Republican caucus moves to choose candidates were underhanded

I’m deeply troubled to learn that two candidates were selected last week to replace the Republican candidates in District 14 and 15, against Rep. Barry Hobbins and Rep. Justin Chenette in Saco, without transparency. Their opponents withdrew from the race after their successful Republican primary election, as they were merely party placeholders, so the local party is charged with holding a caucus to determine their replacements.

Daphne Warren was nominated in a caucus that took place somewhere in Saco at 10:30 a.m. the day of the deadline to run against Hobbins. The secretary of the supposed caucus was a public affairs consultant with an Augusta firm with ties to the Republican party. According to Journal Tribune news reports, the signature of the caucus chair was not legible. Warren was later quoted as this being a spur-of-the-moment decision as a placeholder. So does this mean we have a placeholder for the placeholder? She is removing her name from the ballot, and now, no candidate will be running against Hobbins.

The chairman of the Saco Republican Committee supposedly knew nothing of this caucus to select Warren being held on the deadline day, nor did the public. The York County Republican chairman was even quoted as saying it’s odd to not have the chairman present for a candidate caucus. Ironically, the same chairman of the Saco Republican Committee, Carol Patterson, was chosen to run against Rep. Chenette a week earlier at a caucus that was not advertised via social media, in the paper, or any public format. Was there an opportunity for the voters to weigh in? Do Republicans really have a choice in their party’s nominee? It doesn’t appear that way.

Why does this bother me? It clearly demonstrates a complete disregard for the nearly 300+ Republicans who voted in the primary and a complete disregard for the Democratic process. We should be aiming to get more people involved in the political process, not shutting the public out from candidate selection. Parties should not have more power than the voice and vote of the people.

Why have elections if parties can pull this seemingly sneaky last-minute switch on the people of Saco? We deserve better. Chenette has always been visible, available, communicative and advocates on behalf of all Saco residents. He uses his skills as a former journalist to hold leaders accountable and shines a public spotlight on the issues facing government so that we are all informed. I will be voting to keep Chenette on Nov. 4.

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