Open Season

Garrett Mason's PAC files late on Aroostook ad buy

Angie Muhs Only — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:29:13 GMT

Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon, narrowly retained his seat after a recount Friday, but missed a political finance disclosure deadline by a longshot.

Mason's Charting Maine's Future PAC made a $1206 radio ad buy on Caribou's Channel X Radio just two days before the election, and by Maine law should have reported the purchase Nov. 5. Mason didn't file the required disclosure with the state ethics commission until Nov. 14.

The ads supported three Aroostook County Republicans: Jonathan.J. Roy (who lost House District 2 in the Madawaska area to Democrat Kenneth Theriault), Mike Nadeau (who upset longtime speaker John Martin in House District 1) and Peter Edgecomb (who lost to incumbent Sen. Troy Jackson in Senate District 35).

Barring special circumstances, Mason's PAC would be liable to pay a small fine for the late filing.

King speech conjures Lincoln; Dodge goes for Dr. Seuss

Angie Muhs — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:47:17 GMT

We've been told that Angus King's victory speech on Tuesday night was inspiring, even moving.

Yeah, it was pretty good. The guy has a way with words.

But Andrew Ian Dodge's concession statement? That was pure poetry. (Notice we didn't say good poetry.)

We'll publish them both here for posterity.

From Dodge: A Concession verse

“Bested by Angus, Not that outrageous, A well-loved man, With a bi-partisan plan.
Fought the good-fight, For what was right, My head held high, Critics can try
Ran for right reasons, Liberty for all seasons, Happy to See, Some with me
An independent future, Democracy grows mature, Maine leads the way, A great place to be gay
No regrets never, The message we delivered, It was my pleasure, To follow that endeavor.”

From Sen.-elect King: The Acceptance Speech

Almost 200 years ago the sturdy souls who founded this state settled on a state slogan, "Dirigo", I Lead. But today, Maine gave it new meaning, for tonight, it isn't Dirigo, it's Dirigimus, "We lead."

Maine is leading by saying we're tired of the political divisions that are keeping us from solving real problems and we're tired of politicians whose main purpose seems to be to divide us instead of unite us.

Maine is leading by saying that what we want is listening instead of lecturing, compromise instead of confrontation, and solutions instead of slogans.

People don't care who gets the credit and they don't care who's winning and losing from year to year; what they want is a strong economy, a fair solution to the debt crisis, a strong defense, care for our veterans, and schools that work. And they're tired of the false choice that always seems to confront them.

As a guy said to me early on in this campaign, "I've always wanted the chance to vote for None of the Above, and you're it.:"

And I'm convinced that across this country, there are others who agree and want to follow Maine's lead.

I'm optimistic that today's vote and the message it sends can make a difference in the poisonous state of American politics-- because in the arc of human history and governments, there have always been times of differences and divisions but we know it doesn't have to be that way.

 We know this because when a crisis comes, we find we're not that far apart after all.

In Maine's ice storm we reached out to neighbors we never knew; in the aftermath of the terrible morning of September 11, the entire country came together as seldom before, and in the last week, a hurricane and Nor'easter met in the north Atlantic and crashed ashore in New Jersey making improbable allies of an embattled governor and his politically opposite president. 

Division is natural; we were all made with different needs, talents and attitudes. There is nothing wrong with this; indeed, it is a strength because it leads to debate and ultimately better solutions. But sometimes, debate can go too far and become difference for the sake of difference and argument for the sake of argument and -- when this happens, we are all the poorer for it. The people are the poorer for it.

And so tonight, the people of Maine have said enough; this far and no farther.  
We respect political differences, but we want to move just a little closer--to the center, to solutions, to civility, to mutual respect.

And today, with the votes cast by the people of Maine, we got closer. There are good, honest, hardworking people in both parties, with good, productive and needed solutions to our problems.

Today, they got closer.

We've seen a lot of this campaign season focus on negatives, and what drives us apart.

But today, we got closer.

And the people of Maine and this country have been working for four years to escape this great recession, and find solutions to our common challenges.

Today, we got closer.

Today, Maine people showed that being fiercely independent doesn't require you to be fierce.

Tomorrow, and for the next six years, my simple goal is to keep proving that -- to be a bridge between my new colleagues on either side of the aisle, to bring people and our country closer to that more perfect union envisioned by the founders.

