ICYMI Summary of the January 21 Meeting | Legislative Priorities & LCDC Elections

The Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC) held its monthly meeting on January 21, 2021, via Zoom. The advertised agenda included State Legislative Priorities shared by some of our elected officials and our biennial election of LCDC officers and the election of one LCDC rep to the DSC (Democratic State Committee).

The photo depicts the newly elected officers, terms ending in 2023: Chris Johnson, Chair (top left); Kelli Whitlock Burton, VIce Chair & Chair’s Designee to the DSC (top right); Jim Hatch, Treasurer (bottom left); Autumn Mahoney, Secretary (bottom right).

This summary is thanks to outgoing LCDC Recording Secretary, Marilyn Buhyoff.

Summary

Mr. Johnson welcomed two guests to address the members. Drew Gattine and Bev Uhlenhake are running as a slate for Chair and Vice Chair of the Maine Democratic Party, since current Chair Kathleen Marra and Vice Chair Erik Gundersen are not running for re-election. Mr. Gattine introduced himself by telling the audience that he has just finished eight years in the Maine House of Representatives. When he completed his term in the legislature, he asked himself if he might have something else to offer the Maine Democratic Party, and he decided to run for the post of State Party Chair. He noted that he served in the House during some interesting years.  The first six years were during the administration of Paul LePage, and the last two years were a refreshing change with Governor Janet Mills. Mr. Gattine said that he served for two terms on the Health and Human Services Committee, followed by two years as its Chair. He then served on the Appropriations Committee. Though he was elected to the House to represent Westbrook, his work in the House demanded that he take a statewide view to be successful.  Because Democrats are a diverse big tent party, he had to develop skills to understand the needs of Democrats all across the state. Gattine said that he needed to listen and have empathy to find solutions based on the common values of Democrats.  He mentioned that, prior to his service in the House, he spent six years on the Westbrook Town Council, and he is now a member of the national Democratic Committee. He also serves on the Board of Emerge Maine. Mr. Gattine finished his comments by stating that he loves retail politics and has travelled all over the state.  Chairman Johnson said that he is pleased that Mr. Gattine is running for MDP Chair because he is someone who can be trusted, and his heart is in the right place.

Ms. Uhlenhake told the group that she grew up on a farm. Her dad was a farmer and factory worker.  She learned about politics from labor unions, and some of her earliest memories were of political conversations with her dad. She said she became involved in Maine politics by becoming active in the equality movement. She served on the town council and was mayor for two terms in Brewer, became active in the MDP (serving on the Platform Committee), and ran for State Senate in a heavily Republican district. She is interested in how we can talk to folks in Maine about issues and Democratic values in the next two years. Ms. Uhlenhake ended her remarks by noting that she is very pleased to be running with Drew Gattine.

Chairman Johnson added that the members of the Democratic State Committee will vote to fill the Chair and Vice Chair vacancies on Sunday, January 24.

Chairman Johnson asked Rep. Holly Stover and Rep. Lydia Crafts to share with the audience some of their legislative priorities for this session of the legislature.

Representative Lydia Crafts, House District 90, began her remarks by noting that it has been an exciting day, month and year. She told the audience that she is pleased to have been assigned to the Marine Resources Committee where she is staying focused on the marine environment and continuing former Rep. Mick Devin’s legacy. There are many important issues that come within the Committee’s purview, such as the controversy surrounding preservation of the endangered right whales and offshore wind energy generation.  Rep. Crafts said that, so far, constituent contact has been the best part of her job. She is learning a great deal as a first-time legislator from those who supported her and those who did not. Constituent service is at the heart of why she ran for office.  She reminded everyone that she is here and is available to them. The main goal of this legislature is to get through the pandemic. Rep. Crafts stated that safety and health are the number one issue, followed closely by the economy.  It is important to support local governments, and public education is key. The Representative mentioned that she is pleased to see Governor Mills’ focus on increasing teachers’ pay and on increasing the State’s share of local education budgets.  Covid has created an unusual legislative environment. Rep. Crafts said that she is learning a great deal and she appreciates the support of folks in House District 90 and of her legislative colleagues.  Representative Crafts answered a question from the audience and then concluded  her presentation.

