Odds and Ends

Thanks to all of you for your tips, thoughts and complaints.  Here is a quick run down of all things political this week that I didn't get to.

Verrill Dana

As most readers now know, a partner at Verill Dana "allegedly" (I thought I should use the word "allegedly" - it is a law firm) embezzled money from a number of clients and the estates he managed.  The story has evolved in to resignations, accusations, and more accusations.   Personally, I don't think we understand the full story yet, and I'm not sure the local coverage has been complete.  Regardless of the details, it's a terrible black eye for a well respected Law firm -  a Law firm that has Mike Saxl, the former Speaker of the House and Jim Cohen, former mayor and city councilor in Portland and is connected from head to toe to Maine's political life.

Consolidation Petition Effort.

To quote one insider - "Put a fork in it, it's done."    

A band of eager and very naïve folks decided to take on the Governor's school consolidation plan, by collecting enough signatures to require a referendum vote.  There was lots of energy, and the opportunity to garner a spot on the ballot - but at this point, the numbers just don't work. 

All is not lost, it looks like most of the session will be spent dealing with the consolidation issue.  The public hearings should be great entertainment.

Portland School Board Recall Effort.

Keep your forks ready, this one is done as well.

A bunch of lefties on the Portland School Committee decided to hand out birth control to kids, without parental permission.  They had all kinds of reasons for it, and frankly it was all a bunch of psycho-babble from folks who couldn't be any more out of touch with most parents.  Nick McGee, a Republican activist in Portland, decided to lead a recall effort.  The process for a recall in Portland makes the Soviet style bureaucracy look good.  First you have to collect 500 signatures, then the City gets to pick places that folks have to go and sign another petition, with a number of places open only on Thursdays.  That process requires 3000 signatures. Next, you get to vote on it.  Simple.

Not going to happen.  Republicans and parents in Portland would be better off spending their time getting folks elected to the school board, and dump this recall effort. 

One bright note, several stories ran this week that noted the number of students in Portland has dropped 50% from the early 70's.  There were 14,000 student enrolled then, and only 7,000 today.  I guess parents decided to vote with their feet.