AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of William Beardsley to the state Board of Education.
It was a party-line vote, with 18 Republican senators and one unenrolled senator voting in support of Beardsley’s nomination, and 13 Democrats voting in opposition. Three senators were absent.
The Legislature’s Education Committee voted on Tuesday along party lines to recommend Beardsley’s confirmation to the Senate.
At issue was how much Beardsley, the former president of Husson University in Bangor, knew of child sex abuse allegations involving late Husson chaplain the Rev. Robert Carlson, who jumped to his death last year after learning that police were investigating allegations that he had sexually abused an 11-year-old boy in the 1970s.
Beardsley has denied knowing that Carlson had done anything wrong during his time at Husson, despite a state police report that cited a witness who had claimed Husson students had approached Beardsley to make him aware of abuse allegations.
Several senators took the floor to speak out for and against Beardsley’s nomination, led off by Sen. Justin Alfond, a Portland Democrat, who said he could not ignore Beardsley’s connection with the Carlson case.
“As long as a cloud of doubt remains, we cannot turn a blind eye,” said Alfond, who also serves on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. “Rubber stamping Beardsley to Maine’s premier educational board would only diminish the stature and confidence this board should bring to our educators, parents and students.”
Other Democratic senators who spoke in opposition to Beardsley’s nomination said they were not condemning the man, but were concerned with the timing and the effect the controversy would have on Beardsley and his effectiveness on the education board if he were to be confirmed. Several other Democrats echoed the cloud analogy used by Alfond.
“I wish this nomination had not come forward at this particular time,” said Sen. Nancy Sullivan, a Democrat from York County. Sullivan said she had great respect for Beardsley, but that as a former classroom teacher, she could not support his nomination.
“I in good conscience and in my faith and my belief of what I did the majority of my life, I cannot vote for this man,” she said. “His resume … is full of good things, but there’s a cloud and that cloud will always be there.”
The Senate’s job is not to judge Beardsley, but to make a decision about whether his confirmation is in the best interest of the Board of Education, said Sen. Seth Goodall, a Democrat from Richmond.
“In my opinion, the cloud that has risen, the cloud that will inevitably hang is too large and will impact the Board of Education, will cast doubt in the policies they enact and actions they take,” he said. “We should oppose this confirmation today because that alone is not in the best interest of the state of Maine and the children of our great state.”
Sen. Cynthia Dill, a Democrat from Cape Elizabeth who is running for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe’s soon-to-be-vacant senate seat, said she was not condemning Beardsley, but that a “cost-benefit analysis” made it clear to her that “the interests of Maine’s children and students override the continuation of Mr. Beardsley’s wildly successful [public] life.”
But Republicans supported Gov. Paul LePage’s nomination of Beardsley for the post, claiming to penalize the man for hearsay was not fair or right.
Sen. Roger Katz, a Republican from Augusta, urged his fellow senators to support Beardsley, who he said is “being torn down on the basis of double hearsay.”
Speaking in favor of Beardsley’s confirmation, Sen. Dave Hastings, a Republican from Fryeburg, said senators should not “besmirch his reputation for character, integrity and honesty based on these innuendos and newspaper accounts.”
After the vote, LePage issued a statement condemning the Democrats for their opposition and reiterating his support for Beardsley.
“Today’s demonstration by Democrats to vote against Bill Beardsley’s nomination is a new all-time low even for them,” LePage said. “Bill’s experience and life-long career in education is impeccable, and for Democrats and the newspapers to unjustly drag his name into the mud is a disgrace. Democrats clearly do not understand the facts as they relate to the Carlson case and their lack of conscience in trying to sully Bill’s reputation is appalling.”
LePage said he has “the utmost confidence” in Beardsley’s “abilities to continue to contribute greatly to the field of education in the future.”
Cowardly senate republicans who can’t stand up to LePage, even when they know this is wrong on many levels.
Well, the ball is in our hands……do not vote for any Republicans this November. Power in numbers!
Yuck! A pedophile supporter on our Board of Education. He knew something was going on with Carlson and simply let him walk away. He could have called DHHS! He could have called Bangor Police Department! He could have called the Penobscot Sheriff’s office! He could have called Penobscot Attorney General! He could have called the Maine State Police! He could have called the Maine Attorney General! But no, he sat back and said not my problem now.
Hell, he could have at least stuck to his own word and made sure Carlson didn’t attend any other Husson activities. We all know that didn’t happen, since there are pictures of Carslon at official functions long after that time.
Right!
The same thing Ross and Bangor PD did nothing. Well said!!!
Do you hear that? Its the sound of rubber hitting ink, hitting page.
