I would like to take a moment to discuss a topic that cannot be ignored any longer: the internal divisions within the Maine Republican Party.

2012 was a disastrous year for our party. Constant infighting led to a divided general election, and the poor leadership of former Chairman Charlie Webster made matters worse. We lost the Legislature and a U.S. Senate seat, while failing to capture the Presidency.

2012 was a failure for the Republican Party. It cannot be allowed to happen again.

Unfortunately, the problem will not be solved by simply preaching unity and telling people to come together. It’s naive and insulting to oversimplify the issue like that. These problems have become too big to ignore and thus must properly be addressed.

Now to be clear, contrary to popular belief in the Republican mainstream, I am not out to bring the party down. My criticisms of those within the party over the last year were valid. Beyond them being valid, the Party had enough time to react to these problems and fix them before they were brought to the open.

Why were they brought into the open? Because it’s clear that there are those who are clinging to power within and will stop at nothing to hang onto that.

It may be “inside baseball” to some, but with Arnold Gandil on First and Gaylord Perry on the mound. Nothing is fair.

Let’s take for example, the controversial elections for county officers that occurred in Penobscot. After issues arose, concerned Penobscot Republican Ken Anderson filed an appeal. Never heard a thing for weeks. Executive Director Jason Savage took the time to communicate to me three weeks later that the Chairman was reviewing the appeal, but nobody had bothered to actually communicate with the appellant. Not only is that disrespectful, that’s bad leadership.

In the end, Chairman Rich Cebra ran and hid behind a legal shield by summoning a lawyer instead of actually moving to do the right thing.

The result? Because of continued violations of the bylaws, the current leadership in Penobscot was illegally elected, and is thus invalid. Now that’s genuine and inspiring going into a major election cycle.

Since then, Republicans inside and outside Penobscot County have unenrolled from the party. That is lost ground when we need to be gaining. What kind of leadership is this?

Then there’s the budget. As a man who stands for the Constitution and respects the law, I’m sure you will understand the importance of bylaws within the Party as well. Our bylaws state clearly that the deadline for the State Committee to adopt a budget is March 31st. Look at the date, while keeping in mind the Budget Committee has yet to even produce a budget for the State Committee to approve. It’s May!

As a businessman, I’m sure you also understand the importance of a budget when it comes to operations.

In an e-mail to the State Committee, Budget Committee chairman Michael Coleman referred to these honest pleas for better leadership as a “circular firing squad”, then taking it a step further accusing the State Committee of NOT wanting you to be re-elected.

With respect to the Old Orchard Beach Town Councilor, he cannot possibly toss an accusation out there like that. The State Committee was made aware that the bank account is in the red, but without a budget, nobody is quite sure why. Chairman Cebra and Executive Director Jason Savage refused to clarify who was on payroll and how much they were being paid.

How do we expect to keep you in the Blaine House with NO money?

Short answer: we can’t.

Now Governor LePage, to be perfectly honest, I haven’t agreed with a number of things you’ve done as of recent. On the other hand, you have done a great deal of good, as well. And I can say this: I was a very early supporter of yours. I remember in late 2009, you came to Lisbon Falls for a Meet and Greet. We had a small group of people there, but a good group who were interested in hearing from a candidate with new, fresh ideas. I was one of them.

This was a time when nobody seemed aware of who Paul LePage was. As you pushed forward, people began to notice, but nobody seemed to believe you could win. I did, as did many others. And what happened?

Well, to sum it up, against all the odds, I am addressing you as Governor of the great state of Maine right now.

Though we disagree on some things, we agree on the principles that brought you and the grassroots activists, like myself, together in 2010. It was an incredible year for the Republican Party.

Unfortunately, the Legislative majorities we elected alongside you have been lost. And if everything continues as it is now, you will not win re-election next year. It will be game over.

We cannot let this happen. We have a lot of work still ahead of us for Maine.

But if the troubles continue in our party due to the continued lack of leadership, the divisive antics of various figures, and the repeated refusal to not respect bylaws, then we lose.

A State Committee cannot move forward when a Chairman threatens them with lawyers because he refuses to address problems. A Chairman cannot lead when he allows bylaws violations to stand. Beyond all this, grassroots Republicans cannot trust an inactive State Committee and a failing Chairman.

With a bank account in the red and zero transparency, the Maine Republican Party is presently dead. Coleman won’t show us how, Cebra and Savage won’t tell us why, and all the while, the donors obviously aren’t donating. Because of all this, the grassroots are understandably upset. What’s going on?

You and I both supported Rich Cebra, who was a solid legislator, for the position of Party Chairman. But sometimes, as history has shown us from time to time, great legislators don’t always make stellar executives. When it comes to this issue, we were wrong.

All is not lost and the operation can be saved. What comes down to is priorities. Are we working to protect temperamental egos within our own party or are we working to improve Maine for the better?

You sir, seem like a reasonable man. Take the lead to save your party before it is all lost, so we can continue to move Maine forward. Do the right thing.

Chris Dixon

Maine Republican State Committee Members:

My name is Kathleen Caso. I am a member of the Washington County Republican Committee via the city of Calais. I am a past County Secretary, Senate Candidate, Platform committee member and presently the membership Committee chair and have been selected on several occasions as a State Committee Proxy for various members. It is that position and the experiences which I have had in the Maine GOP that I am writing to you today.

I truly believed that the tumultuous years of the Webster regime had come to an end. This of course is simply my opinion. At the end of Webster’s term there were calls for Unity being made, however a dubious election was held and a “behind the scenes chess game” was still being played at the expense of the integrity of the committee. I believe Unity is like respect. It must be earned and that can only happen in an open, honest relationship. This, in my opinion, does not exist in the Maine GOP Committee today as I have witnessed in my attendance at meetings over the past year.

· The entire 2012 Maine convention was under the authority of Chairman Webster

· Delegates were chastised for supporting a different Republican candidate than the “Straw Poll” selection.

· Jan Staples initiated a legal contest against the Maine 2012 convention

· Jan Staples is not elected to any significant role for the national convention

· The national Chairman (or executive committee) would not seat the Maine delegation which was duly elected to attend the National Convention

· Jan Staples is made Assistant Secretary of the National convention.

