarkable men, and I hope they are doing well)
Recently, someone on social media asked me why I think I’m “so smart” and “why should anyone listen or care about what I say (or write)?”
My answer is rather simple. In all seriousness, I’m actually not very smart. In fact:
I don’t know how to change my own oil;
I often get lost while driving in my own hometown;
For almost four decades, I sucked down an average of two packs per day of non-filtered cigarettes, resulting in serious and irreversible damage to my teeth and gums;
I dropped out of college, and then I dropped out of the seminary. For the first five years of my adult life, I couldn’t manage to hold a job for longer than four months;
I honestly do not swim in the ocean because I am very concerned about sharks;
Shortly after I turned 26, I thought it was a good idea to take a swing at a police officer. I ended crying like a little girl in a crowded Davidson County (Nashville) jail.
While mowing my lawn last week, I stepped in the same exact pile of dogshit three times.
On the eve of my 38th birthday, just a few hours before I proposed to Laura, my credit card was declined at the Samoset Resort. I had to call my boss and tell him I couldn’t get things set for our work conference because I didn’t have a credit card that would work.
I could keep going, but I’ll bet you get the point by now.
Sure, I know a lot of things about some subjects; but that’s just because my brain stores a lot of useless, trivial bullshit. Being a good player at your local tavern’s trivia night may sound impressive, but honestly — who really needs to know what SPQR stands for? (I bet you just Googled that).
Why do I need to know that Richard Nixon’s middle name is Milhouse??? I don’t know, but I do.
My home office looks like it’s occupied by an intelligent person. Looks can be deceiving. Sure, I have all sorts of books, including the works of Marcus Aurelius, Truman Capote, Jack Kerouac and George Orwell . . . . hundreds of books, Nietzsche, Descartes, Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Impressive? Hardly, I haven’t even cracked the cover of most of those books. They accumulate dust in my bookcases because they look good . . .
My point? We should be careful with words like smart and stupid.
(2001: On the roof of Biddeford City Hall, doing a marathon to try and save the Lincoln Mill Clock Tower)
For whatever reasons, and only God knows why, I have the ability to string together words and make a living by doing it. It doesn’t make me smart. People often tell me that they really enjoy reading my stuff. I like the compliments, but it has nothing to do with intelligence.
I think I do a good job of writing simply because I love doing it. Period. It doesn’t really matter that I don’t know all the intricacies of using a semicolon, but I know just enough to be dangerous. Never ending any of my sentences with a preposition.
I think people excel when they are following their hearts and passion.
Besides writing and storytelling, I love politics. I am a political junkie. When I was 10, I would read the newspaper about Watergate. When I found the opportunity to blend politics and writing . . . well then BAMM! I was off to the races.
As a journalist, I covered a wide range of stories and events, but my greatest passion was (and remains today) writing about the politics of my own hometown.
On a side note, my first opportunity to get paid for what I wrote happened many years ago when I was hired to be a sports reporter for a weekly publication in central Maine. The thing that makes this anecdote funny is the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about sports. What I know now about sports could fit on a postage stamp.
I sucked at sports as a kid, and I never enjoyed watching baseball, hockey or football. I could not name, off the top of my head, even just one member of the New England Patriots . . . but if you want to talk about Spiro Agnew, well then . . . I’m your guy.
So, when it comes to bloviating on social media about local politics, I can be . . . well, let’s just say a bit overly enthusiastic.
Frankly, I’m always amazed when I find someone who actually agrees with me. I don’t expect or need you to like or agree with me about Biddeford politics, but be forewarned . . . this is my wheelhouse, baby. I’ve been doing this over three decades and this (Biddeford/Saco) is my hometown.
This is my passion, well that and watching the movie Jaws more than 250 times (and counting).
Have a good night, and don’t forget to chase your dreams.
This page offers links to each installment of my three-part series regarding the issue of homelessness in northern York County. That series of articles was published between February and March 2023 on the Saco Bay News website.
Additional stories and resources regarding this issue can be found by simply using the ‘Category’ section on the far-right side of the page.
PART ONE: Warm Smiles On A Cold Day | Several unhoused individuals share their experience being homelessness on of the coldest days of the year.
PART TWO: I Never Thought I Would Be Here | An unhoused Biddeford man talks about how he ‘lost everything’ and city officials in both Biddeford and Saco describe the complexities of the issue.
PART THREE: Where Do We Go From Here? | Resource providers and state and local political leaders paint a bleak picture and say increased funding and cooperation will be essential in tackling the issue.
Biddeford City Manager vents his frustration regarding the issue of homelessness and the neighboring city of Saco
City Manager Jim Bennett did not hold back his opinions about the neighboring city of Saco during a March 7 Biddeford City Council meeting.
City Manager James Bennett
The Biddeford council was in the midst of debating the merits of hiring a professional consultant to help the city take direct action in addressing the issue of unhoused residents in the community.
Bennett, who seemed clearly frustrated about the issue earlier in the meeting, decided to take a swipe against Saco officials and their response to the issue of unhoused residents.
“My two cents, for what it’s worth, if you want action — don’t waste your time having a conversation with Saco as it relates to this issue,” Bennett said.
