AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage’s communications director said Wednesday that he will resign from his post effective Feb. 17.
Peter Rogers was hired last July to oversee communications for the Republican governor and called the last eight months “a great ride.” He also it was time for him to move on to something else.
“I have some irons out there, but I’m not sure exactly what I’ll do,” Rogers said in an interview.
Rogers said there has been no acrimony between him and the governor or between him and any senior staff members. He said he had a conversation recently with LePage’s chief of staff John McGough and simply decided it was best to step aside.
“All along, this was temporary,” Rogers said. “I was asked to come in and help out and I was happy to do it.”
He said he has accomplished many of his goals, including centralizing state government communications through his office and making the governor more accessible to the media. LePage has had a sometimes combative relationship with the press.
Prior to joining the governor’s staff, Rogers had been deputy commissioner for the state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. He also served as the primary spokesman for the Maine National Guard during the Gulf War and the first several years of the global war on terror.
Last summer, Rogers replaced Dan Demeritt, who had stepped down last April to address personal business matters. Demeritt had been with the governor during his successful campaign in 2010 and his transition into office. Demeritt has since started his own political consulting firm.
Rogers, who lives in Yarmouth with his wife and five daughters, said consulting could be in his future as well, but he didn’t rule out staying in government.
The governor’s spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said she did not have a timetable for when Rogers might be replaced.
“There will be a transition in the communications office for a period of time,” she said Wednesday. “It’s a significant loss. I’ve had a great time working with Peter and I’ve learned a lot. It will be sad to see him go.”
And another one bites the dust!
DROPING LIKE FLYS
Wow though – this man worked for Penguin for 8 months, he’s set a longevity record!
Man needs an award. I can see where this job can be difficult. LePage does not have good communication or people skills and people in this position are better communicators then he is, if I was his communications director, I would step down too.
NEXT! And the whole line shuffles one step closer to Mr. LePage’s door as the next victim enters the office of the “King who thought he knew too much.”
“Great ride,” so was the Ford Pinto Pete.
He probably couldn’t stay ahead of all the lies.
Pete is a man of integrity and ethics and has served excellently for the Maine National Guard and a multitude of other agencies. I’m not surprised the LePage administration has little use for people of Rogers’ caliber. Good luck, Pete.
‘ Pete is a man of integrity and ethics ‘…. and so … ‘he said he had a conversation recently with LePage’s chief of staff John McGough and simply decided it was best to step aside.’
… Who’s surprised that the LePage Administration has little use for people of this caliber ?
Good luck, Pete.
: )
Although I don’t agree with some of his politics. I’m pleased to see no one is taking shots at him. He truly is a good man.
“I’m pleased to see no one is taking shots at him. He truly is a good man.”
One goes with the other, I think.
” Although I don’t agree with some of his politics” … within the past eight months someone was coaching that Pauly thug better.
It showed, too.
It is hard to deny that.
It worked until LePage found out what the legislature does,
and how that balance of power thing works.
My comment had no political thought. I’ve known Pete since childhood.
I have not known him, so my comment(s) are naturally political.
Why not ?
It is an election year.
But it is clear he tried to square away LePage.
It even seemed to work for a little while, too … as long as Pauly stuck to the script and stayed on topic.
But lately LePage has gone renegade again.
Even the GOP old guard is trying to distance themselves from their own GOTea Governah’s budget.
So Thill, do you think I said anything negative about the Major,
anywhere ?
Given that the topic is sort of communications,
besides being political in an election year,
where do you think I went wrong.
I thought I was mostly agreeing with you,
but saying it in a political way, not just personally.
So when has LePage ( ” making the governor more accessible to the media”) done this. Everything public he does is scripted.
he got out before the dems targeted him.
You are always such a wealth of inside information that nobody else seems to have. Thanks for your amazing insights!
He knows bettah than to stand with a bully whose mouth can’t help but paint a target
on his own back.
Just “probably”. Btw, have you noticed how many communications directors Obama has had so far in his administration? In reality, these are high pressure jobs that cause quick burnout.
Exactly how many has Obama had in the past 13 months, Whatwell ?
Then I guess your point is “see Gov. LePage is not that really that much
worse/different than Pres. Obama ?
Point made, Whatwell.
Keep up the good work.
Okay, lets compare apples with apples. How many communications directors has Obama had so far? I know for certain he has had at least two. As I stated earlier, communications directors (or press secretaries) are burnout jobs.
Incidentally, why are you always picking on me? It seems like mostly every time I post, you come with a rebuttal. Am I a threat to your existence? Please don’t feel that way. I put pants on one leg at a time like most human beings. :)
“Incidentally, why are you always picking on me?”
I’m not.
I just often disagree with you.
What exactly is it that you expect that you have a right to tell me to do differently about that, boss ?
———————-
So do you really think being the press secretary in the WH is apples to apples
with the Maine Governah’s Communications Director ?
And even then currently the score is WH 2 vs BH soon to be 3, right ?
————————-
Oh … now I see !
… you must think questioning you at all or checking on your facts is picking on you….
