Overall, this is a good and interesting piece; a valuable behind-the-scenes view for those of us not watching Augusta as closely as we should.
Although I sometimes disagree with your positions, I do admire your tenacity and your underpinning commitment to the people like me who live in your district. (Hence, why I’m always happy to have your campaign sign on my lawn.)
That said, your repeated swipes and criticisms of your Republican colleagues comes off as sophomoric and rather boorish. Certainly, well below your ability.
In your most recent column to the Courier aka the Portland Press Herald, you write: “The loss of access to trustworthy information has impacted our political discourse greatly. It has created a void that rewards clickbait and outrage, causing misinformation to spread on social media before anyone can even attempt to correct the record with the truth.”
State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford)
Reading your piece, it doesn’t appear that you are willing to even attempt anything even resembling a bipartisan approach, castigating those on the right side of the aisle for everything from taking too long to eat their lunch at Applebee’s to outright questioning of their cognitive skills.
This is a problem for you, especially. Why? Because you are actually employed by one particular party. You are a professional party operative, beyond your role as a lawmaker.
Your day job as job as director of party affairs for the Maine Democratic Party, puts you in an awkward position.
Maine’s Democratic Party helps pay your mortgage, your utilities and Christmas presents for your children. The Democrats are your employer. I don’t blame you for wanting to keep your boss on your good side. That’s a simple survival skill.
But you are not a pundit. You are a duly elected representative in the Maine Legislature. You voluntarily took on a much higher responsibility than some wayward guy making jokes on Facebook. This recent post of yours comes off as snobbish, condescending and a bit elitist.
I should not have to remind you that not everyone in your district is a Democrat, and you have a responsibility to be fair to them, also. You were unopposed and your district is, in fact, one of the strongest of Democrats’ strongholds across the state.
Maine’s Democratic Party helps pay your mortgage, your utilities and Christmas presents for your children.
As I said near the top, I don’t pay as close attention as I should. Perhaps you are making a good-faith effort at bipartisanship. It would be nice to hear an example or two from you. . . from time to time.
I get that the work is sometimes frustrating. I also get that Republicans simply dig in their heels sometimes for no other reason than they are the minority party right now.
Back in the day (mid to late 1990s) I covered Augusta for various publications. I saw plenty of times when both parties were being somewhat silly and very partisan, but I also saw a lot of compromise and good-faith efforts from both sides of the aisle.
I would find your column a bit more palatable if you tried a bit harder to at least appear a bit neutral. But hey, it’s your column so do what you want.
You are a smart and principled man. You are also a community leader. For better or worse, this latest column from you does not reflect those admirable traits of yours.
You owe me nothing. But if you’re going to complain about a “fractured system” and a “lack of serious media,” maybe you should not be dumping gasoline onto that fire.
As a professional journalist, I offer you this last bit of food for thought: If you are going to write a newspaper column, you really should disclose your employer. It is especially relevant to your opinions and your subsequent commentary.
Best to you and your wonderful family. Enjoy the weekend.
Sincerely, R —
Never miss another update! Subscribe for free today!
State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) will soon begin his second term representing a portion of Biddeford in the Maine State House of Representatives.
Malon is one of three lawmakers – all Democrats — who make up the city’s legislative delegation. State Rep. Traci Gere is also returning to Augusta and represents Biddeford’s coastal area and the town of Kennebunkport.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau was chosen by his peers to reprise his role as Speaker of the House following a two-year hiatus after being termed out of office.
State Rep, Marc Malon
Malon, 42, said he is eager to begin his work in Augusta. He was unchallenged for his seat in both the primary and general elections.
During his first term in office, Malon served as a member of the Labor & Housing Committee, and the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee.
Although committee assignments have yet to be announced, Malon said he is ready to serve wherever needed.
The 132nd Legislature is creating a new Joint Standing Committee this year. The new Housing and Economic Development Committee is a hybrid from a special committee that was formed four years ago to tackle issues surrounding housing.