Another example of Republican lawmakers in Maine being a rubber stamp for LePage.
I am also glad Gov LePage went on another tirade about this. It will be a nice bit of irony should more come to light about exactly what Beardsley knew, and when.
As for Democrats stooping low? Oh, my dear Gov, at least they are still above ground, unlike yourself.
Wow this is great,makes you wonder just what he is covering up or what lawmakers are covering up.I couldnt think of a better person to have over seeing the schools that my children go to.Cant wait until elections in nov.
There has been no evidence presented that Beardsley covered up for Carlson. Of course I think any reasonable person would wonder why it took him almost 9 months to agree to be interviewed by a State Police Detective who was conducting an investigation of the Carlson matter. Of all the people who were named as possibly covering up for Carlson Beardsley was the only one that we know”lawyered-up” and had his attorney on the phone during the State Police interview. I am sure that there are plenty of people in The State of Maine who could have done an excellent job as a member of The State Board of Education. It makes one wonder why the Republicans chose a person who is under a cloud of possibly covering up for a pedophile. Charges have been made that the current Legislative Republicans serve as a rubber stamp for Paul Richard LePage. Here is a clear case of where they could have disspelled those charges, but instead they just picked up the approved stamp. Touched it to the ink pad and did what they have done so often in the past almost 2 years. Stamped approved on the nomination of someone who’s actions in the Carlson matter are under question. Our kids deserved better.
No evidence?
“…students at the school (Husson) had told Beardsley about abuse (by Carlson) of students there, the Maine State Police report said.” So you’re saying the students went to Beardsley and lied?
Jack I don’t for one minute doubt that students went to Beardsley and told of what Carlson was doing. But until something better then unnamed sources are all we have we don’t have evidence. At best we have hearsay, hearsay that has not been established as fact. Please do not make the mistake of thinking I am excusing Beardsley. I’m not. In my mind the simple fact that he refused to cooperate with the State Police Investigation for almost 9 months is highly suspecious. The fact that he refused to talk to the State Police Detective without the assistance of legal counsel causes me to wonder what it was he was hiding. Unfortunately until names and specifics are attached to the accusations against Beardsley we do not have evidence. Do I think he is dirty, I most certainly do, but thinking is not proof. I still think the Republicans would have been better off finding someone else to become a member of The Board of Education rather then rubber stamp a LePage nominee.
Perhaps we fall just short of prima facie evidence, but is that the standard you want to set for the safety of our children? Unequivocally, LePage should not have nominated, Beardsley should not have accepted, and lawmakers should not have approved. It’s simplistic, but where there is smoke there is fire, and we have a hell (is that allowed) of a lot of smoke here. Yes?
Jack apparently you in some way think I am condoning the appointment of Beardsley to the State Board of Education. I don’t. I suggest you read my entire first post on this matter before you attempt to make it sound as if I said something I didn’t.
Well…. at least Beardsley is technically qualified for the position, which is more than can be said for LePage.
I can’t remember a time when I was more concerned about who the Governor of Maine is vs. who’s the leader of the free world.
Instead of forcing this “See, Hear, Say, No Evil” monkey to slink off in shame…our GOP leaders give him another job. Shameful !
There were many people fooled by Carlson. Good, smart people. Republicans, Democrats and independents. The Carlson event has been tough on the entire community with many folks doing some soul searching and asking themselves what they could have or might have known or seen. Beardsley included, I’m sure. For Democrats from outside our area, many who never met or knew Carlson, to make this a political grandstanding issue is pretty lame.
What you’re saying is a big fat cop out. Perhaps fifty or more years ago, not now.
This is not political. It is about a master pedophile who Beardsley had the opportunity to stop or make a difference. Funny thing about men, they want to just put it aside is what I have seen. And look who were in charge in this whole situation; all men. They look away. I wonder why. They must have had similar thoughts or even acted on similar situations once or twice. Men need to step up here.
Sadly people who make waves to not keep jobs . Personally I think anyone who dose not have the backbone to take the risk and report something a serious as this did not deserve a job . I would go as far as to say standing back and doing nothing is just as evil as doing it yourself . Greedy people should have no place in the world.
I know and agree. I have lost a couple jobs for standing up for kids. It stinks to the high heavens. But you know what, I have a clear conscience. Would do it again tomorrow.
What?
Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, said the questions from Democrats were based on “double hearsay.”
“…students at the school (Husson) had told Beardsley about abuse (by Carlson) of students there, the Maine State Police report said.” It is not here hearsay according to the Maine State Police.
To those who say Carlson did nothing, do you think that when he jumped off the bridge he thought he was just taking an early morning dip?