Bennett’s unsolicited remarks came immediately after both Biddeford Councilors Doris Ortiz and Liam LaFountain raised the idea of working with Saco as part of a regional approach that could possibly save money and streamline resources.
Ortiz was clearly surprised by Bennett’s comments immediately raising her hands, leaning back in her chair and expressing shock.
LaFountain said he was disappointed by Bennett’s remarks and that both cities have many opportunities to work in unison on several issues.
“Working together as neighboring communities allows us to pursue more comprehensive solutions that benefit residents in both communities,” LaFountain said.
Saco Mayor Bill Doyle said he was also “disappointed” when he heard about Bennett’s public comments.
“Really, I’m sort of taken aback and at a loss for words,” Doyle said. “We’re sister communities. There’s no need in our local communities for this type of vitriol, which we see at the national level.”
Doyle said he was feeling optimistic about relationships between the two cities, especially following a joint council meeting in February. Both cities have appointed members to serve on a committee that will explore various ways the two communities can work together.
Saco’s deputy mayor, Jodi MacPhail, said she was “saddened” by Bennett’s “divisive” comment. “Growing up here, I remember the two cities having great relations, working on MERC, as well as many other projects over the years,” she said. “I will continue to take the high road and engage with Biddeford councilors and residents who appreciate both communities open dialogue without judgment.”
During a follow-up interview, Bennett said he is indeed “somewhat frustrated” both personally and professionally about the issue, but did not back down from his statements, including comments he made earlier during the March 7 meeting.
“I think most people know that I am a very straight-forward and direct person,” Bennett said. “My comments were honest and true.”
Bennett said collaboration with other communities may sound appealing, but often adds yet another layer of bureaucracy to an issue, ultimately slowing down the process of taking action. Bennett said the issue of unhoused people is not just a Biddeford issue, but that the city does need to “quickly make a decision” about how to proceed.
Earlier in the March 7 meeting, Bennett was clearly agitated, and he castigated those who raised concerns about spending $20,000 to hire a professional consultant who would help the city move forward in tackling the issue of unhoused residents.
Departing from his usual role in providing the council information about various issues and staff resources, Bennett offered more of a personal opinion to the council, questioning councilors and others who voiced concerns about hiring a consultant.
“I’m really tired of the misclassifications and all the other issues that happen around this damn issue,” Bennett said. “Personally and professionally, I’m tired. It’s time that the community make some decisions at this table,” he added, pointing to the council dais.
“I don’t think anybody should be really nervous that we want to bring a professional person in to help the council make a decision in full lights – and full FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] and where everybody understands what’s going on,” Bennett said.
“And if that makes you nervous,” he added, shrugging his shoulders. “Then I guess you ought to be concerned about what you’re doing and what your motives are.”
Bennett described the issue of unhoused residents as “probably the most difficult issue that a local, elected body can tackle,” citing a lack in resources from both the state and federal governments.
Ultimately, the council voted 7-2, with Scott Whiting and Bobby Mills in opposition, to hire a professional consultant.
Imagine this. You have no family in the area. Your monthly rent just increased by more than 45 percent, and your paycheck no longer covers your basic needs. You have to leave your apartment. There are no available apartments in your price range. Where do you go? Who do you call?
Now ponder this. How many paychecks away are you from finding yourself without housing, food and medicine?
According to experts, service providers and government officials, a very large segment of the homeless population can be found just beneath the surface of public scrutiny. They work full-time, pay taxes and follow the laws, but they are either living in their cars or “couch surfing,” staying with friends for a few days at a time.
“I never thought I would be here,” says Alex, a 31-year-old man who grew up in Biddeford and works in the service industry. “I’m trying to save up some money so I can get the hell out of here and go down south. I grew up here. I went to school here, and now I can’t afford to live here. I guess it’s nice that Biddeford is getting better, but I know lots of people who can’t enjoy the change.”
Amy is a single mother now living in seasonal rental unit in Old Orchard Beach. She has a three-year-old daughter. She relies on public transportation to get back and forth from her job in Biddeford, where she earns roughly $18 per hour. She needs to vacate her seasonal rental by May 1.
“Daycare is really expensive,” she says. “I’m having a hard time finding an apartment for less than $1,500 a month, including heat and electricity. I have no idea where I am going to go after May 1.”
Stories like these are becoming increasingly familiar, especially in southern Maine, where the demand for housing and the cost of living has skyrocketed, far outpacing area wages.
And then, there are other issues that need to be considered when trying to solve the problems of homelessness. Mental health and substance abuse issues play pivotal roles for many of those who are living without a home.
“I’m not an expert of any kind, but mental health is a big factor for many of the people we serve,” said Vassie Fowler, executive director of the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center in Biddeford. “Substance abuse is also common. A lot of the people we serve are feeling intense pain. It’s pain that is there every minute of every hour of every day. So, people use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate. To alleviate the constant pain and anxiety.”
But getting services or finding resources for the homeless is a daunting task, especially so when you are living on the streets without a fixed address.
Sweetser, headquartered in Saco, is one of Maine’s largest mental health service providers, and they are having a hard time trying to keep pace with the surging demand for services for both housed and unhoused people.