“Housing is one of the biggest issues facing Maine right now,” Malon said. “I would love to serve on that committee, but I’ll be happy to serve wherever – whether it’s back to the Labor Committee or Veterans & Legal Affairs.”
Because of his day job as director of party affairs for the Maine Democratic Party, some have question whether Malon can effectively avoid an obvious conflict of interest.
I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.
State Rep. Marc Malon
Malon does not shy away from those conversations, and points to his previous service when he worked closely – and effectively — with several Republican lawmakers.
“I certainly understand why my work for the party may give some people a moment of pause,” Malon said. “But I also think it’s important to note that the bulk of the work we do is very bipartisan.”
In a previous interview, Malon explained the sometimes-subtle differences of what actually happens in the Legislature versus the rather partisan headlines that dominate political discussions on the national level.
“Before I decided to even put my name out there as a candidate, I went to the State Ethics Commission for an opinion,” Malon said last year. “Their opinion was that I could do both. To a certain extent, almost everyone in a citizen legislature faces the same concerns. For example, can farmers objectively serve on the Agriculture Committee and so forth?
“I think my professional experience and time working in the State House as a private citizen actually benefits my constituents. When I got elected, I already knew my way around and understood the procedures.
“My employer does not lobby me on any issue that comes before us. I think they know, and I hope my constituents know, that if it ever came down to it, I would choose my constituents over my job.”
Today, Malon says the Legislature is facing several important issues, most notably what has been described as a housing crisis and the struggles with sharply rising property taxes.
“We certainly have our work cut out for us,” Malon said. “I think our delegation did an outstanding job during the last term, and I’m confident that we are going to hit the ground running.”
Malon says that his close friendship with Speaker Fecteau will be a benefit to his constituents.
“Ryan and I have known each other for a while,” Malon said. “But I don’t expect any special treatment. We’re both going to be keeping in close touch with Mayor [Marty] Grohman and the city council.”
“Once again, I firmly believe that Biddeford will be well represented in Augusta,” Malon said.
Editor’s Note: This is the first installment of the Biddeford Gazette’s Local Legislative Preview. Further installments will be focused on State Sen. Henry Ingwersen, State Rep. Traci Gere and Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
I make my living by stringing words together, but I have always thought that they were just words — tools to build a story or make a point.
Some people, however, get all bent out of shape and very self-righteous if you have the temerity to use a word not sanctioned by the guardians of political correctness.
State Sen. Donna Bailey of Saco is one of those people, always ready to correct you with her vastly superior intellect and unquestionable moral fiber; a proud member of the Semantics Police Department, serving northern York County.
Allow me to back up a bit for context.
Gimme three steps, mister
It was the summer of 1987 when I almost died because of the words I used.
Okay, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the rest of the story is painfully true.
I was 23 years old and found myself working on the Cheyenne River Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota.
Me and some of my students on the res in 1987
I was one of five young men contemplating becoming a Catholic priest. We were sent to the reservation to help with mission work. I was assigned to teach summer school in a one-room schoolhouse on the far edge of the reservation.
It was rewarding work, but I quickly discovered that becoming a priest was not going to be a viable option for me.
You see, there was this smoking hot blond girl from Marquette University who was also working on the reservation that summer. That is a story for another day.
Why I didn’t become a priest
One evening I strolled into a tavern that was located not far from the rectory. I got a few strange looks but no one seemed to mind me being the only white person in the building.
Yes, I instantly felt awkward and out of place. A big part of me wanted to turn and head for the door. That would not be polite, I reasoned. So, I strolled to the bar and took an empty seat.
I ordered a Coors beer and tried to relax. There was a very big man sitting next to me. He was alone at the bar, so I decided to strike up a conversation.
“It must be really hard to be a Native American living on the reservation,” I said.
He slowly turned his toward me and said, “What did you just say?”
For reasons still unknown, I decided to double-down and still felt quite proud of my sensitive, caring nature. So, I repeated myself: “It must be really hard being a Native American on the reservation.”
