My name is Richard Newell and I’m the Treasurer of Lincoln County. Jane Scease is the Treasurer for Sagadahoc County and she is up for re-election this November. There is a competing measure that the Sagadahoc County Commissioners have placed on the ballot in November. They are going to ask the voters of Sagadahoc County whether or not they want to keep an elected Treasurer, or would the voters prefer to have the Treasurer appointed by the Commissioners. Should the voters of Sagadahoc County decide to return Ms. Scease to office, while at that the same time giving the Commissioners the right to appoint a Treasurer, there is no guarantee that Jane would be appointed to serve. If both Ms. Scease and the Commissioner’s initiative pass, it is doubtful that Ms. Scease would be permitted to have another term.

There is a philosophical issue here. Do the voters of Sagadahoc County want elected or appointed officials? The Treasurer has specific duties set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes. They complement the work of the Commissioner’s Office, but it is also a part of a check and balance system. Ms. Scease, as an elected official, is on an equal footing with the Commissioners and the rest of the elected County Officials. The move to make the Treasurer an appointed official is being done, I suspect, as a consolidation of power. An appointed Treasurer would work for, not with, the County Commissioners. I would like to suggest to the voters of Sagadahoc County that they have been served well for many years by their current set up. The decision to change the status quo ought to be done on an informed basis and I would urge the voters to consider contacting their Commissioners to discuss why such a significant change is being put forth to them with virtually no advance warning or information.

Richard Newell
Lincoln County Treasurer