Shame on me and the facts. .
What facts? I’m not convinced you know for sure what the score is. Maybe you can give me the names of each communication director from both WH and BH for starts.
“Maybe you can give me the names of each communication director from both WH and BH for starts.”
You brought it up, they are your facts,
so you should back ’em up or back off
… stop picking on me
… or expecting me to prove your claims.
lol
Yeah, but the Pinto only had to deal with Ralph Nader, this guy has to deal with Crazy Paul!
PLEASE, the Ford Pinto was never a great ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was, however, GREAT on GAS. Go Gov. LePage. The state needs someone like you in the governorship that considers the cost of things.
I was having a little fun. I agree and disagree with the Governor at times. Communications director is a difficult job under the best of circumstances. Press people generally have a short tenure at the White House as well, regardless of the tenant.
omg. Stop comparing Maine to the WH. Not even close. The name lePage shouldn’t even be mentioned as a comparison. Get real
I was comparing the communications positions. They are tough jobs regardless of the politics involved. That’s all.
It was “GREAT on GAS”, until another car hit it in the rear, then the miles per gallon significantly dropped.
“It was, however, GREAT on GAS. ” Only as long no one ran into your tank of gas. Hmm gas tank = Paul hmm?
I understood Mr. Lepage quite clearly without him.
The GOP in Augusta are doing an excellent of eating their own !
Eight months and like Ripken’s 2632, a record that will likely never be broken.
eight months and time to move on?
How many different ways can you say “kiss my butt”?
I can’t imagine a tougher job than to run interference for LaPage. When he’s ‘off the lease’ and ad-libbing or improvising, he can be more than reckless.
With the personal attack and investigations from the left to demoralize anyone working in this admin.I do not blame anyone getting out.It is sad good people do not dare work in this sector for fear of being ostracized by the left.
That is the reason we have so many fools down there.
yes the last 40 years brought us quite a collection.
Here we go again, bringing up the last 40. For damn sake, give it up. We all know it was great until the Bush family destroyed years of a good life. Wars to start with, the list of corruption is so long it would take years to copy. Get a life
The battle cry of the democrats bush did it. A great excuse for failed unfunded policys that put us in this situation.If it makes you feel better blaming bush for cover have fun.
That’s true, and now, after the DHHS debacle, I’m beginning to wonder about the Rs.
sadder still that the good people can’t stand being around or apologizing for the governor more than a few months
I agree apologizing for doing the right thing for mainers is tough.
you can’t be saying our 1 term governor is doing the right thing for mainers.. april 1st is a few weeks away,laddie
wasting tax money is not helping Mainers.Just to bad Dems set up so many unfunded programs that caused maine to become an entitlement state.Anything for vote I guess. Much rather have a 1 term telling mainers the truth rather than the last terms and promising the needy things we cannot afford.This is what happens.
How nice to live in your world where the right never ostracizes anyone …
He should stop lying.
Who would want that job. Damned what you do in this socialistic driven media state.
socialistic???? hahahaha , get a clue
The job is trying to control the Govenah’s big mouth.
A thankless job.
One that even Maine’s right wing extremist’s fearless leader, Paul LePage, can not do.
lol
You gotta respect him, at least he has a brain. Poor bugger musta had a real bad expierence.
He still has Minister of Propaganda Bennett to remind us of his laser like focus on jobbing us…er, I mean jobs.
I think everyone knew this gentleman would not last very long. And, it most likely is not that he is not a a qualified, respected, honorable person.
They dropped like Flakes-
They dropped like Stars-
Like Petals from a Rose-
When suddenly across the June
A wind with fingers -goes-
They perished in the seamless Grass-
No eye could find the place-
But God can summon every face.
On his repealless- List.
Emily Dickinson.
…
Smart move Major, get out while you still have a good reputation… I hope to see you running for office in the near future.
And another one bits the dust. Good for you Major I wish you the best. LePage is not the easiest person to get along with. Leave LePages emotional rollercoaster behind. And move on with your life.
By the photo he’s a field-grade officer. You don’t make field-grade without knowing that you need to pay attention to the political weather. And given Paulie’s current position and track record, it’s not a wonder that he’s the 1st to go.
Now Mr LePage will have to hire the third director of communications. Just a couple of questions — are they resigning due to his failure to communicate ? — and with this third hire does he get credit for creating 3 jobs ?
the 3rd Reich?
“Stand there and make sure I dont say anything stupid.” Any takers?!?
Nothing more annoying then telling an old, deaf dog to quit barking over and over and over and over and over….
Adrienne Bennett will now have more fun entertaining the public when he does say something stupid in the meantime. We should be due for something stupid any minute now…..
Another LePage Crony leaves, but where are the JOBS that were promised?
With the entitlements for votes created over the last forty years it will be tough to bring employers in.
“LePage’s Communications Director” : There’s an oxymoron if I ever heard one….
After reading the comments I can see why he left.
Looks to me like the rats are leaving the sinking ship, I hope they can swim far away.
Even when one is getting paid to do it – the act of lying wears on the soul after a while.