It may feel at times that we're far apart, that answers are just getting further out of reach. But the overwhelming message from this election is that we're close, and people want us to get closer.

My mandate is clear - listen to the best solutions from every corner, and help my colleagues find common ground in that fertile mix. It's sitting there right out in front of us, and we're ready to walk across, to get closer.

Tonight, Maine has sent a really important message; tonight, we truly lead.

At the moment of the worst divisions ever faced by our country, a young lawyer fresh from the plains spoke to his fellow countrymen of the ties that bind us and the urgent imperative that they not be allowed to break.

His words fell largely on deaf ears that day and it took a terrible war to prove him right for all time, but his eloquent vision can still speak to us today--and I fervently hope we can listen better this time.

Here is what he said, here is what Abraham Lincoln said--

"I am loathe to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.

"Though passion may have strained them, it must not break our bonds of affection.

"The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

Aye, Angus makes homeland proud

Angie Muhs — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:22:59 GMT

Angus King's election to the U.S. Senate made headlines – or at least a headline – in Scotland.

It turns out that King's well-known Scottish roots make him somewhat of a local celebrity amid the lochs and highlands. It's kind of like the excitement Pres. Barack Obama's election in 2008 created in Kenya, without most of the excitement.

The Scotsman, a Scottish newspaper and web site, ran an item today about Maine's new senator noting that he "came on stage on Tuesday night to the sound of bagpipes."

"Angus King jokingly told The Scotsman he planned to be the first Angus in the Senate," the story says.

King goes on to tell the Scotsman about the state of partisanship in Congress and the polarization of the American media. And the Scotsman gives King what is apparently high praise for a Scottish politician: "Mr King is a canny old hand."

King's clout in Senate would hinge on voters in other states

Angie Muhs — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:57:27 GMT

With independent U.S. Senate candidate Angus King well ahead in the final pre-election polls, the bigger question now may not be whether he will win but what role he would play in the Senate.

If the Senate is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats – and King wins as expected – the former governor could be a king-maker by deciding who serves as Senate majority leader and which party gets to assign chairmen and women of the committees. On the other hand, if either party wins a clear majority with a comfortable margin of votes, his influence will be much less.

The possibilities are laid out in a Associated Press item today that quotes former senate majority leaders Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

A month or two ago, King was getting a lot of national attention as a possible swing vote. Less so in recent weeks as Democratic candidates in several key states opened up leads in the polls (thanks in part to a couple of controversial comments about abortion by Republicans in Missouri and Indiana).

“It looks like the Democrats may hold the control of the Senate — I’m not ready to concede that, but they may — in which case there ain’t going to be no negotiating,” former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., told the Post. “He’ll go to the Democratic side and take what they give him.”

King, if he does win, won't be irrelevant in any case. Neither party will have a filibuster-proof super-majority. And there are just 100 votes in the entire Senate, giving Maine's Senators the same voting power as New York's and California's.

Florida Congresswoman seeks federal investigation of K12 Inc.

Angie Muhs Only — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 18:11:39 GMT

K12 Inc., the Hernodon, Va. based digital learning powerhouse that has reapplied to manage a full-time virtual charter school in Maine, is facing renewed pressure in Florida.

Congresswoman Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, has asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate the firm, which is already under investigation by Florida officials for allegedly using uncertified teachers in a Seminole County virtual school.

K12 and rival Connections Learning of Baltimore were the subject of a Maine Sunday Telegram investigation into digital learning policymaking and full-time virtual schools in Maine that was published Sept. 2.

Rural Maine lawmaker opposes same-sex marriage

Betty Adams — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:00:44 GMT

Rep. David Johnson, R-Eddington, a one-term lawmaker seeking reelection on Tuesday, issued a statement today urging voters to reject same-sex marriage at the ballot box.

In the press release from Protect Marriage Maine, Johnson is quoted as saying his gay brother recently died of cancer and that he still maintains contact with his brother's partner of 25 years.

"I miss my brother and stay in contact with his partner because I love them both and know many other gay couples and love them dearly as well," he said in the statement. "The fact remains that God intended marriage to be between one man and one woman, and we have no right to redefine marriage."