· September state meeting: Jan Staples is censured by the state committee for bringing forward the challenge of the duly elected delegation.

· Chairman Cebra campaigned on Unity but there is negligible evidence of this to date

· People who were incompetent at the state convention are being rewarded with positions on the state committee such as Jan Love as Chair of the Credentials Committee is now Chair of the Finance Committee.

· The Chairman’s responsibility is to lead but at the direction of the state committee and have a working knowledge of standing committees. As evident at May’s meeting this is not the case with the important duty of the Budget Committee. Mr. Coleman, Budget Chair, has indicated that he no longer has the time to devote to his responsibilities. There was no comment by Chairman Cebra. Where is the leadership?

· A budget has not materialized (according to the rules it was due in March) and committee members have not been solicited to attend any meetings except Director Savage. Where is Chairman Cebra?

· Chairman Cebra did not advise the committeeman or woman that Jan Staples (who was a guest of another state) was going to be his proxy. The RNC rules state that a member can also be a proxy. Therefore Mark Willis or Ashley Ryan could have been his proxy as well as Eric Brakey and Bryan Daugherty who were also guest attendees. These attendees were well aware of the state committee’s intentions for voting.

· Chairman Cebra chose a censured nonmember of the state committee to represent Maine with “her opinion” as stated by Chairman Cebra at the May State Committee meeting. Her “opinion” was not the majority vote to pass Committeeman Willis’ resolution. Again the voice of the majority is blatantly disregarded.

· Chairman Cebra has consistently dodged questions by members, and rudely refuses to make eye contact with those who address him. This is not the face of a leader.

· Chairman Cebra refused to consult with the executive committee concerning the Penobscot voting irregularities when it was brought to his attention. Instead, he consulted a lawyer. There is discontent in all quarters.

While the leadership is dysfunctional, committee members are being pressured to raise funds for upcoming elections. How can this be accomplished without a budget? How can the leadership gain the trust of members when you can’t look them in the eye and all you show is complete disdain for the majority of the people you want to work for you?

Simple questions are not being answered which only brings up more questions. I cannot get the picture out of my mind when Chairman Cebra looked down at his podium when he said that Jan Staples, a woman who was censured by the Maine GOP, was voting as his proxy and voting her “opinion”. Sorry Mr. Cebra but this is unacceptable.

It is time that you step aside as Chairman. In the absence of compliance, I urge State Committee Members to involuntarily remove Mr. Cebra from office immediately.

With regards,
Kathleen M. Caso
Washington County Committee Member

Caso shows leadership in stepping forward to call for the Chairman’s removal. In the absence of his resignation, which is unlikely, the State Committee should replace him with someone capable of properly leading.

It’s time for the Maine Republican Party to reevaluate their leadership. If the State Committee fails to act, it’s time for every individual enrolled in the party to give serious thought into who it is they’re trusting to represent them. As Chairman, Rich Cebra is destroying the party worse than any Democrat could ever dream. Going into a critical election cycle in 2014 with Governor Paul LePage up for reelection, a self-destructive force cannot be leading the operation.

Step down Chairman Cebra. The movement has begun.

The problems continue though. The Maine Republican Party is currently operating in the absence of a budget, which is a clear violation of the bylaws.

Article VIII, Section 3(b) of the Maine Republican bylaws state:

“The Budget Committee shall recommend a two-year budget, to cover basic operations, to be presented to the State Committee for approval no later than March 31st of the year following a general election. The budget shall be reviewed with the State Committee quarterly. All basic operational expenses shall continue to be paid until a budget is approved.”

We are well into May now, over a month past the deadline, and nothing has been offered to the State Committee. What about March 31st does the Budget Committee not understand? And why is Chairman Cebra allowing this clear violation to stand? It does not take a mathematician to understand that this is slightly overdue. Perhaps Executive Director Jason Savage should hire one.

Article V, Section 5(c) states:

“The Executive Director shall hire all other paid personnel with the prior advice and consent of the Chairman. They shall be compensated based on the budget adopted by the State Committee.”

If the rules are being followed, than the Executive Director is hiring people with the consent of the Chairman. The problem is that the last sentence, the requirement that compensation be based on a budget adopted by the State Committee, is not being followed. Thus, it would appear that both the Executive Director and the Chairman are operating in clear violation of the rules.

Unless more rules are being broken.

When these issues were discussed on popular social networking website Twitter, Sagadahoc County Republican Chairman Kyle Rogers entered attack mode with some very interesting points.

First, it began with public attacks in response to tweets about this topic:

well let’s just say that non of your so called reporting is balanced. I guess you are just another bot.

so who is your puppet master Chris? Surly you don’t care enough about the MEGOP to ask all of these questions.

well Chris when you get released from your bindings come and see how the real world works.

you haven’t sought any answers. The only thing York want is to please your masters and destroy the GOP from within.

you got this information from the Treasurer or was it leaked to you by one of your masters?

When questions were repeatedly asked of Chairman Rogers, he was asked if I was wrong about the above points. He would then state I was wrong, and when asked about which part, the reply was:

all of the above. You and your masters will not be happy until the MEGOP is destroyed. Am I right?

After the name-calling and low blows ceased, Chairman Rogers echoed a claim offered to the State Committee: the previous budget remains in effect until the next one is passed. The only problem is, if this were true, the fact still remains a new one is required by the bylaws no later than March 31st. Given it is passed this date, the Maine Republican Party is now operating in violation of their own bylaws.

In addition to taking swipes at me for asking honest questions, Chairman Rogers also took aim at the State Committee:

well I am so happy you are displeased Chris. If the st. committee could get some work done things would be different

Here is the problem: the State Committee votes on the budget, but they cannot vote on the budget if it has not been presented to them. This is the responsibility of the Budget Committee and committee chairman Michael Coleman. Thus, perhaps what Chairman Rogers meant to say was that Coleman needs to actually get some work done.

The issue presents another crisis within the Maine Republican Party and the hypocrisy within leadership. The leadership was confronted at the May State Committee Meeting about this issue and gained nothing.

Budget Committee chairman Michael Coleman, also an Old Orchard Beach Town Councilor, had no budget in hand. The deadline remains passed. The Treasurer’s report was a mere bank statement, reflecting a negative balance.