His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward on his stool, gritting his teeth.
“I am a fucking Indian,” he snarled.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to run. I wanted the 82nd Airborne to come rescue me.
He continued, his eyes locked on mine. “Don’t you ever use those words again,” he sneered. “Maybe it makes you feel better about yourself or the fact that it was your people who raped our women and stole our land, but it’s an insult if you think using pretty words is going to help anyone.
“I am a fucking Indian and don’t you ever forget it.”
I tried to absorb his words, nodding politely. I sat in my seat for a few more minutes.
A few painful seconds of awkward silence passed, and the man to my right let out a sigh and turned toward me once again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I know that you’re here to help, but it’s just frustrating. As if a couple of words are going to change anything.”
What are words for?
For better or worse, we live in a world where we are now required to walk on eggshells, a never-ending requirement to sugar coat reality and inflate our chests about our moral superiority simply because we no longer use the “N-word,” the “R-word,” or even the “C-word.”
It’s really rather silly how quickly we trip over ourselves without thinking about how perfunctory our conversations have become.
No, I am not advocating for bringing back use of the N-word or any other long since abandoned — or intentionally offensive phrase.
I simply believe that what you do is far more important than what you say.
I simply believe that what you do is far more important than what you say
I think too many of us pat ourselves on the back for using the “right” words, the appropriate pronouns and phrases without doing much else other than pontificating with smug moral superiority about our vernacular.
None of these “unhoused” advocates thanked me for taking on the issue, for actually interviewing people who are living on the streets. They simply felt the aching need to criticize me for using the “wrong” word.
What did I do? I went back to speak with some of those people I interviewed and asked them their thoughts about my word choice.
They laughed at me. “Who really cares?” one man asked. “I don’t care. I just want to live inside.”
Back to Donna Bailey
Bailey recently won her reelection bid as the state senator representing Saco, Buxton and Old Orchard Beach. She is an attorney and charter member of a political clique that includes former state senator Justin Chenette of Saco and State Rep. Lori Gramlich from Old Orchard Beach.
State Sen. Donna Bailey
These guys work like velociraptors. They hunt in packs.
Earlier this year, when I was working on a story for Saco Bay News, I had a really hard time getting a hold of Bailey. She was reluctant to return my calls, and then told me she had been “really busy.” Hmmm. “Really busy” for nine days?
On election night, while greeting voters headed into the Thornton Academy gymnasium, Bailey could barely bring herself to look at me when I greeted her and wished her luck.
I was not at all surprised by Bailey’s behavior. She keeps an enemies list, and my name is on that list.
One of my closest friends – Craig Pendleton — had decided once again to run against her this year.
Craig got smoked in that election. Bailey won by a large margin, a repeat of an earlier contest four years prior. But she will never forgive me for supporting my friend
Earlier this week, members of the 132nd Legislature went sworn into office. The ceremony is a big deal in Augusta. Lots of media coverage. Everyone is smiling as they prepare to begin another two years of pomp and circumstance.
State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) posted a comment on his personal Facebook page, telling us he was honored to represent his district again. Malon also decided to again express his ire about a fellow lawmaker, a Republican from Sanford who is accused of domestic violence.
Malon is also somewhat pissed that the Portland Press Herald repeatedly used the words “choking” and “choke” instead of strangle and strangling in their ongoing stories about this dirtbag.
Marc and I get along pretty well, even though we often disagree about politics. Regardless, I once again had one of his campaign signs on my lawn. I responded to his post saying that I understood his frustration about the scumbag from Sanford, but I also cautioned him against railing a fight on semantics with the state’s largest media outlet.
Within minutes, Donna Bailey decided to also jump into the conversation. Funny – – on this busy day – Bailey had enough free time to chide me about the issue of choking versus strangling.
Being the sometimes-insufferable prick that I am, I basically told Bailey to please take a long walk on a short pier.
Malon – being the only one of good character in this story – ended the conversation by taking down his Facebook post.
Tomato or tomato?
