Local

About this project: Throughout the day PolitickerME will be taking a look at the Maine Green Independent Party, its members and its influence.

Previous stories: A look at the influence of the state's Green Independent Party; History, barriers and misconceptions 

At 3 p.m. we will look at the effect the Greens have had on the Portland City Council, and at 5 p.m. we will look at how members of the two major parties perceive the Greens.

PolitickerME recently had the opportunity to sit down with several green party candidates running for state office.

A complete list of candidates can be found here, and more information on other candidates running can be found in the left sidebar on this site.

Here are mini-profiles on three candidates:

Gov. John Baldacci’s current and former chief legal advisors are teaming up to start a new law firm in September.

FederleMahoney will comprise of Tom Federle, who served as Baldacci’s chief legal counsel from July 2005 to December 2006, and Michael Mahoney, who took over for Federle and still holds the position. The firm will be based in Hallowell.

“I will miss Mike’s expansive knowledge and expertise,” Baldacci said in a release. “He has served my administration and the People of Maine with distinction, providing key guidance in critical legal and policy issues during challenging economic times.”

About this project (UPDATED TIMES): Throughout the day PolitickerME will be taking a look at the Maine Green Independent Party, its members and its influence. First, we presented an introduction with a list of candidates running. At 2 p.m. we will have short profiles of some of the candidates running. At 4 p.m. we will look at the effect the Greens have had on the Portland City Council, and at 6 p.m. we will look at how members of the two major parties perceive the Greens.

For more information, the national Green Party takes a comprehensive look at the history of Maine’s party here.

The first Green Independent to be elected to a public office was Ben Meiklejohn of Portland, who eight years ago was elected to the Portland School Committee.

Meiklejohn and Ben Chipman both been involved with the campus Greens at the University of Maine at Orono, Jenkins said. After graduating they moved to Portland and helped form the Portland Green Party, which has since become a presence in the city.

“Portland desperately needed a second party,” said Dan Jenkins, a candidate for the Maine House. “The Democrats have had a super-majority on every (local government) body for the last 40 years.”

About this project: Throughout the day PolitickerME will be taking a look at the Maine Green Independent Party, its members and its influence. At 11 a.m., we will have a story examining the history of the state green party and some of the misconceptions people have about them, including the “Nader effect.” At 1 p.m. we will have short profiles of some of the candidates running. At 3 p.m. we will look at the effect the Greens have had on the Portland City Council, and at 5 p.m. we will look at how members of the two major parties perceive the Greens.

Below video: City Counciler Dave Marshall and former state House candidate Jeff Ferland talk about the local impact of the Green Party

Prior to the year 2000, the Democrats dominated Portland government. A group of citizens decided they needed to be challenged.

It wasn’t the Republicans...

Gov. John Baldacci has recommended Hallowell attorney Walter McKee to fill a vacancy on the Maine Ethics Commission. He has also recommended that sitting commissioner Ed Youngblood be reappointed.

Baldacci chose McKee from names provided by Maine Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings. Youngblood was recommended by Senate Republican Leader Carol Weston.

McKee will replace Commissioner David Shiah, who resigned from the commission last month.

Matt Wickenheiser of the Portland Press Herald took an interesting look at the adverse effects of a recent ruling by the Maine Supreme Court that took independent U.S. Senate Herb Hoffman off the ballot.

The court ruled that the individual signing the back of the petition must personally witness each of the signatures being signed. If the petitioner can prove that one signature cannot meet that requirement, this violates the oath on the back of the sheet therefore invalidating the full petition.

It will likely affect referendum and people’s veto petition drives. Wickenheiser wrote:

A Republican former state House candidate said he was pressured out of running by leaders of his party because of politically incorrect online comments he had made on various Web sites.

Jarody, a 24-year-old from Augusta who only goes by one name, planned to run for House District 57 against incumbent Patsy Crockett (D-Augusta). GOP Party Chairman Mark Ellis and House Republican Leader Josh Tardy convinced him not to.

He withdrew, but in retrospect regretted the decision.

"I was a Ron Paul person, I was used to not getting their support," he said.

Maine Republican leaders are calling for a special legislative session in hopes of increasing funding to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston, R-Montville, and House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, hope to add $10 million to the fund. The money would have otherwise gone to Maine’s Budget Stabilization Fund which currently has $160 million.

“There is an immediate need for action,” said Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston, R-Montville, in a release.  “We have funds available to ease the energy burden facing our low income neighbors.  Now we are calling on the Governor and the Democratic leadership to work with us to make sure Maine families stay warm this winter.”