11/30/98
AMG has interviewed the candidates for Maine GOP party chair,
read their literature, and had discussions about them with
committee members and political observers. Here, in brief are
candidate pros and cons we’ve heard from state committee
conservatives.
Kathy Watson, Jim Donnelly and David Petersen -- the three
candidates -- share several goals: fundraising, developing a
clear message, public outreach, increased GOP voter registration,
an activist state committee, working with GOP legislators,
finding common ground among liberals and conservatives, winning
Maine Senate and House majorities. Yet none of the candidates are
setting the woods on fire among committee conservatives.
It’s been a long uphill battle for Maine conservative
Republicans. The lifeblood of the party for years, the
innovators, they’re tired of being used by the party
hierarchy. Ultimately, conservatives want a conservative party
chair. Neither Watson, Donnelly, nor Petersen fit the bill.
That’s the rub. Perhaps more than anything, conservatives
don’t want the next party chair to preserve the status quo.
Four-term legislator, Jim Donnelly, served his last two years as
House Republican Leader. His legislative experience, state and
national contacts, and public visibility are seen as strong
points. His years representing Presque Isle are a plus too. What
conservatives are struggling with is what they cite as Jim’s
lack of resolve. “He’s a nice guy, but too willing to
compromise with Democrats and the Governor,” said one
committee member.
“Who’s David Petersen?” is the question most often
asked of the Yarmouth business owner running for party chair. The
resume Petersen sent committee members lists his role on several
state and national GOP campaigns, including Bob Dole, Jim
Longley, Phil Harriman, Susan Collins, John Buck, and Ross
Connelly.
It’s items not on Petersen’s resume that trouble
conservatives. For one, Petersen is seen as Senator Snowe’s
handpicked candidate. Also, in 1994 -- when Susan Collins was
running for Governor -- David Petersen served as Yarmouth town
chair for gubernatorial candidate Angus King and contributed
money to King’s campaign. Petersen says his support of King
was a mistake and he is now a “vocal critic” of the
King.
Kathy Watson, who runs a subcontracting business, is the party
vice-chair. She has a reputation for working with conservative
and liberal candidates’ campaigns. Watson also chaired the
Maine GOP State Conventions 1994-1998. Kathy’s biggest
hurdle, it seems, is convincing enough committee members that her
skills as vice-chair are right for the number one slot.
Watson, from what we know, has remained free of the rumor mill.
Not so with Petersen and Donnelly. We’re told Donnelly
siphoned $5,000 from former Rep. Ed Dexter’s failed ‘98
campaign to help other candidates, that he voted for the
Democrat/King majority state budget. Both rumors are false.
Donnelly has also been slammed for a recent Bangor Daily News
report on the northern Maine secession movement. A reporter asked
Donnelly if there was a large secession movement in Presque Isle.
He answered yes, and added, once the secessionists finished their
Boone’s Farm apple wine they went home and fell asleep.
In truth, Donnelly thought the BDN reporter’s question was a
reference to remarks by Rep. Rosaire Sirois (D-Caribou) this
year, not to the current secession proponents. Rep. Sirois spoke
on the House floor about Aroostook County seceding from Maine to
become part of Quebec.
Petersen angered conservative committee members who’d heard
he supported King’s Forest Compact. In fact, Petersen was a
member of Citizen’s for a Healthy Forest & Economy
(CHFE) when that group’s sole purpose was to defeat Jonathan
Carter’s ban clearcutting referendum. When King secured CHFE
to promote the Forest Compact, Petersen withdrew from the group.
The next party chair must surmount challenges that have kept
Republicans a minority for almost three decades. Similarly, the
GOP state committee has the responsibility of choosing the next
party chair wisely. We hope that, prior to voting, committee
members pose questions to the candidates. The candidates and
committee members agree the party needs to improve
communications. Doing so among themselves is a good place to
start.
The next party chair inherits an organization in transition. For
years the party functioned primarily for top-of-the-ticket (TOT)
Republicans and neglected key functions, i.e. developing GOP farm
teams to replace retiring or defeated legislators, to challenge
Democrats. Town chairs and committees disappeared. No one secured
citizens and organizations to help promote the GOP agenda.
Correcting these flaws is high on the conservative agenda.
Finally, Maine’s Republican TOTs have a history of minimal
appearances for state party building, especially on behalf of
conservatives. Contrast George Mitchell’s philosophy of,
“Wherever two or more Democrats are gathered in my name,
there will I be.” The next party chair is likely to have to
deliver a message from the committee to the TOTs: Help with
re-elections is a two-way street.
Above all, what’s hurting the Maine GOP is the minority
mentality crippling too many “decision makers.” Step
one on becoming a majority party? Act like a majority. Ridding
the party apparatus of people who insist their minority mentality
is terminal, who won’t work to rebuild the Maine GOP --
should be the first goal of the next party chair.
The state committee is also in transition. What is the
committee’s function? Is it a “social tea?” A body
of Republicans who should actively work to gain (and keep) a GOP
legislative majority? Or is its purpose altogether different?
Committee members did a great job in drafting the current party
platform, but what good did it do? The three decade GOP minority
history proves the old ways need re-examining.
The December 12 committee meeting presents a real opportunity for
candidates and committee to ask tough, positive questions about
the future of the Maine GOP. If, when the dust settles, the new
party chair and state committee discard old prejudices,
suspicions and failed ways of doing business; agree (without
sacrificing individual principle) to find and promote common
ground on issues, and to elect (and retain) a majority in the
Legislature -- we’d call that a success.