“Right now, we have a waiting list of approximately 2,000 individuals across the state,” said Justin Chenette, a spokesperson for Sweetser. “We currently serve approximately 4,000 people in York County alone. There is a huge need out there, but we are at a critical moment because we are experiencing the same staffing shortages that can be found elsewhere.”
Sweetser offers several different resources for those who are struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, Chenette said, adding that there is no real hard data to compare services between the housed and unhoused.
“We don’t turn anyone away,” Chenette said, adding that Sweetser offers a mobile crisis unit that will “go to” wherever a client is staying. Sweetser also offers a 24/7 “warm line” that connects individuals struggling with substance abuse or mental health concerns to trained peer coordinators for emotional support.
Fowler says her agency does its best to connect people with resources, but there are long wait times. “We help folks apply for Medicaid and other benefits, but it’s still a struggle,” she said. “If someone is in immediate crisis, we do our best to get them evaluated and treated at the hospital, but there are limits to what hospitals can provide in terms of available beds or treatment options.”
According to Danielle M Loring, Director of Intensive Services/Emergency Department Crisis for MaineHealth, which includes Southern Maine Healthcare, roughly 50 percent of behavioral health patients seek voluntary services while the remaining 50 percent of patients are being brought to the emergency room by paramedics or police following a suicide attempt, substance use intoxication, acute aggression or acute psychosis.
Although Loring says the hospital does not track patients by housing status, she did say that the number of emergency room patients without secure housing has grown significantly over the past few years, especially during the height of the Covid pandemic.
“A considerable volume of unhoused patients are now seeking care in emergency rooms to access a full range of care, including inpatient psychiatric or medical hospitalization; in an effort to have their basic needs met, including food and shelter,” Loring said.
The increasing unhoused population in Maine has a significant systemic impact from a foundational level, with no greater attention to compounding this growing public health concern. Loring said. “Families and children at risk of losing their housing or unhoused, suffer considerable impacts to their education, careers and medical/behavioral health treatment resulting from the unstable and often unsafe living conditions they must contend with in order to survive,” she said.
A growing problem for Maine and York County
Although all cities and towns in Maine are required to offer general assistance (GA) programs, those funds are often exhausted before the budget year ends. The state provides 70 percent of the funding for those programs, the rest is shouldered by municipal taxpayers.
At the county level, quasi-government agencies, such as the Biddeford Housing Authority and the York County Community Action Corps, are doing their best to offer solutions for an ever-growing problem.
“It’s no longer just about the people you see living on the streets,” Fowler said. “An even bigger problem is the growing number of people who are right on the edge of becoming homeless because of the cost of housing, both rentals and home ownership.”
Two years ago, several organizations came together to help reduce and ultimately end homelessness in York County. Part of a Maine-Housing statewide initiative, the Homeless Response Service Hub Coalition was created and includes York County Community Action Corp, York County Shelter Programs, Caring Unlimited, Seeds of Hope, the Biddeford and Sanford Housing Authorities and several other non-profit organizations.
According to Carter Friend, executive director of the York County Community Action Corps (YCCAC), the Hub is a “coordinated effort to restructure how organizations respond to the growing number of unhoused people.”
In 2022, there were nearly 2,100 people experiencing homelessness in York and Cumberland Counties, according to Abigail Smallwood, coordinator of the Hub program, who said the actual number is likely much higher because of the challenges in collecting real-time data.
YCCAC provides several services for unhoused individuals and families, including access to health care, childcare and a team of social workers who help unhoused individuals fill out with housing applications and identify local housing resources. But that agency is also trying to keep up with a growing demand for services, Smallwood said.
At the state level, there are also challenges to helping people who find themselves homeless or soon-to-be homeless.
Jackie Farwell, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, said the state offers several programs to assist those without housing, including MaineCare, which provides comprehensive care management to qualified individuals; the Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP), a 24-month rental assistance program designed to assist people with securing transitional housing and serving those with serious mental illness or substance use disorder.
The BRAP program serves individuals for 24 months as a bridge between homelessness and more permanent housing options, such as Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, or alternative housing placement.
And then there is the PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program, which is designed to support the outreach, engagement and delivery of services to eligible persons who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.
A double standard?
It’s relatively easy to find social media commentary that decries the use of taxpayer funds to support immigrants and asylum seekers while there are not enough resources to provide housing for long-term residents and U.S. citizens.
State officials, however, say that anyone seeking assistance much show documentation in order to be eligible for state programs and services. Thus, illegal immigrants do not qualify for state services and benefits but may seek housing in shelters.
Asylum seekers must also provide documentation in order to receive services and benefits at the state and federal level. According to Farwell, there are three new overnight warming shelters in Portland, with a total of about 120 beds, that primarily serve asylum seeking individuals and families through April 30.
Additionally, the state provides hotel rooms for dozens more asylum-seeking households unable to access emergency shelters through April 30.
Since the summer of 2022, using funds authorized by the Legislature, the Asylum Seeker Transitional Housing Program in Saco has successfully assisted more than 115 families, made up of more than 400 individuals, with housing and daily services provided by Catholic Charities of Maine, including cultural orientation, transportation, school enrollment and connections with health care providers and adult education classes.
