Stories about John Baldacci
Bill to create Maine presidential primary, adopt ranked-choice voting comes with hefty price tag
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine would replace party caucuses with a nonpartisan presidential primary and elect its governor, legislators and federal officials with ranked-choice voting under a system proposed Monday in the Legislature. The multimillion-dollar cost of implementing the bill could prove to be its biggest challenge, given the state’s financial ...
LePage calls jail summit as sheriffs warn of overcrowding, budget crisis
LEWISTON, Maine — A budget crisis threatening to force the early release of convicted criminals, layoffs of jail guards and even the closure of some Maine jails is headed to the governor’s office. Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday he is planning a summit this week with all 16 of Maine’s ...
LePage vulnerable in 2014, says top political observer
BDN staff reports on April 08, 2013, at 5:01 p.m.
BANGOR, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is among the most vulnerable governors who are up for re-election in 2014, according to a well-known New York Times political blog. Thirty-two governors are up for re-election in 2014. Of them, LePage ranks sixth for his net job disapproval rating — the difference ...
VIDEO
LePage supporters’ hospital debt ad ignites political firestorm
AUGUSTA, Maine — A new television ad from Maine People Before Politics, a group that supports Republican Gov. Paul LePage, inflamed partisan hostilities in Augusta and across Maine’s political spectrum Thursday. The ad criticizes LePage’s predecessor, Democrat John Baldacci, for leaving behind a Medicaid “welfare” debt to the state’s 39 ...
ANALYSIS
If LePage is ‘The Boss,’ who would Baldacci be in Red Sox-Yankees rivalry?
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees open their 2013 seasons Monday with a game at Yankee Stadium. As Opening Day approaches, it’s hard not to view everything through the prism of the Bronx-Beantown baseball rivalry. Even politics. So let’s make up a new game based ...
Baldacci increasingly LePage’s target, policy motivation
AUGUSTA, Maine — John Baldacci has taken no official steps to launch another bid for the Blaine House. But the Democratic former governor has increasingly found himself the target of criticism from his Republican successor recently. And Gov. Paul LePage has cited his predecessor as the reason some of his ...
Eliot Cutler likes chances in 3-way race for governor
Former independent candidate calls on Maine to plan for future of trade, tourism.
ANALYSIS
Maine’s political surprises of 2012
AUGUSTA, Maine — ’Tis the season to consider surprises. So instead of focusing on who keeps delivering those odd Secret Santa gifts, let’s shift into reflection mode to consider the political surprises of 2012. The biggest surprise is no surprise. When U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, announced in late February ...
Former political rivals John Baldacci, Rick Bennett join debt-fighting campaign
Maine is one of 10 states where the Campaign to Fix the Debt is launching state chapters.
Baldacci to ladle up sauce again in support of same-sex marriage
Former Gov. John Baldacci will be ladling out the sauce again next week in Bangor and Portland at events sponsored by Catholics for Marriage Equality and the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination. The money raised at the events will be donated to organizations that support the homeless in Bangor and Portland ...
Ex-Baldacci staff say LePage decision to quit governor’s association could isolate Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage’s decision to stop paying membership dues to the National Governors Association threatens to shut Maine out of national policy discussions and isolate the state from opportunities, according to two high-ranking members of former Gov. John Baldacci’s administration. In explaining his decision, LePage cited the ...
VIDEO
Supporters of same-sex marriage outraise opponents 36-to-1
Mainers United for Marriage raised about $359,000 compared with the nearly $10,000 raised by Protect Marriage Maine,
Former Brewer mayor, legislator, outdoorsman Dick Ruhlin dies
BREWER, Maine — Richard P. Ruhlin Sr. may have been born in Bangor and lived his life in Brewer but he was home when on the Penobscot River or another waterway with a fishing rod in his hands. Ruhlin — a respected public servant for Brewer and protector of the ...
Old Town mill faces fine despite help from state, taxpayers
By Lance Tapley, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting on Jan. 11, 2012, at 12:10 a.m.
Maine has spent millions of dollars to prop up the Old Town pulp mill while steadily fining the mill’s owner for pollution. And now the biggest fine ever is imminent. The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting has reviewed a “proposed administrative consent agreement” from the state Department of Environmental ...
POLL QUESTION
Backlog at Maine Computer Crimes Unit keeps child pornographers on the streets
VASSALBORO, Maine — The Maine State Police’s Computer Crimes Unit — tasked with investigating child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking crimes as well as other computer-based offenses — successfully closed four cases last week. The bad news is that eight new cases also arrived last week. And some of those ...
Final purchase details for Katahdin paper mills being set
EAST MILLINOCKET, Maine — State officials said they hoped that by late Friday a New Hampshire-based investor would buy two shuttered paper mills for an undisclosed price, re-employing several hundred millworkers. “They have the [final] paperwork in front of them right now,” Adrienne Bennett, spokeswoman for Gov. Paul LePage, said ...
Legislature wants more oversight of agencies
AUGUSTA, Maine — Lawmakers on Tuesday asked the director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to draft legislation that would help guide state and quasi-state agencies on how to distribute public funds. That direction came as the Government Oversight Committee continued its probe into the now-defunct Maine ...
LePage to skip international trade mission
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage announced late Friday afternoon that he was backing out of the trade mission he was to lead to Chile and Brazil this fall, citing fiscal priorities involving preparation for the legislative session. According to a release from LePage’s office, the November trade mission will ...
LePage seeks to promote 2 York County judges
The Associated Press on Aug. 31, 2011, at 5:04 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage announced two judicial nominations, which will face Senate confirmation votes on Sept. 27. The governor seeks to elevate District Judge John O’Neil to the Superior Court bench, and to appoint Justice G. Arthur Brennan as an active retired justice of the Superior Court. LePage ...
Gwadosky remembered for humor, service
AUGUSTA, Maine — Hundreds gathered Tuesday for a service commemorating the life of longtime legislator and former Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky, who died Aug. 10 at the age of 57, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Gwadosky was remembered for his public service as well as his humor ...
Man accused of killing Glenburn teen denied bail, has received death threats, attorney says
Family remembers Nichole “CoCo” Cable, warns of social media dangers
Kyle Dube arrest, murder charge surprising to some who know him
Glenburn woman gets 18 months for embezzling $100,000 from beagle rescue group
Man linked to Boston bombing suspect killed by FBI in Florida
Guest Post: “I’m about ready to name my daughter Revolution.”
How to humble a wing nut
Help Maine charter schools succeed before adding more
Bucksport’s Wood enjoying the professional cage in MMA bouts
Tommy Lawrence pitches UMaine baseball to victory in first America East tournament game
Garcia sorry after ‘stupid’ Woods fried chicken jibe
Live updates: UMaine baseball vs. Stony Brook at America East Championship
Messalonskee’s Dexter, South Portland’s Richards key first-year contributors for USM baseball team
Bangor veteran of World War II exemplifies the way life should be
It’s hard to keep secrets from a friend who is clairvoyant
Federal agencies eye return to restored historic Custom House in Portland