Tuesday, May 22, 2012
GOVERNOR'S RACE
By Rebekah Metzler rmetzler@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer
AUGUSTA -- Maine Senate President and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Elizabeth 'Libby' Mitchell of Vassalboro said she was disappointed about the recent news that a pair of Maine Senate Democrats said they would support another candidate in the November election.
Libby Mitchell.
State Sen. Dennis Damon of Trenton announced in late June that he had decided to support independent candidate Eliot Cutler of Cape Elizabeth in the governor's race. State Sen. Elizabeth Schneider of Orono also pledged her support for Cutler in mid-July.
"I can't say anything other than I was disappointed. I would love to have their support. I would be lying if I said otherwise," Mitchell said during an editorial board meeting at the Kennebec Journal on Wednesday. "But at the same time, I respect their decisions, and I'll just have to go pick up some other Democrats to replace them."
Mitchell said she thought Schneider chose not to support her based on personal reasons and speculated that Damon's reasons might have been policy-oriented.
"Senator Schneider did call me. Her issues with me are personal and have been throughout the session, and so it was not a surprise," Mitchell said. "With Senator Damon, I really don't know, because he did not talk to me about it. I don't know if it's because I didn't support his efforts to increase the gas tax when I was in leadership and he thought that was very important for the roads, or what."
"Senator Schneider did call me. Her issues with me are personal and have been throughout the session, and so it was not a surprise," Mitchell said. "With Senator Damon, I really don't know, because he did not talk to me about it. I don't know if it's because I didn't support his efforts to increase the gas tax when I was in leadership and he thought that was very important for the roads, or what."
Damon, in a news release announcing his decision, said he supports Cutler because he found Cutler to be the "most qualified candidate." Schneider's statement in the release announcing her support of Cutler cited personality traits.
"My decision reflects more completely the desires of those I serve, as well as my interest in having a collaborative, fair, thoughtful, strong, candid, trustworthy, successful, honest individual to lead our state," she said.
Senate Majority Leader Phil Bartlett said he doesn't anticipate hearing about anyone else from the 20-member Senate Democratic caucus jumping ship.
"Our caucus is very proud of the work we've done over the last two years, and Libby's obviously been very responsible for that," he said. "She's got a lot of support, and I think even the couple of folks who made a different decision have recognized that. The reality is, anytime you are in leadership, you are sort of getting out front on issues, pushing people and challenging them."
Rebekah Metzler -- 620-7016
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