Kayla Collins’ recent article, “Feud Fuel,” describing Dana Desjardins’ civil suit against Raymond Town Manager Don Willard and Selectman Mike Reynolds, reinforces the fundamental, constitutional commitment to a free press in a democratic society. This seemingly small and personal conflict between private citizens will ultimately expose a long and pervasive pattern of abuse, intimidation and dirty tricks by the Raymond Select Board and town office against political opponents and ordinary citizens.
The motives were many. Power, greed, job security, protection of insider trading and money are just a few. The players: the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Cellular, Enbridge, the Portland Pipeline, Bernstein and Shur, Code Enforcement, the Civic Center trustees and county commissioners, the Frye Island Corporation, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Greater Portland Council of Government – the list goes on. The dollars at stake will be counted in the tens of millions.
Raymond citizens, some of whom campaigned on “can’t we all just get along” and “be nice” platforms funded by a local Super PAC of hack politicians and patronage groupies, will now see how their local government was utilized to harass my neighbors with frivolous lawsuits for simply trying to protect their property rights; how town officials relentlessly and unsuccessfully filed unsubstantiated and groundless charges against me, with legal funds provided by the town, in an attempt to shut down debate and distract; how the town assessor function was considered as a weapon against a citizen whose only crime was to expose incompetency by town employees; how the Maine Freedom of Information Act was trampled by public officials with assistance from their lawyers; how questionable bidding practices benefited elected officials.
The collateral damage revealed in this example is not unique to Raymond. When a community and democracy becomes complacent, lazy and indifferent, a vacuum is created. When elections can be bought and the government left unaccountable, power will corrupt. When free speech and transparency is replaced by silence and secrets, liberty will be lost.
Charles Leavitt,
Former selectman
Raymond
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