Keeping in mind that the bank account is in the red, a budget doesn’t exist, and nobody at the top wants to talk, here are some interesting facts:

From the Maine Campaign Finance Q1 report:

*Executive Director Jason Savage has been paid for “consulting”, on two occasions. Both on February 26 and March 7, he was paid $1,200.

*Chairman Rich Cebra was paid $2,000 for “consulting” on February 22. He has also been paid salary on numerous occasions. Cebra was paid salary $1,720 on March 15th and 22nd.

The interesting thing about the Maine Republican Party chairman collecting a salary, is it’s unclear whether or not he is doing so with compliance to the bylaws.

Article V, Section 5(c) of the Maine Republican bylaws state:

The Treasurer and State Chairman may be paid such salary as the Executive Committee approves, and shall be the only officers of the State Committee with salary. Those members appointed to the Executive Committee by the Chairman shall not have a vote with respect to the salary for the Chairman.

When asked about the matter repeatedly, the refusal to answer continued. Thus the points were reiterated and Chairman Rogers returned for another series of attacks:

just as I thought. The tool twists all! Maybe that what his masters demand.

how does one offer an implication? Only the Tool knows!

The point was then clarified that when he declared these points above about the bylaws, the bank account, and salaries were wrong, the opposite was implied.

Chairman Rogers returned with:

let’s see, I’ll say it’s blue because I want you to say its red. Is that how the Tool does it?

I inferred no such thing. You again are wrong, now go watch punch & Judy and leave me alone.

then you in the typical Tool fashion twist what I say into what you wanted me to say.

I simply pointed out that your masters put you up to this so I don’t blame you for such ignorance.

enough of your foolishness and double-speak. Go crawl back under your rock.

Given all the public drama, and all the public attacks ending with how these legitimate points are merely “wild accusations”, one last question stood: Is this the official position of the Sagadahoc County Republican Chairman?

Kyle Rogers replied:

no it’s the position of the 1st CD Representative to the Exec Committee.

Thus, it is the official position of the Executive Committee representative of the First Congressional District, that:

*The claim that the budget does not exist is false, but the previous budget is extended until the new one is passed. The new budget is expected by the end of June. The bylaw which sets a March 31st deadline is irrelevant.

*The bank account figures given at the May State Committee meeting that showed the Maine Republican Party in the red is false. The Treasurer is a liar, implying he lacks dignity in his position.

*The Executive Committee voted to approve Chairman Rich Cebra’s salary and did so without a budget present.

The bylaws violations and the bizarre conduct of Kyle Rogers easily suggest this is more than innocent error on the part of the Maine Republican Party. After all, Chairman Cebra and Executive Director Savage would not clarify at the State Committee meeting who is on payroll and how much they are receiving. Why? Doesn’t their own State Committee have a right to know?

This issue should be of great concern to honest Maine Republicans who want a party of integrity. Questions should be asked, phone calls should be made to Maine Republican HQ. What is going on with the party operations? Why is the party in the red when a budget is over a month overdue?

Tim Lajoie ran against Democratic Party incumbent Margaret Rotundo in Maine House District #74, and lost in the general election. He also served as Lewiston City Republican Chairman until he resigned following the election.

I write this after several months of reflection. Since my defeat in the Maine House District 74 race to popular incumbent Margaret Rotundo—along with many other Republican candidates nationwide—I decided to take stock of what I represented as a registered Republican. Did the “R” next to my name represent certain values to the voter? Or did it identify me with something more sinister?

Before I answer that question it is imperative that I state that I believe there are two factions in the Republican Party: 1) the ordinary, middle-class Republicans who work hard, pay their bills and taxes, try to live honorable lives, and be a positive impact on their communities and 2) the suited upper class oligarchy that holds the reins at the national level, sets the national agenda, and demands unquestioned obedience from all registered Republicans.

It is important that this distinction be made, however upsetting it may be to the Republican Party officials who prop up this current system of leadership. The first faction is out using their time, treasure, and talents to promote a party they believe represents them…and fighting hard for those values the media gives them no credit for holding or defending. I had the pleasure of working alongside these folks during the election.

They are the real strength of the party, but their efforts are sullied by the actions of their national leaders who act without principle and pay no attention to the platforms adopted by these folks at the state, county, and municipal levels. These platforms are important and they represent solid middle-class values. They serve to express what is important to rank and file Republicans. The rank and file Republicans are supposed to drive the agenda at the national level. They are the boots on the ground. They are the ones talking about their concerns in coffee shops, town meetings, and at family BBQ’s.

The second faction is an entrenched elite group which has no interest in hearing the opinions or priorities of the people they profess to represent…the aforementioned rank and file. Their attitude is seemingly summed up thusly, “This is the national agenda, this is our candidate, now shut up and get in line. We don’t care what you want. We know what this party needs; what you want cannot win.”

It is not that their agenda prevailed after open debate that angers me. It is their force-feeding of their agenda to the rest of us without debate and their abject refusal to allow other opinions to be debated alongside theirs that angers me. It was the abject refusal to let duly elected state delegates who supported other candidates attend or express themselves at the national convention. Their arrogance is infuriating.

It is very clear, especially if you are a Republican candidate, that if you do not follow this line of thinking, you will have no future in the Republican Party. I was informed that were I to be elected, I would be expected to toe the line, vote with the party, and leave my convictions at the door. Fortunately, fate lent a hand and I was not elected this past November. The experience, however, was cathartic…and revealing.

The national Republican Party oligarchy, by their strong-arm tactics this past year, issued an ultimatum, in my opinion, to all Republicans everywhere. “We will set the agenda, we will choose the candidates, and you will get in line or be exiled from the party.” Since I do not do well with ultimatums, I walked away with my dignity intact. I will not be a sellout to my values. I will not trade my values for political power. Period.

This schism in the Republican Party is due to failed leadership. Leadership 101 requires inspiring people to enlist in the vision, to feel they are a part of it, and to contribute their resources to accomplishing it. The national leadership in the Republican Party has failed at the fountainhead—they have not enlisted the grass-roots Republicans in the vision and grass-roots Republicans do not feel like they are a part of it. Yet, the party establishment still feels entitled to their resources of time, money, and votes just the same.