We do not even know he jumped.
Are you saying he was tossed by Beardsley?
Did anyone see him jump? I am not saying he did not jump just saying we do not know for 100% that he did.
Agreed, likely jumped, could have been “helped” or whatever but probably not. I suspect the body lacked injuries that probably would have been indicative of “help” or an outright “dump” (already dead) but who knows. Bottom line, he went over the railing because of his affection for chicken. Agreed?
Agreed . Just saying after Carlson anything can happen . Some people are concrete thinkers some more abstract . Some say Carlson is dead end this . I say how many more evil people are allowed to get away with things. Carlson was not the first pedophile covered for and very sadly will not be the last . look at history it repeats itself if we do nothing.
Agreed. I can’t state the website link (MA “dash” NE “dot” net) that has this headline because it will not post (I guess it is a competitor or something of BDN) but it does sum it up: MAINE’S JOE PATERNO?
a tazer would prevent a struggle
And there are tell-tale marks on a body when a tazer is used…… there is no indication that such a weapon was used.
Did you see the body?
No …. did you? Surely if there had been any evidence of the use of a taser, it would have been reported but his death was ruled suicide.
Let’s just say that the repeated lying causes suspicion to linger in the public mind.
He should have been!
Well all things considered, Bearedley will actually fit right in down in Augusta. With all of the coverups and lying going on by Republican lawmakers and Lepage Cronies, its no surprise to see them add another regardless of his background and thoughts of covering up for Carlson. Beardsley likely has many people down there with them that have done much worse. Beardsley never should have been given this job, should have his name removed from the hall at Husson, and should cry himself to sleep every night for covering up the deeds that disgusting man who called himself a minister…Disgusting, but unfortunately, not surprising!!!!!
Well said!
I don’t doubt that at all.
Not the place for this man.
This vote is another reason to vote the Republicans out of office this November!
There are some very smart people in this state who would be great for this position and this is the best that the Governor could come up with? Beardsley is stubborn, will not listen and will never admit to being wrong. He’s not much of an example for our children and too rigid to be a teacher of anything, maybe that is why he was an administrator for 20 years. Why would we want him to be making decisions that effect our children? He just left the Department of Conservation where he was a disaster, but this Governor doesn’t seem to be the type to recognize his mistakes the first time around. Listen Governor, this is a mistake.
8 paragraphs quoting D Senators. 2 sentences quoting R Senators. Not political? Typical BDN distortion of the news in Augusta.
See …. educators and administrators are mandatory reporters. They do not have to have proof of what they report, only suspicion or reasonable suspicion. It is up to the police and/or DHHS to investigate to dismiss or confirm. According to Beardsley, he was told of “innapropriate” behavior involving Carlson. Either he assumed it was inapproprate behavior with an adult or he just took Carlson’s word that he was not involved in any innappropriate behavior or he dismissed/ignored the reports by student who informed him of abuses.
Beardsley ran for the Republican nomintation against LePage. Their views were very very similar. One of the issues they were in agreement on was education ….. charter schools and home school promotion, national standardized assessment tests (rather than local), teaching creationism in public schools, reducing health benefit packages and retirement benefits for teachers (his wife made a career of education, both as a teacher and a principal – assuming she has retired at this point, major changes would not affect her retirement package). He also wanted to change the criteria/eligibility requirements for children with special needs to bring down the number of kids who qualify).
He opposes abortion in all cases, opposes SSM and Civil Unions and does not agree with the domestic partnership registry. Yet here is a direct quote from him in an interview on the redcountrycaucus site: “The Republican Party was founded in the 1850s in the belief that no one group of people should dictate the lives of another group of people.” The Republican Platform is in direct conflict with Beardsley’s statement.
Sorry I don’t believe he should be serving on the State Board of Education ….. he’d better serve his beliefs if he headed a Conservative Christian school …. where he would be free to dictate the lives of others under his religious freedom.
The cowardly R’s support Maine’s Joe Paterno .
SHAME!
Typical Republican coinservitives. They do nothing to protect children from abuse but they get all lawyered up to protect the pedofiles. These people always cover up for each other.
I guess unnamed sources only count against murals, and negative comments about Maine students, hence: things which fit LePage’s agenda.
This man fits right in the republican party and probably has his own pew to ask for forgiveness on a weekly basis so he can start over.
Just another case of men in power protecting one of their own.
How much longer is LePage in office for? When is he moving back to Florida??
Every time anyone questions a LePage nominee in any way, he erupts in a hissy-fit. We need to make sure that his Republican base in the Maine Senate is diminished this November.