SACO — A petitioner against a tax reform bill and two state representatives for the bill are both allowed to voice their opinion, as part of freedom of speech, said Police Chief Bradley Paul.
State Rep. Don Pilon said that he went to the post office Thursday morning and saw Darryl Bonner, a petitioner from Los Angeles, Calif., trying to engage passersby to sign a petition to repeal a recent tax reform bill. His sign, stating “Repeal the Deal,” listed items that would be taxed such as convenience store products and amusement park admissions.
Pilon said he was concerned that an out-of-state person did not understand the issues concerning Mainers.
“I don’t think that’s the right way to petition Maine people. Maine people should petition Maine people,” said Pilon.
Pilon called State Rep. Linda Valentino and the two of them stood on either side of the post office to give out facts about the tax reform bill and answer questions in what Valentino called “a very low key” manner.
Pilon said that he wanted to better explain the bill, which includes a decrease in income tax and a way to broaden the tax base in Maine as real estate and car sales slow down.
Valentino said that people are allowed to make their own decisions, but she wants to make sure they are informed on both sides of the issue.
“We want people to know what they are signing,” she said.
Bonner said he was paid to gather petition signatures, but declined to give the name of his employer. With Bonner was Jim McNeil, who said he was from Auburn, and as a registered Maine voter, was Bonner’s witness.
“I’m no stranger to petitioning,” said Bonner, who said he had been gathering signatures on different campaigns for 17 years. He said that he had been in various locations in Maine recently and he believed people wanted the bill repealed.
After there was some dispute on whether the two groups needed to remain at a certain distance from each other, Bonner called the police.
Saco Police Chief Bradley Paul addressed the two groups, and said they were both allowed to be in front of the post office. He asked the two groups to remain respectful of the other and to avoid conflict.
“You are all entitled to your point of view,” said Paul.
Paul said that when he came to the scene he found both parties rational and cooperative and he did not see anything to cause concern.
There are no laws against petition gathering on public property, said Paul, as long as those petitioning are not obstructing the free passage of people.
Being able to voice one’s opinion is part of the First Amendment, he said.
“It’s great. That’s what the constitution’s all about,” said Paul.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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