Johnson's public stand is interesting for a couple of reasons. Many local legislative candidates have shied away from expressing any opinion on Question 1, particularly those who are opposed to it. But Johnson defeated Democrat Ben Pratt two years ago after Pratt was targeted for his support of the 2009 gay-marriage law.

In 2009, voters in that district voted heavily in opposition to same-sex marriage.

Pratt is running against Johnson this year in an attempt to get the seat back. That race, and all House and Senate seats, will be decided on Tuesday, along with the gay-marriage question.

On a totally separate subject, Open Season readers should note that the blog will be moving to the home pages of our websites on Tuesday -- Election Day -- where it will be updated regularly throughout the day and night.

NOM to spend $500K on robocalls for marriage

Betty Adams — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:33:33 GMT

The National Organization for Marriage plans to spend $500,000 this weekend in an effort to reach 10 million people before Tuesday's vote on gay marriage, the group announced today.

The robocalls will go out in Maine, Maryland, Washington, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. They are targeting Maine, Maryland and Washington, because that's were voters will decide the fate of three ballot initiatives on gay marriage. They chose Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania because they are presidential swing states.

The calls will be from James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; and former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

"These calls from leaders in public life will remind voters to go to the polls, to protect marriage, and to support public officials who will do the same," Brian Brown, executive director of NOM, said in a press release. "Along with advertising and other mobilization efforts we have undertaken, which are unprecedented in their scale, we are confident that Election Day 2012 will mark a triumph for marriage and family in the United States."

National groups on both sides will continue to play an active role through Tuesday in Maine. On Thursday night, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin, spoke at a pro-gay-marriage rally in Portland, as did the political director for Freedom to Marry.

Both sides have emphasized the results from Tuesday's votes as having national implications moving forward on the issue of gay marriage. Where gay marriage is legal -- six states and the District of Columbia -- it's on the books because of lawmakers or the courts, but not popular vote.

Pop group drummer talks about gay marriage

Betty Adams — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:22:52 GMT

Jack Antonoff, the drummer from the pop band fun., met with members of the Maine media this afternoon before the band took the stage at The State theater in Portland for a concert to raise money for Mainers United for Marriage.

The three-man band, which has had two major hits ("We Are Young" and "Some Nights"), have been outspoken proponents for gay rights and gay marriage. All three are straight, but say they want to make a real difference to advance gay rights.

"It's important for us to be really clear on the national level, it's important for us to be in Maine today raising money," Antonoff said during an interview in one of the cramped dressing rooms at the theater. "It's the most important issue of our generation. It's the civil rights issue of our generation. It's painful to exist in a place where Innocent people are treated as second class citizens."

The Halloween night show is the first of a new US tour, which will move on to college campuses after tonight. The band is donating all the proceeds from the Portland show to Mainers United, which is expected to give the Yes on 1 campaign a $25,000 plus boost with just six days to go until the election.

Antonoff, who is 28, said he doesn't think support or opposition to gay marriage is based on age.

"It fascinates and terrifies me," he said. "It's a religious issue. A lot of people in this country believe in the Bible that says certain things about homosexuality, which is what makes this really hard to turn around."

First Bowles; now Simpson. Anti-debt duo backs King

Angie Muhs — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:06:35 GMT

Former Gov. Angus King has picked up the endorsement of the other half of the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction duo.

Former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming has endorsed King, the King campaign announced today. Simpson, a former assistant republican leader in the Senate, co-chaired the bipartisan deficit reduction task force that came to be known as the Simpson-Bowles Commission. The commission's plan calls for a combination of spending cuts, tax reform and tax increases. It wasn't adopted by Congress but is still shaping the debate about debt reduction in Washington.

The other co-chair, Erskine Bowles, is a Democrat and former chief of staff to Pres. Bill Clinton. Bowles endorsed King earlier in the campaign and came to Portland in September to appear at a King campaign event focusing on the debt and deficit. King has called the commission's plan a good framework for congressional action, but says he does not agree with all of its proposals.

Simpson, like Bowles, said King's status as a moderate independent and his experience as an independent governor could help him serve as a bridge in Congress.

"Today, Congress' sterile inability to make important compromises is truly threatening the state of our nation," Simpson said in a statement released by the King campaign.