I am no fan of the liberal Democratic agenda—let me make that clear—but I detest intra-party political manipulation more than extra-party political manipulation. At its very core, it is hypocrisy. I further detest the deliberate attempts by the national Republican party to stifle the grass-roots efforts that have cropped up the last two or three years. If rank and file and grassroots Republicans were happy with the direction of the national party, they would not be seeking to change it—a fact seemingly lost on the national party leaders.

Further, if rank and file Republicans feel their party is no longer representing them, it is their RIGHT to change it. Heck, Jefferson wrote about that in the Declaration of Independence. The national party apparatus, however, will have none of that. They will assemble a team of lawyers to prevent it, as seen in Maine last year with the Ron Paul delegates. If the national Republican Party were interested in strengthening itself, it would listen to these people, not suppress their voice through a myriad of parliamentary and lawyer tricks.

Let’s be frank. The issue was not Ron Paul—this was not a cult of personality movement as national Republican leaders and pundits suggest. The issue was a fundamental difference in ideology and the confrontation has been brewing since George Bush the 1st. I told a House member on the convention floor in May of 2012 that I was concerned the party was moving too far to the middle. I wanted to have my say at the convention. “But your guy lost,” he said, “you need to get behind Mitt.”

His implication, of course, was that I supporting an individual—in this case Ron Paul—but I wasn’t. I was supporting Ron Paul’s message of restoring our government to its original Constitutional parameters, one that emphasized the importance of the Bill of Rights to all Americans and reminded us that the power of government resides in the people. It never much mattered to me who held those views…but it was clear to me Ron Paul was the only one who held them.

I did not agree with every position Ron Paul held as he exercised his 1st Amendment right and anyone who knows me will tell you I was a very reluctant Ron Paul supporter. But I agreed whole-heartedly with his right to hold them, however much I disagreed with him on some issues. And I further agreed that government intrusion into the lives of everyday Americans had gone too far and needed to restrained—from overreaching Democrat, Republican, or whoever else government officials. There needed to be a concerted effort to return government to the people…as Abraham Lincoln had said.

“My guy” may have lost. But, to correct a common misconception, it was not the “guy” that I was supporting; it was the principle of limited Constitutional government that he fought for. Those live on. Those values are what I will continue to fight for; those values I will be true to. It is the national Republican Party’s abandonment of those principles that compelled my exit from the party.

Some of my friends in the Republican Party have chosen to stay and fight to right the Party’s direction. I respect their decision, even though I disagree with it, and do not think less of them because of it. It is my belief that the Republican Party—as embodied in its national leadership—has placed those it represents between conflicting priorities: party and values. Seemingly, Republicans everywhere must make a choice. Do I fight for my values or fight for the party that professes to represent my values, but chooses not to take a stand for them? I chose the former.

PAST ARTICLES ABOUT TIM LAJOIE:
10.13.12: “The Lajoie Campaign Standard”
11.20.12: “The High Road In Politics: Principles Over Party”
11.09.12:”Lewiston Republican Chair To Resign Over Conflict In Principles“

The Penobscotgate plot has indeed thickened. With the Maine Republican Party chairman threatening his State Committee with lawyers and only “non-binding” investigations arising from a significant controversy, more revelations continue to come to light and the Republican Party is further damaged.

The Maine Republican Party is reassuring itself that the issue is going to be addressed, yet the investigation will be “non-binding.” Essentially, denial needs a smokescreen.

Unfortunately, those “leaders” of the Maine Republican Party have little concern for others within their own entity. While Chairman Rich Cebra uses his internal memos to describe how he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, over and over again, and uses that to defend the refusal to touch what happened in Penobscot.

According to Michelle Anderson in her resignation letter, Chairman Cebra refused to remain at the Penobscot County Republican meeting for the elections after he spoke despite the fact that he was aware of the fact that non-voting Republicans would be voting illegally.

It’s all about him. And his good name.

Ken Anderson has had his good name sullied, all because he appealed an election that was full of irregularities. Although he attempted to work within the party and keep this issue out of the public eye, the Party declared open war on him.

Now? The war is led to an investigation of his good name. Various members of the State Committee are being critical of Ken Anderson’s participation in the Constitution Party following his departure.

Why do they care? Anderson was “unaffected” by their elections, a result they neglected to inform him, thus essentially being thrown away by his own leadership. He left the Republican Party because it didn’t want him.

It is important enough however, where the Executive Director is investigating him on the Internet. “I went and checked the google cache of the Constitution party to see when Ken Anderson’s involvement with them began,” Jason Savage told the State Committee. “Google cache is an interesting tool that lets you go back and review websites to see how they appeared previously”

Savage then goes on to provide a link and declare Ken Anderson has been lying about when he joined the Constitution Party.

If the Maine Republican Party wants to start launching investigations into unrecognized third party participation, they might look within their own State Committee. There is at least one member who has been affiliated with an unsavory organization in their past. Perhaps the Executive Director should keep doing his own homework on his own team.

Yet, Anderson is not the only one who has been hurt by this ongoing controversy. Bryan Daugherty was viciously attacked by Chairman Cebra in his second memo to the State Committee, for simply doing as Anderson did.

As much as the Republican Party claims they want to not air their dirty laundry publicly and want to work on their problems internally, they treat their members with extreme disrespect when they dare question problems. They are degraded, because questions apparently help the liberal agenda. Furthermore, the Reagan line about not attacking fellow Republicans is frequently utilized. Ironically.

Daugherty has helped town and county committees enter the twenty-first century by launching websites and a social media presence. Being a viable force on the Internet is where the Republican Party lacks, and this man was helping make that happen.

Until he lost an election that has legitimate questions surrounding it, which the Maine Republican Party has refused to address. For simply filing an appeal and attempting to handle this problem within, the State Chairman unleashed on him.

Both individuals tried to work within the system. Instead of going through the Executive Committee and attempting to find resolution to the matter properly, Chairman Cebra ran to a lawyer.

The lawyer is William “Bill” Logan. Former Maine Republican Party Treasurer Bill Logan works for the law firm of former House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, who served with Chairman Cebra in the State House.

Why did Chairman Cebra run to the former Party Treasurer for two legal decisions?

Rule 23 (a) of the Maine Republican Party bylaws states:

The Republican State Party may, upon a decision of the Executive Committee, exercise jurisdiction over controversies between and among members of any county committee or municipal committee when such controversy affects the interests of the party as a whole or the rights of any member of the party to participate in its affairs.

