State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, a constitutional officer, has violated the Maine Constitution, specifically the clause barring the treasurer from engaging in business while serving in office.

Recent evidence demonstrates that Poliquin has been actively engaging in commerce as a real estate developer under his business Dirigo Holdings, LLC.

Dirigo Holdings is the developer of Popham Woods, a planned 69-unit condominium development in Phippsburg.

Poliquin denies wrongdoing, claiming he has an “investment” in the development and that his bookkeeper operates and manages the sale of real estate.

But it was Poliquin who went before the Phippsburg Planning Board and asked for permission to expand operations.

It was Poliquin who signed the application to the Planning Board weeks before the meeting.

And it was Poliquin who invested $1.7 million of his own money for the first phase of development.

It is ridiculous to assume that Mr. Poliquin would not be participating in the decision-making process for his $1.7 million development, but instead leave it to his bookkeeper.

A 1978 legal opinion from Donald Alexander, then-deputy attorney general, states that this kind of activity is a violation of the Maine Constitution.

The recent letter from the Office of the Attorney General is consistent with the 1978 legal opinion.

Not only are Poliquin’s actions unconstitutional, they also demonstrate disrespect for the Office of the Treasurer and the people of Maine.

As an elected official, Poliquin accepted a mandate for honesty, and he broke that.

We expect more from our elected officials.

We expect more from our leaders.

Rebecca T. Halbrook

Phippsburg

If I were governor, I’d do things a bit differently

If I were Gov. LePage, wanting to publish only my points of view, I would undoubtedly provide cover for every word my Department of Health and Human Services commissioner said about the need for change in her department.

I would allow her to say that welfare fraud is caused mostly by individual recipients, with nary a mention of doctors who double-bill or bill for non-rendered services, practices found to cost millions in states looking for it.

I would allow her to say – unsupported and uncontradicted – that she wanted to restore financial integrity and accountability to the department.

I would call it a “crowd” when 40 people showed up to hear her, even though most attendees are Republican legislators and tea party members devoted to these beliefs, however false they may be.

In another story, I would tout the success of my new programs for hounding the poor for receiving their strictly-controlled pittances.

I would say we “doubled prosecutions,” and downplay the fact that for all the increased efforts (at taxpayers’ expense, we wouldn’t mention that) we yielded 12 whole grand jury indictments last year.

I would quote another appointee saying, “Nobody was satisfied with the welfare fraud program a couple of years ago,” without substantiation or opposing comment.

I would make all these assertions in two long articles out of only six reporting local news.

Then I’d pick a neutral name for my propaganda sheet, oh, say, “The Portland Press Herald.”

I’d publish them February 13, my Valentine’s Day gift to my poor gullible readers.

Peter Monro

Portland

Fear the drivers who drive with disregard for others

I must vent some frustrations that I think many may share with me.

The people I am getting afraid of are the great percentage of drivers who have decided that they no longer are required to stop at stop signs and yield signs or when making right turns on red.

Speed limits are being totally disregarded.

Of course, there’s the stress one faces when another driver seems to forget that “tailgating,” as well as the other offenses I have mentioned, are against the law.

They ride with total disregard for the laws in force for operating a motor vehicle on public roads.

They also have shown a total disdain for other drivers by their speed and lane-changing without directional lights. Too busy with their cell phones.

If you read this and fit into this category, please, please have some consideration for the law.

The license is a privilege, not a right.

I fear what other laws these reckless drivers will decide do not apply to them.

The result of this attitude can lead to anarchy.

We have enough problems in this country without adding more.

Dana Hagerman

Alfred

Deport illegal aliens to help make jobs available

With all the current discussion on health reform, maybe we should look at one of the leading causes of the high cost that affects all of us.

The huge cost of illegal aliens using the emergency rooms as their personal health care facilities is causing massive increases for all of us.

In some cases, hospitals have had to close.

Our Congress must take a stand and demand immediate action and deportation of all illegal aliens.

Anyone wishing to live here must start at the beginning and stand in line like others have done.

What are we telling our children when we say we will give illegal aliens a path to citizenship? That it is all right to break the law and we will reward you.

This action is not unprecedented.

During the Great Depression, President Hoover ordered all illegal aliens deported to make any available jobs open to American citizens.

President Truman deported many to make jobs for American citizens.

And President Eisenhower deported large numbers over a two- year period beginning in 1954, with many more leaving on their own, fearing deportation.

It can be done and must be done if we are to take care of our own.

Richard Dodge

Portland

 

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