"While Angus King may not be wedded to Simpson-Bowles in its entirety (few are!), he views it as a fine framework to build upon. The fact is that playing one party against the other isn't going to get us anywhere fast anymore," he said. "We need people in Congress who can build bridges, encourage compromises, and actually make things happen for the sake of our nation's future - not for their own election or re-election."

Pro-gay-marriage rally set for Monument Square

Betty Adams — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:28:31 GMT

Mainers United for Marriage is planning a Get Out the Vote Rally at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Monument Square in Portland.

After the rally, Portland residents will march down to City Hall to cast their ballots before 8 p.m., which is the deadline for those who want to vote in-person absentee. The campaign says it's ready for the final push leading up to Nov. 6.

"Thousands of volunteers will be working throughout the weekend to get out the vote, and Portland residents can walk down the street and vote right then on Thursday night," said Matt McTighe, campaign manager, in a press release.

Ready or not, Senate candidates going prime time

Angie Muhs — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:57:15 GMT

Got a little debate withdrawal now that the all the presidential debates are over?

Never fear. You can get your fix of zingers and talking points this week with three debates – two on TV and one on radio – between Maine's U.S. Senate candidates.

WCSH-6 will broadcast its live debate Monday at 7 p.m.

WMTW-8 will broadcast its live debate Tuesday at 7 p.m.

MPBN will hold a debate Thursday at 8 p.m. and broadcast it live on radio. MPBN will rebroadcast it on the radio several times in the days before the election and broadcast it on television Friday at 9 p.m. and next Sunday at 5 p.m.

The three major candidates, Independent Angus King, Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill, are expected to participate. The three other independent candidates, Steve Woods, Andrew Ian Dodge and Danny Dalton, also will get some statewide exposure with days left before Election Day.

Mike Heath to "turn up the heat" on same-sex marriage on Monday

Betty Adams — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:39:22 GMT

Mike Heath and Paul Madore, two men who've been fighting against gay rights for decades, are holding a State House press conference Monday where they promise to "turn up the heat" just a week before Mainers vote on gay marriage.

"It's been years since we've had the opportunity to inform Maine voters about the real dangers and the pure insanity of same-sex sodomy based marriage," Heath is quoted in a press release.

Heath, who resigned as executive director of the Christian Civic League just before the 2009 vote on gay marriage, was shunned by gay marriage opponents last time around because they wanted to take a less aggressive approach. Neither he nor Madore, a Lewiston-area Catholic, have been publicly active this time around, at least not before Monday's rally and press conference.

In their press announcement, they say they want to spell out will happen in Maine if "this insane bill passes."

"You can't expect to win this campaign and protect Maine families from the evil of same-sex marriage if you intend to use the same language as the other side," Madore said.

And Heath added: "We have to turn up the heat and be bold and honest and we are prepared to do just that."

The Hall of Flags press conference sounds similar to one they held in 2009 just before the vote. They are bringing back the same speakers -- Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality and Brian Camenker of Mass Resistance, a Massachusetts anti-gay group.

In 2009, both sides of the campaign denounced the comments from the press conference, which focused on the "radical homosexual agenda."

Civic League calls for election fast

Betty Adams — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:41:36 GMT

The Christian Civic League is encouraging followers to participate in a 48-hour fast leading up to Election Day.

In its weekly newsletter, the league outlines three fasting options: water fasting (no food, just water); Daniel fast (no pleasant foods, just vegetables and water) and Liquids only (water, juice). The fast would run from 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4 to 8 p.m. Tues., Nov. 6.

Election Day at 8 p.m. is when the polls close and the nail biting really begins for all the campaigns. Although the call for a fast doesn't specifically mention Question 1, the gay marriage ballot initiative, the Civic League has been deeply involved in running and funding the campaign to urge a "no" vote.

The newsletter also asks for donations so the campaign can run a Billy Graham newspaper ad in the Portland Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News. It notes that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association took out an ad in the Wall Street Journal recently in which Graham urges people to vote for "the candidates who support the biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman."

Update: Orchard owners take flack for "No on 1" sign

Betty Adams — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:14:39 GMT

Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant, outside of Bangor, caused quite a stir among customers and Facebook friends recently by putting a "No on 1" sign near their driveway.

