Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Maine State Employees Association took issue with a letter written by independent Eliot Cutler recently in which he refused to participate in the union's gubernatorial endorsement process.
Cutler wrote that he didn't complete the questionnaire because "we both know that the MSEA -SEIU endorsement has been reserved for Libby Mitchell since June 8 and that she has worked for decades in Augusta on behalf of the union to earn it."
But the union says it is meeting with the two other independents, Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott, as well as Democrat Mitchell. Like Cutler, Republican Paul LePage also declined to participate in the process, but according to the union, LePage had "the decency to leave it at that."
In a press release, the union says it may choose not to endorse anyone in the governor's race.
What the union didn't put in the press release is that Cutler outlined some of his goals for the state workforce and even pledged not to institute furlough days to balance the budget. He also expressed interest in working with state workers to improve customer service and cut unnecessary state costs.
"I want to work in partnership with state employees," he wrote. "That will be the best way to make the changes we need to make."
You can read Cutler's full letter -- and the endorsement questionnaire -- at the union Web site. You'll need to look on the right side about halfway down the page.