Farwell also said DHHS has also provided more than $15 million to 16 immigrant-led community-based organizations to provide public health, case management, and social service supports to asylum-seekers, using grant funds from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) is serving his first term in the Legislature and said it is important to note that programs and services for both asylum seekers and long-term residents are designed to address the “unique needs” of each group.
“I think we should avoid falling into the pit of a false choice,” Malon said. “The state is trying to effectively meet the demands of all people in Maine, especially those who are in the unfortunate position of being unhoused.”
Malon says asylum seekers have unique needs and challenges, including language barriers and the inability to gain employment because of federal labor restrictions. “In my mind, there is no question that our federal immigration system is broken,” he said. “I mean really, no one is coming to Maine just to sleep a few months in the Expo Center.”
Asked if the state should do more to address the growing housing crisis, Malon did not hesitate. “We absolutely must do more, starting with expanding the supply of housing of all types,” he said. “This is a statewide problem and it’s going to require statewide action.”
The lack of affordable housing presents a serious challenge in workforce housing. For example, a hospital needs janitors in order to function, but area housing costs exceed those wages. It is the same story for beginning teachers, new police officers and hospitality jobs.
“Workers need affordable housing,” Malon said. “If they can’t afford to live here or to buy a home here, then we are going to be hurt by labor shortages and supply disruptions. There are no easy answers, and this issue affects all of us.”
Editor’s note:The names of the unhoused individuals interviewed for this story have been changed to protect their anonymity.
Citing a lack of both resources and guidance from the federal and state governments, Biddeford City Manager James Bennett recently said the issue of homelessness is “probably the most difficult issue” that any municipality in Maine can face.
And while some social media users say the city of Biddeford and surrounding municipalities are “doing nothing” to solve the crisis, others say that expanding resources will simply draw more unhoused persons to the area, placing an even greater strain on local resources and taxpayers.
“There are a lot of factors that play into this,” said Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant. “And there are no easy answers. In my opinion, we have a moral obligation to tackle this issue but we also have a fiscal obligation to the taxpayers. The question then becomes how do you reconcile those two things?”
Casavant said the issue of homelessness is becoming a larger issue in communities all over the country, and across the river in Saco, Mayor William Doyle agrees.
“We all want to tackle this issue, but it’s not as simple as just passing an ordinance,” Doyle said. “The problem is really aggravated by a lack of affordable housing in the region. If someone can’t afford to live in a house or an apartment, their options are limited,” he said.
Doyle said the city of Saco is looking for a “comprehensive” solution, adding that he and members of the city council recently directed City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath to develop a list of recommendations for the council to consider regarding affordable housing.
“It’s pretty similar to what Biddeford is doing,” Doyle said, adding that proposals such as inclusionary zoning and other developer incentives are all “on the table” for discussion.
Earlier this week, the Saco City Council voted to approve moving forward with a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application that could clear the way for development of a 60-unit affordable housing development near the intersection of the Ross Road and Portland Road.
Kaenrath said he and his staff are “digging deep into the issue” in order to develop some “tangible and meaningful ways” to address what he acknowledged is a growing issue in the city.
“It’s not a problem that you can just throw some money at and have the problem solved,”Casavant said, pointing to other Maine communities that are still struggling with the unhoused crisis, despite spending millions of dollars to combat the issue.
According to the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maine increased by more than 110 percent since 2020, and is up by more than 85 percent since 2010.
The Law Enforcement Perspective
Although the increasing number of unhoused people remains relatively hidden beneath the surface of day-to-day life, there is a growing strain on municipal services, including local police departments.
Joanne Fisk, Interim Biddeford Police Chief, said there has been a spike in calls for mental health services since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic three years ago.
“Of course, that’s not all related to our unhoused population, but it is a factor,” Fisk said. “it’s not illegal to be homeless. We are constantly looking for ways we can adapt and better connect individuals with appropriate services and resources.”
Fisk said Biddeford recently hired a community engagement specialist to work as a liaison between the department and social service agencies, including the Seeds of Hope resource center.
Sgt. Steve Gorton has been working for the Biddeford Police Department for 27 years. Today, he heads up the community resource division for the department. He says issues related to the unhoused population “ebbs and flows.”
“There’s no question that more people are struggling, but I have not seen a big spike,” he said. “Our unhoused population experiences the same challenges as every one else, whether it’s domestic violence, assaults and theft. These issues are nowhere near unique to the unhoused.”
Gorton said police sometimes receive complaints about pan-handling near certain, busy intersections in the city. “There’s not really much we can do,” he said. “It’s not illegal to pan-handle.”
According to the Bangor Police Department, nearly a third of annual police calls involve people experiencing homelessness and/or mental health issues. That city has also created mental health liaison positions within their police department.
The Lewiston City Council late last year voted 4-3 to create an ordinance that would prohibit people from sleeping on city property at night, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. That ordinance, which drew plenty of criticism from homeless advocates, is expected to go into effect on April 1.
On a recent warm afternoon, Robert, 57, stands on the corner of Main and Lincoln streets, directly across the street from Biddeford City Hall. He holds a sign he fashioned from a used pizza box: “Dammit! I need work.”