If my wife were to tell you that I intentionally choked her, would you shrug your shoulders and say, “wrong word. Call us back if he strangles you?”
Unhoused versus homeless?
Strangled instead of choked?
Native American or indigenous person?
Woman or menstruating person?
How far down this silly-ass slope are we going to slide until we finally recognize how lucky we are if words are the things we are most upset about?
Words are harmless, it’s how we use them that matters.
P.S. As predicted; Bailey has “unfriended” me on Facebook.
Never miss another installment of Lessons in Mediocrity! Subscribe for free today!
As Chaucer once said, all good things must come to an end.
And that’s where I find myself today: another fork in the road, another pivot point in my career.
Over the past few days, several people have asked me why I started the Biddeford Gazette, and why I am no longer writing for Saco Bay News.
Some have speculated that I had a “falling out” with Liz Gotthelf, the publisher of Saco Bay News. Nothing could be further from the truth – at least from my perspective.
In fact, I consider Liz to be a good friend, and I very much respect and admire what she has built from the ashes of the Journal Tribune, once this area’s daily newspaper.
With grit, determination and maybe a prayer, Liz launched Saco Bay News only weeks after the Tribune closed its doors forever in 2019. Since then, she has almost single-handedly built her business into an active and respected local news source.
A couple of years ago, Liz approached me and asked if I would be interested in being a contributing writer for her publication. Although I had given up professional journalism many years prior, I thought that the idea would be a good side hustle.
I was already writing a blog about Biddeford politics, and I missed the dynamic ebb and flow of the news business. I would only need to avoid writing about my PR clients.
Liz could not afford to pay me very much, but that was okay. One of the benefits was that she would publish my All Along The Watchtowersatire column once a month.
Over the next two years, I wrote more than 140 stories for Saco Bay News, including breaking crime stories, political coverage, feature stories and 12 of my opinion columns.
I gave Liz her money’s worth in coverage, often breaking news stories well ahead of the Portland Press Herald, the Biddeford-Saco Courier and Portland’s television stations.
Liz gave me a lot of latitude, and I like to think that I helped her solidify the reputation of Saco Bay News as a serious and respected news outlet that left no stone unturned.
I am an old-fashioned reporter. I ask hard questions and do not shy from controversy, but not everyone likes a reporter with lots of questions, especially those who had become comfortable in an environment of comfortable journalism.
This is where it ends
Things seemed to be going well. Summer was quickly approaching and news stories were popping all over the place.
Writer George Orwell reportedly once said that “journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”
That distinction was apparently lost on those who control the campuses of the University of New England and Thornton Academy, a public-private high school in Saco.
The PR folks at both institutions were less than impressed with my reporting of their activities. They didn’t complain to me. They went straight to Liz and suggested that it would be best if I don’t publish any more stories about them.
They didn’t offer any corrections or additional perspective. They just didn’t like the idea of me shaking the bushes. Liz — who had only days before lost her husband to a sudden illness — quickly agreed to their requests. I was not part of the meeting. I was not asked for input or clarification.
I was pissed with the intimidation tactics deployed by both UNE and Thornton Academy, but I also understood that Liz is running a media outlet on a shoe-string budget. She is alone at the helm of the ship. She decided it wasn’t a battle worth fighting.
Fine. Let’s just move on. There’s plenty of other stuff to cover. At the same time, more and more people were reaching out to me, telling me stories of dysfunction at Biddeford City Hall.
For better or worse, I have a reputation for digging up news in places that would rather remain darkened.
Former city councilors, current city employees, former city employees, business people, civic groups and municipal leaders from other communities were all calling and texting me, complaining with one central theme: Biddeford City Manager James Bennett was acting like Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire.
The complaints kept coming. I had people meeting me in my backyard, breaking down in tears as they described what it’s like to work in City Hall, afraid that Bennett would find out they were talking to me.
I never liked Bennett anyway. I had nothing to lose. No one else was willing to step up, so I decided to take on the task, even though by doing so I had to relinquish what I loved: covering Biddeford City Hall.