The Executive Committee was not consulted, as noted by Chairman Cebra.

Yet, Article VIII, section C lists the duties of the Executive Committee. Article VIII, Section 1, Subsection C (1) of the Maine Republican Party bylaws states that one of the duties of the Executive Committee is “Advising the State Chairman in all matters.” One would assume that appeals would be included in “all matters.”

So why wasn’t the Executive Committee allowed to advise Chairman Cebra on the issue?

It’s unfortunate, because the lingering issue in Penobscot continues to unfold as the Maine Republican Party refuses to take serious action. A “non-binding” report is not serious, it is a smokescreen. Good people like Ken Anderson and Bryan Daugherty are being smeared. Worse, it casts leaders like Traci Gauthier in a negative light merely by association.

Gauthier was the Penobscot County Chair at the time of the elections and has the respect of Penobscot Republicans. She is a hard worker, who unified people and led by excellent example.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Traci and do not believe that she acted with any ill intentions. She has always been very respectful, inclusive and I still consider her a friend,” Bryan Daugherty said of Gauthier. “From my perspective, the rules are what binds us all together and attempts to make a level playing field out of what can be at times a very unfair game. Obviously, there were those who sought to disregard the rules to tilt the field to their favor – I can honestly say, I do not believe that ever to be Traci’s intention. However, I cannot say the same for some of the others that worked to facilitate an illegal suspension of the bylaws in order to ‘right the wrong of the 2012 state convention’. To dismiss that one is either being blind or complicit.”

Maria Hodge, a Penobscot Republican who attempted to monitor the vote, added “I did in fact try to observe the vote of the Penobscot GOP Election of Chair and Traci told me that she was there to observe and I could sit down which I was ok with because I fully trust in Traci and that she would NEVER allow any shenanigans to occur.”

“I believe that she took advice from two people who had personal political agendas,” Michelle Anderson, former Penobscot County State Committeewoman, said of Gauthier. “She had every reason to trust those people. One was Larry Willey, a member of the County Committee who is lawyer, former mayor of Bangor, and the de facto parliamentarian for several years. The other was Lois Bloomer, long-time member of the Committee, former County Chair, and member of the Rules Committee. She, in fact, was responsible for the VERY County Bylaws which are at issue here.”

Clearly, the consensus is that Gauthier is a woman of integrity. She acted in the best interests of the Republican Party and the activists who elected her to lead them.

But the implied disrespect by a State leadership that continues to ignore this matter is very revealing. It’s threatening to damage Gauthier just as it has Daugherty and Anderson. This is wrong and terrible, as all are good, honest individuals.

When will the Maine Republican Party stand up for what is right? Or at the very least, when will it cease the disrespect of one of their strongest leaders?

Before this issue went public, Julie Morgan resigned the State Committee over the irregularities. Whether or not outright fraud was committed in Penobscot is another debate, but the continued resistance of the Maine Republican Party in addressing the matter gives the appearance of something dark at work.

Now Morgan is no longer the only one who has left in protest. Bryan Daugherty, who lost the election in question, and Michelle Anderson have resigned. Both submitted resignation letters that had some telling information.

Daugherty’s resignation letter makes note of what he’s done in his 18+ years in the Republican Party, which includes serving as municipal delegation chair, state delegate, national delegate, Penobscot County State Committeeman, Penobscot County Rules and Procedures Committee chairman, and Republican Liberty Caucus board member.

If there’s one area where the Maine Republican Party has always lacked, it’s a presence in the twenty-first century. Using his web development and social media skills, he developed a web and social media presence for the Bangor Republican Party, as well as for Penobscot and Washington County. He’s also helped do the same for various Republican organizations and candidates.

Instead of embracing the ambition and talent of Daugherty however, the Maine Republican Party opted to drive him from the party with their dirty tactics. These internal issues he has experienced first hand, not only as a member of Penobscot, but also as a National Delegate last election cycle.

“If the past year is any indicator of the future of the Republican party, both here in Maine and nationally, I am afraid to say that it doesn’t look good,” Daugherty told Undercover Porcupine. “Outside of the party hemorrhaging membership, those at the very top, including the GOP and RNC consultants, have decided that the only way to compete with the Democrats is to take up their most unsavory practices and become them.”

Daugherty also ran Maine National Committeeman Mark Willis’s campaign for RNC chair in January. With this campaign, a number of these issues at the RNC were raised, and predictably ignored.

“As I discovered first-hand in Tampa as a National Delegate, the Republican Party will go to any lengths to stifle the voices of party members who do not agree with their decisions,” Daugherty continued. “From replacing duly-elected delegates including veterans for no better reason than that those delegates did not support ‘leadership’s’ pre-determined candidate to illegally adopting rules that continue to disenfranchise the grassroots of the Republican Party.”

Twice, he was affected by elections being fixed for leadership’s pre-determined candidate, although by Maine Republican Party standards, he wasn’t “affected” by the delegation mess in the primaries.

The future of the Republican Party has been a lingering question in politics, both nationally and in Maine. With RNC chairman Reince Priebus burning the grassroots, as well as former Maine Republican Party chairman Charlie Webster doing the same, a civil war was declared within the party that has even driven some people from the party in disgust.

What does the future of the party hold? It’s a question even Daugherty wonders.

“At face value, there will always be a ‘Republican’ Party. The question really is this: ‘What will that party stand for, and will it ever be competitive again?”

It’s all a question of leadership, which seems to be lacking. Michelle Anderson, who also resigned from State Committee, also submitted a resignation letter. She also spoke to Undercover Porcupine about the issue.

“The facts are that Rich Cebra knew about the corrupt election which was going to happen in Penobscot and when I begged him to stay after his speech to ensure that it was not able to happen, he said to me, ‘Leave me out of it.’ I was dismayed,” Anderson said. “After it happened, I called and asked for his help. Rich Cebra said it was not his concern. I was disturbed.”

Anderson’s husband, Ken, filed the original appeal that was rejected on the grounds that he supposedly was “unaffected.”