Robert says he moved to Maine a couple of years ago and has been struggling with alcoholism for many years. He said he is sober now, but that it is becoming increasingly hard to get “back on his feet.” When asked where he lives, he says he spends much of his time in Veteran’s Memorial Park.
“It’s degrading for a man my age to be out here begging,” he said. “It might be okay if you’re a young guy or something, but not for someone my age. Yeah, I made some bad choices, but now I have nothing. Literally nothing. I just want a job, but no one wants to hire a guy who doesn’t have an address or personal hygiene products.”
Bigger cities, bigger problems
“Some of Maine’s largest cities are spending a lot of money and still have a lot of problems,” Casavant said. “That does not mean that we can ignore the issue or just hope that someone else is going to fix it. I suspect that we’ll need to begin fixing a lot of little things that all contribute to the larger problem.”
By state law, every municipality in Maine is required to provide a General Assistance (GA) program to help residents with temporary emergency funding for things such as housing, heating and personal items. But even that program presents challenges for those on the bottom of the economic scale.
In order to receive GA services, applicants must demonstrate income and resource requirements. And although the city can provide temporary help for rental payments, it cannot provide housing or security deposits.
Municipal expenditures for General Assistance are funded by a 70 percent matching contribution from the state and 30 percent from the local community, presenting a bigger share of the problem for larger, service-center communities such as Bangor, Portland, Lewiston and Biddeford.
“It’s a regional issue,” Casavant said. “But unfortunately, it’s the larger communities such as Biddeford that have to bear the brunt of the cost.
For the most part, they live just beneath the surface of our day-to-day lives, but they are also our neighbors, our friends, co-workers and family members. In fact, the only difference between them and the rest of us is that they do not have permanent housing.
The issue of being unhoused is an issue being faced by cities large and small all across the United States, although the issue is often more magnified in communities that serve as urban centers, where public transportation is available and resources are consolidated.
An unhoused couple spent several hours recently at a Biddeford warming shelter.
On one of the coldest days in recent memory, we caught up with several unhoused persons at a warming center that was set up in Biddeford in order to provide respite while the outdoor temperatures were well below zero.
Louise is 66 years old. She moved to Biddeford from Portland two years ago. For many years, she worked as a restaurant manager and says she graduated from the University of Southern Maine. Although she has relatives in southern Maine, she says that being unhoused is her choice.
“I have a sister in Portland and a son in Brunswick,” she said. “But we don’t always get along, and I like to be independent.”
Louise says she has been homeless since 2018. She says that she came to Biddeford because she heard “some very nice things” about the city and the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center located on South Street.
Louise becomes quickly confused during our brief interview. She says that she and her boyfriend Bob would like to start their own homeless shelter. She also says that she is seriously considering running as a candidate to be Biddeford’s next mayor later this year.
“It’s my choice to be out there,” she says. “I don’t want to be a burden, and I want to help other people who have nowhere to go. I think of myself as a street angel.”
Vassie Fowler is the executive director of the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, a non-profit organization that partners with regional communities and other service providers to assist those struggling with poverty.
“We don’t call them our clients,” Fowler said. “We call them our neighbors.”
Seeds of Hope provides many resources for those coping with homelessness, including breakfast and lunch during the weekday as well as providing donated clothing, personal hygiene products, tents, sleeping bags and other items.
“We have a very low bar set for people who are in need,” Fowler explains. “Basically, all we ask for is your first name. For a lot of people living in poverty, isolationism is a really big issue. We work to build real connections and real relationships.”
According to Fowler, Seeds of Hope serves an average of 60-70 people per day, a number that has almost doubled since last year.
Last year, Seeds of Hope provided more than 10,000 meals for people in need. The organization is supported and run by more than 30 volunteers and receives donations from local businesses and charitable organizations.
“Healthy people don’t live outdoors,” Fowler explained. “Some people may say they choose to be unhoused, but more often than not, they are simply trying to maintain their dignity. “
Fowler points to three rows of cots that were set up in the gymnasium of the J. Richard Martin Community Center on Alfred Street, the site of Biddeford’s emergency warming center. More than three dozen people mingle with others or try to sleep on a bitterly cold Saturday morning.
“We have a room full of people who basically have nothing but their name,” Fowler said. “But everybody has a name, and that’s the great equalizer. When we use names, it’s no longer ‘those people.’ It changes your perception. Sometimes, that’s all we can that we can give them, just respect and dignity.”
A big smile on a very cold day
Jane is 21 years old and eagerly speaks to us about what it’s like to deal with not having a place to call home.
Jane says her mother moved to Maine from Florida more than 10 years ago. “I have some family issues,” she explains. “I’m not working now, but I am looking. It’s not easy to find work when you’re basically homeless. There’s a lot of stigma.”
Jane says that she and her boyfriend often “hang out” at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center. One of the biggest challenges to being homeless, she says, is a lack of public restrooms. “I get why not,” she says about the lack of public bathrooms, “but it sure would be nice.”
When asked how she survives living on the streets, Jane offers a big smile and says, “I take it day by day. I just try to keep a positive outlook. I just always try to be happy no matter what.”
Mark is 42 years old. He sits on a cot in the shelter next to his girlfriend, Amanda.