Holly Stover, the Maine House Representative from House District 89, told the attendees that she has been appointed to serve on the Health and Human Services Committee and on the Government Oversight Committee.  Health and Human Services (HHS) generates more than one-half of the printed bills in the legislative session, and one-third of Maine’s budget is devoted to the areas that it oversees. It covers the state’s most vulnerable citizens.  Today there was a briefing from DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew and CDC Director Nirav Shah. They said that more Federal help is coming; however, the big question remains the speed of vaccine production. Rep. Stover commented that at least we now have a President who has a plan. A major issue in the new budget is funding to increase the reimbursement rate for Section 29 care for children and nursing home residents. These rates have not been adjusted in many years. There is also money in the budget for folks with mental disabilities. Rates of addiction and overdose have been going up during the pandemic, and there is some new funding for treatment and recovery programs. The Governor’s proposed budget includes $45 million in general purpose aid to schools, which would increase base salaries for teachers and click up the revenue sharing percentage to the highest rate in a long time. In addition, Governor Mills’ budget calls for an addition to the “rainy day fund”, even in the middle of a pandemic. Rep. Stover said that the pandemic has had a major impact across all state departments. In her opinion, vaccines are the answer, though we will not be able to abandon social distancing for some time. The Representative mentioned that she is pleased to see progress with the wind turbine project off Monhegan Island.  She reported that she has submitted a bill to expand Medicaid by $15 million to provide for dental benefits under the program. She noted that Medicaid expansion, approved by Maine’s voters, has met its target. There are 71,000 new participants in the program. Rep. Stover said that we now need to ensure that expanded Medicaid stays in place. She expressed disappointment that the ban on single use plastic bags which she sponsored last session was put on hold until June because of the pandemic. In the meantime, four bills to cancel the plastic bag ban legislation have been introduced. Rep. Stover reported that she has introduced a bill to allow the most dangerous criminal patients at Riverview Psychiatric Hospital to be housed in the Maine State Prison’s secure psychiatric unit. She said this was important for the safety of the staff at Riverview. Representative Stover concluded her remarks by saying that she is excited about the legislative session, even though it is hard to work, especially within the constraints of Zoom. She said she would like to go back to in-person meetings, but that it might not happen this year.

Chairman Johnson thanked both Representative Crafts and Representative Stover for their insights.  He said that Senator Maxim is planning to join the next LCDC monthly meeting.

The next order of business was the election of LCDC officers for terms of two years each.  The Chairman explained that one of the evening’s agenda items was the election for two year terms of LCDC officers and a Maine Democratic Party State Committee Representative. The Chair and Communications Chair Autumn Mahoney explained how to use the online voting system provided through the Maine Democratic Party, and the members practiced using the unfamiliar process.

Because Mr. Johnson was running for re-election, outgoing Secretary Marilyn Buhyoff temporarily chaired the meeting. She announced that the Nominating Committee had nominated Christopher Johnson for the position of Chairman of the LCDC. Ms. Buhyoff asked if there were nominations from the floor. There were none, and nominations were closed. Members voted by secret ballot, and Mr. Johnson was elected by a vote of 47-0.  He resumed chairing the meeting.

Mr. Johnson reported that Kelli Whitlock Burton had been nominated as Vice Chair. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Whitlock Burton was voted in as Vice Chair by acclamation.  The Chairman said that the Nomination Committee nominated Autumn Mahoney to be Secretary. He asked for other nominations, but there were none. Ms. Mahoney was elected by acclamation. The Nominating Committee submitted current Treasurer Jim Hatch’s name to be re-elected as LCDC Treasurer. There were no nominations from the floor, and Mr. Hatch was elected to that post by acclamation. Kelli Whitlock Burton was nominated by the Nominating Committee to be the Chair’s Designee to the Maine Democratic State Committee. There were no other nominations. Ms. Whitlock Burton was elected by acclamation to be the Chair’s Designee.

The Chairman announced that there was an opening for a Democratic State Committee representative, and that there were at least two interested candidates. He called on Pat Smith, who nominated Jeff Tarbox for that position. In her nominating remarks, she listed Mr. Tarbox’s many political and civic activities. Autumn Mahoney seconded the nomination. Chairman Johnson then recognized Dan Hunter from Damariscotta. Mr. Hunter put his name into nomination, and he outlined his relevant background and experience. Marilyn Buhyoff seconded Mr. Hunter’s nomination. Mr. Tarbox and Mr. Hunter made brief presentations giving the reasons why they were interested in being elected a DSC representative. In response to a question from the audience, Chairman Johnson described the role and responsibilities of the DSC as set out in the Maine Democratic Party’s charter. He then asked if there were other nominations, and there were none. Voting took place by secret ballot. Mr. Tarbox was elected by a vote of 27 to 20.

Nine individuals were then voted into membership in the LCDC.

And finally Kelli Whitlock Burton told the group that Craig Hickman, who is a candidate for Shenna Bellows’ vacated State Senate seat, needs our help. He is looking for phone bankers. She asked anyone who is interested to contact the Hickman campaign.

The next meeting will take place on February 18. Pre-registration is required to obtain the logon or phone access information through https://lincolncountydemocrats.com/meet.