“When my husband, a duly-elected voting member of the County Committee followed the rules and filed an appeal, Rich Cebra and his lawyer decreed that he was ‘not an affected person.’ I was disgusted,” Michelle Anderson continued. “And when Bryan Daugherty, who Rich Cebra would recognize as ‘an affected person,’ appealed the on-going breach of the bylaws — which per Roberts Rules of Order has no time limit — Rich Cebra promised ‘a non-binding report’ by a panel he will appoint, and there would be no remedies but rather they will try to figure out how to keep it from happening in the future.”

It was becoming clear that nothing was going to change. “At that point, I reached my corruption threshold and had no choice but to follow my conscience and resign and leave the party.”

With Daugherty and Anderson leaving the party, Ken Anderson has also revealed he is leaving as well, also in protest of the actions. “Over the past couple of months, a lot of words have been said on both sides about what occurred during the Penobscot County Committee election, but the facts that some would like to obscure are simple: There were fewer than fifty people eligible to vote in that election and more than seventy votes were cast,” Anderson told Undercover Porcupine. “Everything else is intended only to distract. If it is necessary to use the tactics of Acorn to win an election in the Republican Party, I will be pleased to extract myself from that cesspool.”

Now three members of the Penobscot County Republican Party have left, joining former State Committeewoman Julie Morgan who resigned in protest of this after the elections occurred.

As far as the future goes, all three have committed to remaining active in Maine’s future and helping advance the liberty movement in Maine politics.

“I plan to remain quite active in the Maine politics, and at this time, free from the association of any party,” Daugherty replied, when asked about his post-Republican Party days in politics. “I have met some very amazing individuals that are quite active along this journey and plan to make sure that the liberty movement reaches is true potential — which I might add is much larger than the “Grand Ole Party.”

Michelle Anderson adds: “I will remain active in Maine politics, specifically trying to form coalitions of unenrolled, third or unrecognized party members, and those who simply wish to find candidates with integrity.”

If this is any indication of the future, the failed leadership in the Maine Republican Party will lead to more people leaving and choosing principles before party.

Could this be the moment in time when the Republicans take a seat in history next to the Whigs? Only time will tell.

Since this controversy began, there has been a growing battle within the party over the next course of action. Penobscot County Republican Ken Anderson filed an appeal of the election and was told he was “unaffected”, thus unable to appeal.

Since, two internal memos to the State Committee from Maine Republican Party Chairman Rich Cebra have been sent out.

The first memo is in response to the controversy surrounding Penobscot and Ken Anderson’s rejected appeal. Chairman Rich Cebra makes mention of a great deal of personal time spent on the issue, but never mentioning consultation of the executive committee, thus implying he is working outside of party channels.

Regarding the Penobscot County controversy.

I have spent over 28 hours on this issue, I have sought legal counsel and spent hours researching and discussing this issue not to mention the time that legal counsel and our executive director have spent on the issue.

I wish to emphasize, I have spent the last decade involved with the Republican Party in Maine and I have diligently and forthrightly dealt with every issue I have had come before me. I have an exemplary record of legislative service as well as 2 years of outstanding county chairman history, all built on my good name, loyalty and character based on my dedication to our party and our cause. This is an underlying basis for the governor asking me to consider running for state party chair over a year ago.

Be advised, I am no longer an elected public official, any accusations of corruption directed toward me or sullying my good name will not be ignored and I will refer any and all such slanderous comments to my attorney.

I implore those who engage in such dialogue to end these divisive personal attacks now, and to cease in any attempts to undermine the State Committee and allow the State Committee to continue moving the Maine Republican Party forward.

I have spent a great deal of time working as Chairman of the party since January 1, keeping track of hours in my day-timer during the weeks since then, I have worked 34, 70.5, 74.5, 79.5, 29, 55.5, 71, 61.5, 47.5 & 58 hours a week.

We have made tremendous strides in several key areas to strengthen the Maine GOP and I invite every Republican who is willing to join the effort in Maine to get on board and move this party forward. I invite every person who wishes to spread division and discontent, while harboring no intention to work productively to advance the cause of the Maine GOP, to kindly search for another avenue for your derision, we have work to do and your distractions are not welcome here.

In the end, all that any of us have is our good name.

As an individual, and as a party, I would hope that none of us would seek to tarnish the good names of those who we work side-by-side with to advance our core beliefs.

I believe – no – I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we can do better.

R.M. Cebra

After Anderson’s appeal was rejected, the only “affected” party submitted a new appeal. Bryan Daugherty, who lost the election in question, filed an appeal that Chairman Cebra recently responded to in the letter below. In this letter, which was sent out to State Committee, the Chairman has some rather harsh and critical things to say about those who disagree with him.

Members of the Maine Republican Party State Committee,
Please find the attached memoranda concerning Mr. Bryan Daugherty’s March 9, 2013 letter requesting appeal of the January 17, 2013 Penobscot County Republican Committee election of officers.

I write to you today with deep concern for the controversy that has surrounded the Penobscot County election. Since January 17, 2013, our party has become one that is consumed with intrigue, mistrust, and an undercurrent of malice toward others within our Party who do not share our every opinion and belief.

This is no way for a party, especially one that values honesty, transparency, a belief in the ability of the people to manage their own affairs and a strong faith in self-governance, to operate.

Because of this controversy, I will take this opportunity to address a number of things before continuing on to describe the actions the party is prepared to take.

1. The Maine Republican Party has worked diligently to operate within the Rules and By-Laws of the Party.
While doing so, and doing so with complete and absolute respect for those embroiled in this controversy, the Maine Republican Party has been publicly accused of fraud, derogatory comments have been made about the Party and Party Leadership, the motives of Party Leadership have been questioned and threats of continued strife within the party have been made. During all this, out of respect for those involved in this controversy, the party remained silent, avoiding the inappropriate rhetorical combat and divisive attacks so many have participated in.

The Party did this, not due to a lack of ability to defend itself or it’s actions, but out of respect for the reputation of the party, and as an act of good faith to those involved in this controversy and the many hundreds of people who have spent years investing their time, energy, and money into this party.

2. The Maine Republican Party is not afraid of the truth. However, we must arrive at it in accordance with the rules and by-laws that govern our party.