Originally from Massachusetts, Mark lost his job at the Federal Express distribution center in Biddeford a few months ago. He said he is scheduled to begin a new job in Portland in just a few days. “It’s tough to find work,” he says. “When they know you’re homeless, they don’t want to hire you.”
Mark freely admits that he has struggled with substance abuse issues. Although he has a brother and sister living in New Hampshire, Mark says his past behavior left him estranged from his family. “Yeah, I kind of got into some trouble,” he says. “It’s my fault, but I’ve basically lost everything.”
Mark and Amanda live in a tent encampment located on the western side of the city. “The cops kicked us out of there,” Ryan said. “So we just moved to some nearby woods.”
Amanda is 34. She says she became homeless after leaving an abusive relationship with her husband. “My family has pretty much turned their backs on me,” she says. “Some people think that homeless people don’t want to work. That’s just not true. I worked in a hotel and a call center. For a while, I was the manager of a convenience store. Bu things just happened. Being homeless sucks. It’s hard because it’s always in your face.”
When asked how she copes, Amanda shrugs her shoulders. “You just gotta push through every day,” she says. “You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Mark and Amanda say that it’s actually harder to be homeless as a couple because you always have to worry about the other person and whether they are okay. They also say that some other unhoused individuals often cause problems and sometimes steal belongings. “Some people really ruin it for others,” Amanda said.
Paul is 38 years old. He often hangs out at the Saco Transportation Center during the day. He admits that he drinks alcohol and smokes cigarettes. “How am I supposed to save money?” he asks. “Really, I get a check every month for about $600. How am I supposed to save up for first and last month’s rent and security deposit? If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
Jackson says he pan-handles to raise money, but he’d rather have a full-time job. Up until a few months ago, he worked full-time as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. He also worked in a factory. He lost his job after being hospitalized in a Portland psychiatric facility.
“I paid taxes just like you,” he says. “What did it get me? I’m outside and now nobody wants to know me. They don’t even want to look at me. A good day is a day when I can get some smokes. A bad day is when I think about stepping in front of the next train.”
A lot of people have really strong feelings about President Biden’s plan to forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for individuals earning less than $150,000 a year.
Based on my social media feed, the debate pretty much runs along partisan lines: Democrats support the idea and Republicans vehemently oppose it.
From what I can gather, each side is flooding Facebook, Twitter and Tik-Tok with two very basic themes to support their arguments and position. Democrats are relying upon the virtues of kindness and empathy, castigating Republicans as selfish and mean-spirited. Just because I struggled to pay off my student loans, does not mean I think that other people should struggle to pay off their student loans.
Republicans, on the other hand, are trumpeting the virtues of personal responsibility, arguing that the loan forgiveness simply transfers debt incurred by someone else onto the backs of hardworking taxpayers who are already suffering under record-breaking inflation.
On the surface, I can see the merits of both arguments and it’s easy for me to see why the debate has become so heated and intense, but that debate – from both sides – does very little to address what is a very real problem in this country.
I get it. Republicans are playing the elitist card. Isn’t it lovely that Johnny or Susie was able to go to Harvard or Yale, but how about the hard-working people who went into the trades instead of college? It doesn’t take much to stoke that fire.
There is always a not so hidden layer of resentment just below the surface when discussing college education among the working class.
Democrats are quick to fire back that the world needs engineers, architects, chemists, doctors, nurses and pharmacists; and that the cost of the necessary education has skyrocketed, making it almost unbearable to be saddled with a debt that could take as much as 30 years to repay.
Again, I understand the validity of both of these points, but I don’t see how those arguments – and especially Biden’s plan – really address the fundamental problems: the crippling cost of higher education and the completely bungled student loan process itself.
Before we go any further, a quick bit of disclosure. I have two sons, one did not go to college but is doing very well as an auto-body technician in an employee-owned firm with insurance, a retirement plan, paid vacations and sick time. He is learning new things every day and building his skills.
My younger son chose to attend a private university in North Carolina and majored in fine arts. He is also hard-working, and is employed in the service sector. He will likely benefit from President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.
Both of my kids made their own choices. Laura and I obviously advised them, but ultimately they each chose their own path and understood that they are responsible for their own choices.
I made lots and lots of mistakes as a parent (I still do), but I like to think that we raised our kids to be responsible, hard-working and decent young men. It looks to me like those lessons worked . . . so back to the national argument.
Let’s first pause, however, and consider a couple of things:
President Biden’s plan only forgives $10,000 of a student’s “federal loan” debt. This is a fraction of the debt that most college kids rack up in pursuit of their education. People like my youngest son will still have a ton of debt upon finishing college. No complaining, and yes, he is responsible for that debt. not you and me.
We are all Americans and should be at least somewhat concerned about the well-being of our fellow citizens.
In the United States, we have many taxpayer-supported programs that provide short and long-term assistance to all kinds of people across the entire economic spectrum. We routinely provide debt forgiveness to major corporations and every individual is able to file for various versions of bankruptcy as a final resort if they find themselves unable to cope with their debts.