The orchard Facebook page shows hundreds of comments about the issue, which range from "I will NEVER come to your farm again" to "You have a new customer in my family." Question 1 asks voters if they want to allow the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The Bangor Daily News is reporting today that Treworgy has taken the sign down. Also, Protect Marriage Maine, the major opposition group, used the incident as an opportunity to say these types of things will happen more frequently if gay marriage becomes legal in Maine.

"If marriage is redefined, it is redefined for everyone, leaving no room under the law or in civil discourse for those who disagree with this new genderless definition of marriage for religious, cultural or other reasons," said Bob Emrich in a prepared statement.

On their Facebook page, the orchard owners took time to explain their position. As part of a six-point argument for why they oppose same-sex marriage based on their religious beliefs, they posted this statement:

"We at Treworgy Family Orchards truly value and respect all persons and their views and want to thank all of you who have expressed your concern about our choice to place a “No on 1” sign beside our driveway last week. We sincerely apologize for the hurt that was caused by our sign and its perceived meaning. We did not understand the way it would be interpreted by so many and it is apparent that what we intended and what has been concluded are entirely different realities. We humbly ask those who have been hurt to forgive us any offense. We would like to take the opportunity to clarify exactly what we do and do not stand for. We do not stand for hate, discrimination, rudeness, or incivility."

NOM video highlights biology in same-sex marriage debate

Betty Adams — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 19:57:44 GMT

A new 5-minute or so video produced by the National Organization for Marriage has popped up on the Protect Marriage Maine website.

A female narrator walks viewers through arguments for and against same-sex marriage, coming to the conclusion that it's best for society to promote traditional marriage, not gay marriage. The video, which is kind of a School House Rock tutorial, is in addition to new ads that were released today by gay marriage opponents.

Question 1 supporters have already fought back by releasing briefing memos to reporters to refute claims made in the ads. One features Vermont innkeepers and another a Canadian sportswriter who says he was fired for sending a Tweet in support of traditional marriage. Both ads can be found here.

In 2009, NOM provided gay-marriage opponents with nearly $2 million in funding for the successful campaign to overturn same-sex marriage 53-47 percent. They are major contributors this time too, having given $252,000 so far with more expected before the Nov. 6 election.

Gay-marriage supporters say the incidents cited by NOM are mostly related to non-discrimination laws and have nothing to do with gay marriage. Even if gay marriage fails, businesses will continue to be required to provide goods and services to gays and lesbians because of the non-discrimination law approved by voters in 2005.

Gallaudet action enters Maine gay-marriage debate

Betty Adams — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:33:53 GMT

At Thursday night's debate on same-sex marriage, an incident involving a Maryland diversity officer who was suspended after she signed a petition to put gay marriage on the ballot was offered by opponents as further proof that the law will have a chilling effect on free speech.

Carroll Conley of the Christian Civic League used Angela McCaskill of Gallaudet University in Maryland as an example of the erosion of individual liberties.

"She was suspended for saying citizens should have a vote," he said.

Mary Bonauto, an attorney for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, quickly responded.

"It's an outrage and she should get her job back," she said.

On that point, the two sides agreed.

Earlier this month, McCaskill was suspended from her job as diversity officer after other faculty members discovered she had signed a petition to send gay marriage to the ballot in Maryland. The university president said he needed time to consider whether it was appropriate for a diversity officer to have signed the petition, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Earlier this week, McCaskill held a press conference to demand her job back and to ask for compensation for what the university has put her through.

"This has been a tremendously horrific time for myself and my family," she said, according to The Sun. "They university has allowed this issue to escalate out of control. They have attempted to intimidate me. They have tarnished my reputation."

The situation has been used in a TV ad by gay marriage opponents in Maryland, and looks as though it will continue to be cited by opponents as an example of what will happen if gay marriage becomes legal in more states. In an editorial, The Sun called it a "scare tactic."

Maine, Maryland and Washington will vote in November to decide whether to allow gay marriage, and Minnesota will vote on a proposed constitutional ban.

Abbott, other GOPers, support gay marriage

Betty Adams — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:25:28 GMT

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Abbott was one of a second wave of Republicans to announce their support for same-sex marriage today.

At press conferences in Portland and Bangor, Abbott, who finished fourth in a seven-way primary in 2010, said in a statement that as a Republican, he believes in personal responsibility.

"Allowing same-sex couples to receive a marriage license will make our communities stronger and will make thousands of families more secure," he said. "Marriage promotes values such as stability, commitment and responsibility that we can all support."