Liz and I met at Garside’s Ice Cream. I told her that I would begin an organized effort to oust the city manager. Further complicating things, my stepsister had become Saco’s new mayor. I was up to my eyeballs in conflicts of interest. I told Liz that I would still write feature stories for her.
She agreed. I then turned my attention on ousting Bennett. It took me less than eleven weeks before he finally announced his resignation.
But now, with Bennett finally put in place, how am I supposed to be an unbiased reporter again? I can’t, and that’s why I decided to launch the Biddeford Gazette, especially since it was becoming increasingly clear that Liz was pulling further away, wanting to avoid ruffling feathers and steering clear of any controversy.
Liz and I are friends, but we have very different styles in pursuing news stories. Both styles are necessary and equally valid, which is why Woodward and Bernstein made such a good pair at the Washington Post. Liz is more like Woodward, curious but cautious. I’m more like Bernstein, brash and impatient.
A few weeks ago, I pitched a story idea about a high-profile real estate developer filing bankruptcy. She said she was not sure she wanted the story. A couple of days later, she asked if I had any related files. She was giving the story to someone else.
I politely forwarded the files, and Saco Bay News published the story with absolutely no mention of my contributing work. It was now crystal clear to me. It was time for me to move on.
A man of wealth and taste
A few months ago, I started re-reading Outlaw Journalist, a biography of one of my favorite writers, Hunter S. Thompson.
Thompson worked as a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine and several other publications across the country, and he is the one who coined the phrase “Gonzo Journalism.”
Wikipedia describes Gonzo-style journalism as “an approach to news reporting that represents a notable departure from traditional media protocols. Gonzo journalism offers readers a ‘more personal approach’ to news reporting. This style of reporting is not limited by the standards of objectivity and often includes the reporter providing a first-person narrative of the story.”
Common trademarks of Gonzo Journalism include sarcasm, humor and profanity.
I suddenly had what alcoholics describe as a “moment of clarity.”
I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to do it. I am now semi-retired, and I have more years behind me than I have in front of me.
If I’m going to be broke, frustrated and full of discontent, why not move forward on my own terms? Why not write and publish whatever I want, whenever I want?
The Biddeford Gazette is NOT intended to compete with Saco Bay News, the Courier or the Press Herald. I’ll be leaving traditional coverage to them..
In my mind, the Biddeford Gazette will serve three primary functions.
We will use social media tools to collect and share news about Biddeford from other media outlets. We will only publish their headlines and provide our readers a direct link to their news site. This gives people in Biddeford, a convenient one-stop destination to find out what’s happening in their community. It also helps other media outlets by driving more traffic to their sites.
We will fill some notable gaps in local news coverage by publishing limited, original content in a non-traditional manner, Gonzo Journalism. Unlike other media outlets, we will focus solely on the city of Biddeford.
Finally, the Biddeford Gazette will track and monitor the actions and maneuvers of our city’s legislative delegation, something that is not being regularly reported on by existing media outlets.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau
For example, this week I am working on a story that will provide a preview of the upcoming legislative session and what our Biddeford delegation is planning. We will interview each of them and ask hard questions.
State Rep. Ryan Fecteau has once again been named as Speaker of the Maine House. That’s great news. But is Fecteau skirting at least the spirit of Maine’s term limits law? He already served four terms in the House before moving to a new district a few blocks away from his former home.? As Speaker, can he give his full attention to his Biddeford constituents?
State Rep. Marc Malon
State Rep. Marc Malon is returning for a second term. Congratulations! I put one of his campaign signs on my lawn, but how does he plan to separate his full-time job with the Maine Democratic Party from his service to constituents who might not be Democrats?
Hang on, things are going to be fun. We’re dusting off our keyboards and putting fresh batteries in our flashlights. We’re working for you. If you have a news tip, question or concern, please let me know. biddefordgazette@gmail.com
Cheers!
Never miss another installment of Lessons in Mediocrity! Subscribe for free today!
