On June 30, the Portland Press Herald had a front-page story (“Legislators request probe of LePage in Eves job loss”) and a letter to the editor (“Lawmakers should stand up to LePage”) that influenced my heart and mind.

A former Republican legislator, Robert Daigle, wrote a letter asking other former Republican legislators to respond to the crisis in Augusta between Gov. LePage and House and Senate members.

I served with Rep. Daigle as a fellow Republican in the 119th through the 122nd Legislatures.

I agree with his conclusion that Gov. LePage crossed the line when he threatened to withdraw over $500,000 in state funds from Good Will-Hinckley’s charter school if their board did not rescind Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves’ employment, two days before he was slated to begin his new job as their president.

Who, among legislators, will be safe from the governor’s repeat tactics if he or she disagrees with the governor in votes during the second session of the 127th Legislature in 2016?

I commend Sen. Tom Saviello, a fellow Republican with whom I served in the 121st, 122nd and 124th Legislatures.

In the Press Herald’s front-page article June 30, he stated that the governor overstepped his executive authority in the controversy concerning Speaker Eves and Good Will-Hinckley. Sen. Saviello is a responsible, hardworking legislator, highly respected by fellow House and Senate members, regardless of party affiliation.

I also served with current Senate President Michael Thibodeau in the 124th Legislature. I found him to be a knowledgeable, reasonable legislator, and a man of character and integrity.

Should Gov. LePage decide to resign before the second session of the 127th Legislature ends next year, I believe that Senate President Thibodeau would fulfill the remainder of the governor’s term with honor and dignity.

Gerald M. Davis

former Republican legislator

House: 119th, 120th, 121st, 122nd; Senate: 124th

Falmouth

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