I know what you’re thinking: if someone files for personal bankruptcy, it is their creditors – not the taxpayers – who get screwed. Yes and no. Those creditors turn around and file those losses as tax write offs. So, yeah . . . the taxpayers (you and me) subsidize those losses.
Yup, Biden is playing politics with this issue, making his decision just weeks before the mid-term elections, when Democrats are poised to perhaps lose control of the House and maybe the Senate. Imagine that. A politician playing politics. The nerve of that guy. (Remember, Biden talked a lot about this student loan relief idea while he was on the campaign trail.)
The way federal student loans are structured, the government reaps plenty of interest (profit) from borrowers. Even with the $10k forgiveness, the government will still be making a profit on the repayments.
Let’s also remember that FEDERAL student loan debt cannot be discharged by bankruptcy, like other kinds of debts.
Republicans, in my opinion, should tread a bit carefully on this topic without bloviating about “rugged individualism,” “personal responsibility” and debt repayment.
President Donald Trump’s businesses (casinos and hotels) filed for bankruptcy (more than once). No, he did not file personal bankruptcy, but his businesses sought bankruptcy protection during the days before he was an elected official. The media and other candidates harshly criticized Trump for seeking bankruptcy relief.
On this point, I agree with Trump. I also believe bankruptcy protection – whether Chapter 11 for a business or Chapter 7 or 13 for a person – should be a last resort and come attached with some consequences, such as determining future credit worthiness.
The meat of the matter
My friend Scott Jalbert wrote a piece about this subject on his Facebook page. It was one of the most cogent pieces I have seen about this issue. Scott and I, for the most part are politically aligned. I would describe us as center-right individuals. It would appear that we both tend to believe that the government that governs least governs best.
Scott made several points on his post. 1.) That the ease and availability of federal student loans has allowed colleges and universities to jack up their tuition rates to astronomical levels while stockpiling huge endowments. 2.) The federal student loan program, itself, is fraught with bureaucratic gobbly-gook that is both confusing and misleading. 3.) There is a fundamental absence of reasonableness when it comes to lending money for education. (No bank in the world would allow me to borrow $2 million for a summer home on Rangeley Lake) Yet, with the backing and guarantee of the federal government, student loans are dispensed like candy at a street festival.
“I went to college 30+ years ago and since then public college tuition has increased by 200 percent,” Scott wrote on Facebook. “Private college [tuition has risen] by about 140 percent. It went from something that we could pay off by working summer and school-year jobs to a mountain of debt that takes 20 years to pay off.” https://www.facebook.com/scott.jalbert.3
“Remove the federal government from the college business.” Jalbert continues. “Force colleges to enroll the best and the brightest instead of packing campuses by enrolling everyone to meet quotas and to boost profits. Have students secure loans from private lenders without government intervention. Stop the vilification based on career choice and stop applying the pressure that everyone should go to college. Period.”
An idea for consideration
I am empathetic to the plight of young college students and their families, but I also know many other young people who did not go to college and are also struggling during these tough economic times. Where is their bailout?
If I were president (now there’s a scary thought), I would propose the following: 1.) Immediately freeze interest rates and set to .5 percent for all student loans (private and public). 2.) Establish a commission to review and recommend changes to the student loan process and 3.) . . . well, here’s where it gets interesting.
I would make available up to $10,000 of student loan deferment for those borrowers who are college graduates in exchange for their commitment to pay back those funds through public service.
My plan would require 10 hours per week of public service, which could be through enlistment in the military, the Peace Corps, the Red Cross, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity or many other programs. It could also be as easy as volunteering at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter or helping remove litter from public roads and highways. This commitment of 10 hours per week would last a minimum of two years.
This way, we all have some skin in the game. I would also offer up to $10,000 to any American who wants to pursue non-traditional educational opportunities, such as apprenticeships.
The reason we establish governments is to make it easier to survive and thrive. Government provides for a common defense, public infrastructure and education. Imagine what the world would like without a government that addresses the needs of all of its citizens.
The money you have in the bank would not have the protection of federal insurance, there would be no ambulance if you begin having chest pains. There would be no public roadways or highways.
We have laws that prohibit price gouging, perhaps it’s time to examine the pricing practices of both public and private colleges and universities. It’s just a thought, nothing more and nothing less.
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It’s July, and according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the “Dog Days of Summer” are finally upon us. This is the time of the year when those of us in the northeast have a pretty good view of the constellation, Sirius – hence the “dog days.”
It is also the “quiet” month. The days are long and warm. It is time for frolicking at the beach, family barbecues and complaining about the tourists from Quebec and Massachusetts. Football has yet to ramp up its next season. The Celtics and Bruins are basically done for a few months; and the political season – my favorite – is just now gearing up for another relentless, knock-down, drag-out, hands-out- for-donations season on your favorite social media platform.
Here in Maine, the 2022 elections will feature what promises to be a sure-fire battle of the ages for the Blaine House as the once-every-four-years-gubernatorial election draws near.
Unlike the last three gubernatorial battles, this year’s match-up appears to be a straight-forward Democrat versus Republican race, pitting Democrat incumbent Janet Mills against Republican Paul LePage who is seeking a return to the Blaine House.