While most political pundits and prognosticators in Maine are laser focused on the presidential and Congressional races, I am taking a more local approach and invite you to join me in thinking about the legislative races here in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach.
Between now and Election Day (Nov. 5), you can expect to hear a lot more about the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.
Donna Bailey (D)
Here in Maine, many political junkies will also likely be closely watching what is expected to be a very tight contest for the Second District Congressional seat between incumbent Democrat Jared Golden and Republican challenger Austin Theriault.
Incumbents Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) and Sen. Angus King (I) are virtually a lock for reelection.
But what about the local races, the contests being fought by people you might actually bump into at the grocery store?
Maine Senate Races (Saco, OOB & Buxton)
Craig Pendleton (I)
This year’s contest for the District 31 State Senate Seat is basically a rematch of four years ago between incumbent Donna Bailey of Saco, a Democrat, and Craig Pendleton of Old Orchard Beach. This year, Pendleton is running as an independent. He ran as a Republican in 2020. And lost to Bailey, 13,266-11,007.
Bailey has both the party and incumbent advantage. Northern York County typically leans strongly Democrat and voter turnout is expected to be higher than normal, given the national elections. Pendleton has an uphill battle in this race. (Disclosure: Craig is a longtime friend, and I have endorsed him in this race.)
(Biddeford, Arundel and Lyman)
Henry Ingwersen (D)
It’s virtually no contest in State SenateDistrict 32. You can expect incumbent Democrat Henry Ingwersen of Arundel to breeze into victory for a second term. Republican challenger Alfred Schulz is barely putting up a fight and running what appears to be a nearly invisible campaign. Two years ago, Ingwersen easily outpaced Republican David Corbett, 9,676 to 7,209 for his first win.
Maine House of Representatives:
In Old Orchard Beach (District 131), I expect Democrat Lori Gramlich to easily win re-election for a fourth consecutive term in this year’s rematch with Republican Scott Eccleston. In their last matchup (2022), Gramlich easily outpaced Eccleston, 3,170-1,789. Expect a similar result this year.
Lori Gramlich (D)
In Saco’s District 129 House race, former city councilor Marshall Archer, a Democrat, is making his first run for state office. He is unopposed and will replace outgoing Democrat Rep. Maggie O’Neil who is facing term limits.
Another rematch will be taking place In Saco’s District 130 House race. Incumbent Democrat Lynn Copeland will once again face a challenge for a third term from Republican Ted Sirois. In 2022, Copeland beat Sirois by a healthy margin, 2624-1619. Again, you can expect a similar outcome this year.
Scott Eccleston (R)
The Biddeford House races are about as ho-hum as you can get. Democrat Marc Malon is unopposed for a second term in District 133. Former House Speaker Ryan Fecteau bought a new house and is now planning to make a triumphant return to state politics, unopposed in District 132. That seat is being vacated by Democrat Erin Sheehan who announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection.
In fact, the only contested race in Biddeford will be a rematch between incumbent Democrat Traci Gere and Republican challenger Elizabeth Jordan for the District 134 seat, which represents Biddeford’s coastal neighborhoods. In 2022, Gere cleaned Jordan’s clock, 910-476.
Lynn Copeland (D)
And that’s a wrap. I will step out on a limb and say that I predict Malon and Fecteau to win their respective elections in Biddeford. I also think Ingwersen will probably win over ghost candidate Schulz.
I think it’s also safe to that Archer will win his seat in Saco, especially since he is unopposed. I’ve got $20 that says Gramlich will easily win a fourth term in Old Orchard Beach.
The only race to watch is the rematch between Bailey and Pendleton for the District 31 Seat. Who knows?
Ted Sirois (R)
Regardless, thank you to ALL of the candidates willing to represent us in Augusta. Please remember to vote on Tuesday Nov. 5!
Traci Gere (D)
Elizabeth Jordan (R)
Never miss another installment of Lessons In Mediocrity! Subscribe today for free!
LESSONS IN MEDIOCRITY 