Note: The Hancock County Democratic Committee does not formally endorse any particular Democrat in any election where more than one Democrat may be running in competition with each other. The following Action Item should not be construed as an official endorsement. It’s the author’s viewpoint.
Background: For some time, we have been wishing for a challenger to Jared Golden. Ranked choice voting in the primary this year has made this an excellent opportunity to vote our preference and still not lose the CD 2 seat to a “Rethuglican” like Paul LePage.
What are our problems with Jared Golden? Some wag characterized him as “Susan Collins in trousers”. That makes sense especially since early in his career he was a member of her staff. One characteristic they share is that they tend they burnish their “bipartisan” credentials by voting with the opposition party when their vote doesn’t really matter (because the outcome is already “in the bag”). Here’s a sampling of Golden’s objectionable actions:
- Voted FOR HR 9495 (Action #4),
- Voted FOR the SAVE Act (several times – see Actions #9, 24, 54, 62, 77, 88, 90, 118),
- Introduced legislation to impose an across-the-board 10% tariff (Action #13),
- Voted FOR the Laken Riley act (Action #15),
- REFUSED to attend any Town Halls with his constituents (Action # 32, 55, 70),
- Voted FOR the Continuing Resolution in favor of Trump budget cutting (Action # 67, 68)
- Voted FOR the crypto-corruption-enabling GENIUS Act (Action # 148).
You can read up on all these Actions at https://isledems.org/actionitems
Re. the SAVE act, Golden even had the temerity to LECTURE a former Secretary of State on how voting works in Maine, and essentially ARGUE that the SAVE act doesn’t say what it actually says. You will recall that the Secretary of State has the statutory responsibility to oversee voting. Golden apparently thought he knew the rules, and the effect of the SAVE act, better than a former Secretary of State with a total of 14 years in that position!
That former Secretary of State? Matt Dunlap, who is exploring a run for Golden’s seat.
Background on Matt: The best place to start is the website for the State Auditor, his current job. https://www.maine.gov/audit/about-auditor.html Matt is working on the papers he needs to file in order to announce his candidacy formally, expected sometime in September. A fact about Matt that does not appear on the website: During the first Trump administration, when Matt was the Secretary of State, he had to SUE to protect Maine voter information which was being sought by Trump’s “fraudulent voting” commission. See Extra Credit. He has amply demonstrated that he will stand up for Mainers, no matter how authoritarian the Trump regime becomes.
Action: There will be a potluck “meet and greet” in Surry on August 15, starting at 5:30. Reservations are needed because parking is limited. This is the first of what will likely be numerous gatherings as those of us who are supporting his candidacy get organized. (Think about holding a gathering in your town!) If you would like to attend this first one, send an email to oneilldrm@gmail.com to sign up. Moira will let you know if there is still room, and if so, she will give you the directions to the location.
Extra Credit:
https://www.governing.com/archive/tns-dunlap-maine-trump-commission.htmlandidate of whatever party win the ranked choice primary and go on to win the election in 2026!
https://americanoversight.org/investigation/dunlap-v-pacei-investigating-voter-fraud-commission/
https://www.bates.edu/news/2018/03/02/matt-dunlap-dont-call-it-fraud-because-you-disagree-with-it/
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-voter-fraud-commission-dunlap-lawsuit
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/04/635668304/member-of-disbanded-trump-voter-fraud-commission-speaks-out
