There are many angles to follow on the announcements surrounding the University of Southern Maine’s plan to trim its budget and the ensuing faculty layoffs. But here’s the one that stunned me: Charlie Colgan is leaving Maine for California and a position with the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where he will teach coastal economies.

Any journalist who has reported in Maine for more than a twinkling has crossed paths with Charlie. A self-described practitioner of the “dismal science,” Charlie is renowned for his self-deprecating humor, rumpled professorial appearance and vast knowledge of Maine’s economy.

From 1992-2010, he was chair of the Maine Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission, the body that studies economic trends and advises the governor and Legislature. He headed up the State Planning Office under three governors, leading the defunct agency that collected economic data and issued nonpartisan reports on opportunities and challenges for Maine.

As the chair of the Community Planning and Development Program at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service, Charlie’s position was identified for elimination as the school changes its focus from public service to health and environment. While future students will be the poorer for not having Professor Colgan in the classroom, his departure will be acutely felt among Maine’s reporting ranks.

Here’s an example:

In 2004, I was assigned to report on the community in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It’s home to Ingalls Shipbuilding, the longtime rival of Bath Iron Works for Navy defense contracts.

Ingalls and BIW duked it out over destroyer contracts for years until a deal brokered by each state’s U.S. senators split the work to stabilize their respective economies and preserve their work forces. But the truce was tenuous. My job was to pull a curtain back on Ingalls and its home base.

Before leaving, I called Charlie. I was trying to understand the intricacies of Department of Defense contracts and the likelihood of future contracts given shifting military strategies within the Navy. What were BIW’s advantages and disadvantages compared with Ingalls?

Charlie invited me to his office. As I sat in a rocking chair taking copious notes, he gave me historical perspective on defense work at BIW. Then we shifted to the future: Where the Navy was planning to focus its resources (probably not in stealth destroyers, probably more in littoral combat ships); BIW’s advantages (skilled workforce, quality workmanship) and disadvantages (an outdoor facility affected by winter weather and constricted access to deep water); and contacts (a congressional analyst who specializes in Navy contracts).

He was terrific. I headed to Mississippi secure that I had enough background and understanding of one of Maine’s most important industries to report and write with authority.

I know other journalists have similar stories. Charlie carries about 35 years of institutional memory with him, but just as important, he is willing to share that knowledge.

It will be harder to do our jobs without easy access to Charlie. I’m guessing the Maine press corps will keep his cellphone handy, and be mindful of a three-hour time difference.

And that we all wish him well.

If you have a story about Charlie Colgan to share, drop me a line. We’ll post the best.

Carol Coultas can be contacted at 791-6460 or at:

ccoultas@pressherald.com

Twitter: carolacoultas

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