Maine Democrats took a whoopin at the last election: a new Republican Governor and GOP increases nearly everywhere. Gov. LePage is a conservative businessman and is doing the exact thing he indicated he would during his campaign: reducing red tape in state government, relaxing enviromental standards to make businesses more profitable and attract new business, and emphasizing that “profit” is not a dirty word.
Part of this process in changing the way the state of Maine does business, is having his own people run the various state agencies. So far, the Democrats have been content to allow him wide leeway and have approved all his nominations.
Now it appears that Maine Democrats might be putting up a little fuss.
According to the Portland Press Herald, Darryl Brown, Gov. LePage’s nominee to lead the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, was endorsed 9–4 along party lines. The debate over his appointment is that Mr. Brown is the owner of a company that helps developers win permits from the DEP. In addition, one of his company’s current clients is Black Bear Entertainment, which is building the recently voter approved casino in Oxford.
Can a business owner who spent his career assisting others in develpment head an agency that often is at odds with development due to environmental concerns?
But that’s just the beginning. According the the Press Herald, what the State Democrats are really gearing up for is a fight against Gov. LePage’s recent nomination of Philip Congdon becomming commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. The reason, they say, is that he’s just not qualified.
Congdon readily admits that he lacks a background in tourism and he was clearly unprepared for legislators’ questions dealing with tourism last week during his confirmation hearing.
Congdon, 69, is now retired but worked for 30 years in management, business development, contract negotiation, and similar positions. He admitted that his experience in economic develpment is “thin.”
Even more troubling was his response to a direct question about how he would attract business to Aroostook County and other rural areas of the state.
It’s (a question) I haven’t thought about,” he replied.
What? Are you kidding me?
The governor has nominated you to be head of a tourism agency and you’re facing a legislative panel who wants to hear your views on tourism and what you’ll do if appointed to this position, and you “haven’t thought” about it?
I’m sorry. But leading an entire agency isn’t something we should be giving to someone with no experience who hasn’t bothered to think about the position between the time the governor appointed him and appearing before the legislature. Tourism is vitally important to Maine’s economy. Need I remind the governor that our license plates read: Vacationland. Governor LePage should withdraw Mr. Gongdon’s nomination and seek out someone with some experience in economic development and management to lead this key Department.
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