It is discouraging to receive appeals that the party cannot act upon because they are filed by prospective appellants who lack standing; arrive past the time frame for appeals to be properly acted upon; misunderstand our rules and by-laws, or make interpretations of our rules and by-laws based on narrow readings of only one rule or one section while ignoring the Rules and By-laws that specifically provide guidance on the particular controversy in question.

Further, and perhaps the most discouraging aspect of this practice, is that prospective appellants who file such appeals, which the Party cannot properly act upon, stand by as the Maine Republican Party is publicly eviscerated without seeming to even once go back and reconsider that their interpretation of the Rules and By-laws could be incorrect.

Instead, the Party and Party Leadership are tried and convicted in the court of public opinion while we do the right and proper thing and remain silent.

Our party can do better than this. We must do better than this.

3. The Maine Republican Party must not allow political intrigue, rather than integrity, honesty and transparency, to set the tone and determine the future of our party.

The Penobscot County election controversy has strained relationships and called into question, without any proof, the integrity of individuals who have made valuable contributions to our party and state.

For all the rhetoric about inclusiveness, fairness and integrity, this controversy has put the Maine Republican Party on the edge of appearing as a party where tribal factions wage wars of attrition against one another – and where the victor is the one that drives off all others, leaving them the spoils of a Party structure that is just a fraction of the strength that it could be.

Are we all not better than to treat this party, the party that carries the weight of our children’s futures, with a ‘destroy the village in order to save it’ approach?

In future battles, in the 2014 election and beyond, would our children and grandchildren be better served by a party full of diverse, but cooperative and well-intentioned individuals working together to combat the creeping statism that surrounds us, or will they be better served if our party is a small, fractured group fighting over possession of the carcass of a party that once stood for limited, Constitutional government, individual liberty, free enterprise and personal responsibility?

I for one refuse to allow this party to descend into that chaos. Our great state, our children and our grandchildren deserve better.

Tribes lose battles but armies win wars. This is why it is so critical for our party, especially in times of controversy or disagreement, to maintain a level of civility and respect for one another.

As State Party Chairman, I understand that the majority of our members come to our party with the best of intentions. It is not my job to take punitive measures against these members. It is not my job to publicly criticize them. If anything, it is my job, in partnership with our team, to show them a better way. To show them the good in others, and to guide them to resolutions that avoid the controversy and strife that so often captures us.

But, there are also those who would intentionally use any such controversy to divide this party for their own sundry motives. To those with ill-intent and those who stir controversy for the sake of controversy, make no mistake – we will meet your aggression head on. The Maine Republican Party is not a place for soap opera-style intrigue, for malicious attacks on the character of good people or for wars of attrition against honest volunteers who serve in thankless positions for endless hours trying to make our party a better servant of the people, and our state a better place to live and raise a family.

4. As Chairman of the Maine Republican Party, I believe in inclusiveness, and I will stand by my belief in inclusiveness through any and all challenges.

Do not forget, I have taken strong, principled stands to ensure the voices of various segments of our party will be heard. I will do the same for as long as I am in a position to do so.

But, regarding the Penobscot County election controversy, I have felt a troubling shift in the winds. Our battles up until now have centered around ensuring that as many Republicans as possible were allowed to participate, but the spirit of the controversy in Penobscot County seems to be just the opposite. The controversy in Penobscot County is entirely centered upon the ability of some to prevent others from participating.

While I would like to believe that all Republicans would take action to ensure all who could, were allowed to participate, one side has now seemingly taken up the banner of exclusion, disenfranchisement and pay-to-vote principles – and the supporters of this argument fire accusatory arrows of fraud and corruption at those who disagree. Certainly, we should expect our fellow Republicans to be civil as this matter is sorted out, and not sink to the lowest of accusations almost immediately.

While I cannot speak to the very technical question of who is in the right, or wrong, on the particulars of this issue without further investigation, I will say that, in spirit, I am troubled to believe that members of our party could stand by and allow exclusion, disenfranchisement, and pay-to-vote rhetorically to take a moral high ground to the point where those who acted in good faith to do differently can be accused of such heinous acts as fraud and corruption.

I do not believe this spirit and path is the proper one for our party. I will not stand for the spirit of our party being such that some Republicans are forced to stand by in fear of defamatory accusations of fraud and corruption while those who have seized the false moral high ground of exclusion and disenfranchisement drive away and alienate our members for purposes I cannot even begin to comprehend.

I thank you for taking the time to read and consider my thoughts on this matter, and now it is time to move on to describe to you what actions the Maine Republican Party will be taking.

First, I will describe to you what the Party sees as necessary to bring this controversy to a resolution adequate to reasonable people.

• A thorough and complete investigation into the January 17, 2013 Penobscot County Republican Committee election of officers, which may include, but is not limited to: any and all points raised by the several parties that have communicated either directly to the party or publicly across various media on the matter; questions surrounding the controversy that may be raised by the Maine Republican Party Chair; questions surrounding the controversy that may be raised by the recently departed Penobscot County Republican Chair; questions surrounding the controversy that may be raised by the current Penobscot County Republican Chair; questions surrounding the controversy that may be raised by the unsuccessful candidate for Penobscot County Chair on the election of January 17, 2013.

• An opportunity for all interested parties to make their case to the investigatory panel. These interested parties may include members of the Penobscot County Republican Committee, recently departed Penobscot County Republican Committee Leadership and members of the Maine Republican Party State Committee and Maine Republican Party Executive Committee. At a time in the near future, the Chairman will issue instructions to all interested parties as to the proper manner in which they can submit their testimony.

• A thorough and complete report of the findings of the investigation to be presented to the state committee in executive session no later than 60 days after the investigation is concluded.

• A thorough and complete review of the Penobscot County Rules and By-laws to be followed by recommendations and reforms to protect from the possibility of future controversies of a similar nature and to provide guidance to the current Chairperson as to the proper administration of Penobscot County Republican Committee business. The Chair will instruct the Maine Republican Party Rules and By-laws committee to assist the Penobscot County Republican Committee in whatever manner necessary to assist the County Committee in achieving this goal.
The Chairman will instruct a panel, appointed to serve at his pleasure, to conduct this investigation.
The panel may include members of the Maine Republican Party Executive Committee and Maine Republican Party State Committee who have not demonstrated a strong inclination to support either side of this controversy; who do not hail from the affected county; and who have not participated in any manner, either real or perceived, as agents of either of the prospective appellants to this controversy.