I will be watching this race closely because I am curious about how – or if – the absence of any real “independent” candidates will affect the outcome. But we still have some time before the campaigns really heat up and in only a matter of weeks, campaign signs will be littering every paved road in Maine – and on most of the dirt roads too.
Sure, staffers and volunteers from both campaigns are already working, but on the surface, I’m betting that things will remain relatively quiet until we get into the middle of August and especially in the days just after Labor Day.
Looking back
In previous gubernatorial races, Eliot Cutler, a so-called moderate who really likes children, was a spoiler in both 2014 and 2010, the races which LePage won with relatively narrow victories.
Republican candidate Paul LePage
Cutler is currently awaiting trial on child pornography charges, hence we will not be hearing much from him during this election cycle. That’s good news for Mills and bad news for LePage.
LePage won his first term as governor in 2010, capturing just 37.6 percent of the vote (218,065). Cutler, running as an independent, came in a close second with 35.9 percent (208,270) and Democrat Libby Mitchell garnered only 18.8 percent (109, 387) of the vote.
Cutler was hardly independent. Much like his role model, former governor and now Senator Angus King, Cutler is much, much more a Democrat than Republican. Maybe not a progressive Democrat like Libby Mitchell, but a Democrat for all intents and purposes.
Maine Democrats blame Cutler for handing the 2010 race to LePage. While he may have been able to peel off a few moderate Republican (is there really such a thing?) votes, Cutler was more centrist than Mitchell and thus was able to attract votes from the perennial “undeclared,” fence-straddle voters.
Four years later, LePage won a second term, this time capturing roughly 48.2 percent of the vote; Democrat Mike Michaud got 43.2 percent of the vote; and Cutler finished the three-way race, bringing up the rear with less than nine percent of the vote. The Democrats had learned their lesson, but it still wasn’t enough to beat LePage.
The 2018 gubernatorial race was pretty much a straight-forward match-up between Democrat Janet Mills, a former Attorney General for the state of Maine, and Republican Shawn Moody, a political outsider and successful businessman that founded Moody’s Collision, an-employee-owned company with several locations throughout southern Maine.
Gov. Janet Mills
Because of term limits, LePage was unable to seek a third, consecutive term.
Yes, we don’t want to overlook Terry Hayes, another so-called independent who lost her Democrat primary race to Mills in 2018, but still decided to go for the gold and wound up with a measly six percent of the vote in the November general election.
Mills won a solid victory with slightly more than 50 percent of the vote in 2018. Despite his political inexperience, Moody was still able to grab about 43 percent of the vote.
Looking forward
So here we are, facing the mid-terms and another gubernatorial election. Which candidate has the edge? Which candidate do I think will win?
Frankly, I think it’s going to be a pretty close race.
Before we go any further, let me say that this is just my opinion. I am not working or volunteering for either candidate. I don’t have any special insight or knowledge. Yes, I have a professional background in journalism and public relations, but I am really nothing more than an arm-chair pundit who loves politics.
My opinions and predictions are no more qualified than your opinions and predictions.
So, why do I think it’s going to be a tight race between LePage and Mills? Because I think a lot of issues on the federal level are going to impact the Maine gubernatorial race.
Gun violence, abortion rights and climate change could all play a hand in this year’s election. But this year – more than in any year for a long, long time – the economy is going to be a HUGE factor. As James Carville famously said roughly 30 years ago today, “It’s the economy, stupid!”
The incumbent, whether it is George H.W. Bush or Jimmy Carter, is always judged by the economy. Voters, whether it is right or wrong, primarily tend to vote with their wallets.
The last time, inflation was this bad, Ronald Reagan crushed Jimmy Carter’s re-election bid with just one sentence: “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”
Many voters, including those in the middle, will hold Mills accountable for our current economic conditions. Just as voters are heading off to the polls, many of them will be feeling the pain of filling their home heating-oil tanks, still struggling with run-away inflation and soaring gas prices.
That said, other issues at the federal level could motivate more people, mostly Democrats and some middle-of-the-road voters, to the polls. Those upset with recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and recent mass shooting incidents may want to make their opinions known at the voting booth. This could be bad news for LePage.
LePage is a strong supporter of gun-owner rights and he appeals to “pro-life” supporters. He generally holds the concept of renewable energy as a waste of both time and money. He is regarded by his base as a fiscal conservative.
From where I sit, it looks like both LePage and Mills will have to focus heavily on their ground game, especially their GOTV (Get-Out-The-Vote) efforts.
Just go back and look at the numbers.
In both of his previous bids, LePage never hit the 50 percent mark — and that was with two left-leaning candidates in each race.
Mills supporters cannot afford any missteps. Yes, she has a strong base but she will need more than that this time.
I suspect that the LePage campaign will work non-stop to hang the poor-economy label on Mills. I can almost guarantee that they will link her to President Biden’s dismal polling numbers. Meanwhile, the Mills campaign will focus on portraying LePage as Maine’s version of Donald Trump, an evil boogeyman who hates women, puppies and pine trees.
So, who do I think will win? Honestly, I don’t know.
I do know, however, that this will be one of the most brutal and intense gubernatorial campaigns that Maine voters have ever seen.
Now, let’s sit back and watch. Your predictions are welcome.
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