Others making the new list were Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and former state Rep. Ken Lindell, R-Frankfort. Lindell described himself as a "libertarian Republican."

"Thousands of gay and lesbian couples are being denied the opportunity to enter into a legally recognized union," he said, according to a statement provided by Mainers United for Marriage.

Supporters and opponents of gay marriage will gather in Portland tonight for a debate sponsored by the University of Maine School of Law. And if you missed last night's debate in Bangor on WABI, it's now on the TV station website.

Maine teachers union takes on virtual charter schools

Angie Muhs — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:30:41 GMT

The Maine Education Association, the state's principal teacher's union, issued a report this morning critical of full-time virtual charter schools, which they say should not be allowed to open in Maine.

The 12-page report, "Virtual Failure: The Growth of Online Charter Schools", examines the track record of the two out-of-state companies seeking to manage such schools in Maine -- K12 Inc. and Connections Learning -- and concludes that their schools fail students while diverting resources from existing public schools.

"As educators we cannot let virtual charter schools open in Maine," MEA president Lois Kilby-Chesley is quoted as saying. "There is too much reearch that proves these schools fail our students while turning pupils into profits for out-of-state companies."

The Maine Sunday Telegram's investigation of the role the two companies have been playing in Maine isn't mentioned in the report, which focuses on their track records in other states, and relies heavily on investigations by the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado.

The ostensibly indepedent, Maine-based boards of the proposed Maine schools that would be managed by the companies -- Maine Virtual Academy and Maine Connections Academy -- have filed paperwork indicating they will be reapplying for charters at the end of the month. The independent board that issues charters tabled both entities' applications earlier this year, provoking an angry letter from Gov. Paul LePage.

Democratic groups have used the issue against Maine Republican Party vice chair Ruth Summers, who chairs the board of Maine Connections Academy, is married to Republican US Senate nominee Charlie Summers, and is herself running for Maine Senate in the Scarborough area.

Baldacci serves spaghetti for gay marriage

Betty Adams — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:07:07 GMT

Former Gov. John Baldacci donned a Catholics for Marriage Equality apron in Bangor tonight to host the first of two spaghetti suppers to show his support for gay marriage.

Wearing a turtle neck, slacks, tennis shoes and the apron, the governor ladled spaghetti onto plates at the Bangor High School cafeteria. The Democrat signed gay marriage into law in 2009, only to see it repealed by voters 53-47 percent.

"I evolved on the issue," he said, sounding a bit like President Obama. "I had always thought that civil unions were the state's responsibility and marriages were in the church."

But he asked his legal adviser at the time, Pat Ende, to research the issue and changed his mind when Ende told him there were hundreds of places in Maine law that provided benefits and responsibilities only to married couples.

"You can't have different categories for different people," he said just before the dinner began.

Baldacci, who grew up in a large Catholic family in Bangor, is now working in Portland at Pierce Atwood, where he's a senior adviser on economic development.

Catholics for Marriage Equality cooked enough spaghetti for 300, and plans to donate the proceeds to Bangor area homeless shelters. Volunteers at the spaghetti supper included Baldacci Chief of Staff Jane Lincoln and lobbyist Severin Beliveau. Cheryl Clukey, mother of Winter Olympian Julia Clukey helped serve, as did former Green Independent gubernatorial candidate Pat LaMarche. Jack Cashman, who served as Baldacci's economic adviser, was spotted waiting in line and former Rep. Eddie Dugay, D-Cherryfield, was there as well.

Summers announces NRA endorsement

Betty Adams — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:57:13 GMT

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Summers has announced he'll get the backing of the National Rifle Association at a Thursday event in Holden.

In a Tuesday email, Summers spokesman Drew Brandewie said NRA President David Keene will be on hand at a 12 p.m. "campaign rally" at Maine Military Supply in Holden "with key second amendment rights advocates, sportsmen, and NRA members from across Maine."

"As I’ve traveled the state I’ve gotten support from sportsmen and gun owners from Kittery to Fort Kent, and I’m thankful for the backing of the NRA (which) represents so many hardworking Mainers," Summers said in a statement.

Summers was also endorsed by the NRA in his ultimately unsuccessful 2008 race to represent Maine's 1st Congressional District.