This panel will conduct a thorough, complete investigation into this controversy and will issue a non-binding report of its findings. These findings will be final, and the Maine Republican Party will take no further action regarding additional investigation, administrative actions or any other action other than those prescribed by the aforementioned directive to review and suggest reforms to the Penobscot County Republican Committee Rules and By-laws.

Additionally, with this notice, the Maine Republican Party will not entertain or answer any further appeals regarding the January 17, 2013 Penobscot County Republican Committee election of officers

It is unclear what the future holds for the Republican Party. But these two internal memos are very revealing. With everything that is unfolding, it is clear resolution is still nowhere in sight.

What will the future of the Maine Republican Party hold?

Nobody wanted to return to the chaos.

2012 was hell for Republicans. The caucus was a disaster. Dirty tricks abroad and a complete mishandling of the controversial straw poll vote led to the beginning of a year long civil war within. Washington County’s phantom snow storm and the hungry spam filter at Party HQ consuming Waldo County votes were two of the major issues.

This was only the beginning.

The real showdown was the State Convention, where those wronged by the establishment would face the country club leaders again. Dirty trick after dirty trick dragged out the process and made for a real headache. David Sorensen, who Webster would later reward with the position of Communications Director, was not only spreading fake slates, but also nominating people without their permission in order to divide the Ron Paul vote.

The end result was the Ron Paul supporters winning, and Charlie Webster pledging his support to the duly elected delegation. He pledged to fight for them to be seated at the Republican National Convention.

As noted early on in “The Penobscot Heist”, talk is cheap.

When sore loser and exiting National Committeewoman Jan Staples joined with failed gubernatorial candidate and Mitt Romney campaign Maine chairman Peter Cianchette to challenge the delegation, the war restarted. Any promise or hope of unity for the general election was destroyed.

Webster failed to fight for the delegation. Beyond that, he would do the same thing the Ron Paul national campaign was secretly trying to do as well: convince the delegation to accept the RNC compromise deal.

The general election was, in every respect, a disaster. A U.S. Senate seat went to Maine’s most well known liberal Independent, or “Dem-dependent”, Angus King. Also, the majorities in both houses of the Maine Legislature were lost. Jon Courtney and Kevin Raye were beaten, and Mitt Romney demolished.

This is what happens when you divide your base.

Imagine everyone’s surprise when it appeared the Maine Republican Party had not learned a single lesson in 2012 beyond learning it needed to do a better job protecting the country club.

The Penobscot County Republican Party had its elections for various positions, including County Chair. Bryan Daugherty, a respected leader of the grassroots and a master of new media, was defeated in a rigged vote. Although unclear who orchestrated the master plan, it is clear that something smelt bad.

Penobscot Republican Ken Anderson, husband of Penobscot Count State Committeewoman Michelle Anderson, filed an appeal with the Maine Republican Party of the election. Over the course of five pages, he detailed a number of irregularities and issues that clearly show the election was invalid. His request was simply to hold a fair election.

Is that really a difficult request for the anti-voter fraud crusaders?

Apparently, it is.

Instead of following through with the integrity that Cebra was sold to Republicans on, the tactics of his predecessor were used. Hiding behind lawyers and running a top-down dictatorship lacking any real transparency, the Maine Republican Party got Webstered again.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be though. Governor Paul LePage, who strongly disliked Webster (and the feeling was mutual), endorsed former State Representative Rich Cebra and helped advance the marketing strategy. The future would be open, inclusive, and positive. With the support of the Governor, the last remaining unifying force, who would question this?

The appeal of Ken Anderson was rejected. It wasn’t rejected because it was found the election was valid after Chairman Cebra assembled a panel on the State Committee to investigate the matter. This didn’t happen.

Anderson was “unaffected.” A man who attends the meetings, pays the dues as required by by-laws, and is active, is “unaffected” by having his hard work degraded by the inclusion of those who do not.

With a legal opinion and a letter from Rich Cebra, the State Committee was informed that they would just ignore the entire thing. It doesn’t matter. Integrity is still unwelcome in the party.

Bipartisanship is now defined as the Maine Republican Party joining Democratic President Barack Obama in supporting the conversion of illegal individuals to legal, without honoring legal processes, and giving them votes despite the lack of respect for the law. Worse, there is a general agreement that any review of the matter is wrong.

For all the hard work Republicans do to ensure conservative principles can be the governing force and help restore America, they are still being abused by the leaders. The focus is not honest elections and uniting the party, but destroying within in the name of protecting the country club mentality at the top.

The worst part?

Every Republican can be sure that Charlie Webster is sitting somewhere smiling as the party burns, because it’s everything he wants. Webster’s plan, as noted in “Charlie Webster’s Last Stand“, is to watch the flames spread and return in 2014 with the restoration plan.

The silence of Governor LePage as Chairman Cebra fulfills the plan for 2014 is interesting. What exactly is going on at the top of the party? Why is Governor LePage enabling the destruction of his own re-election campaign? Or worse, why is Governor LePage enabling the rise of the one person within the party he despises most?

Prepare for it. Charlie Webster is coming back. Everything is lining up for the dark return.

In the end, he was declared “not an affected person,” and thus his appeal is invalid.


After a year of chaos ended in massive failure for the Republican Party, it appears that lessons have not been learned. The legacy of coverups and corruption appears not to be restricted to just the Charlie Webster era. After calling in the legal cavalry, the leadership acted more like a dictatorship silencing dissent.

Such a power grab is, however, a dangerous gamble with Governor LePage’s re-election on the line. But perhaps the Governor will be a price the Maine Republican Party is willing to pay to protect the country club.

THE ELECTION: THE “UNAFFECTED” VERSUS THE ILLEGALS



The election, as noted in “The Penobscot Heist: When Republicans Play Like Democrats”, was about as rigged as carnival game booth. To clarify the title, it was indeed a heist. The Republican establishment utilized the tactics of ACORN to turn out illegal votes by non-voting members in order to steal the election. For all the accusations made about Democrats turning out illegal voters and the jokes about voting early and often, the Republicans have become the embodiment of such statements.

It is not clear whether Bryan Daugherty may have won had the election been fair, given the wide range of irregularities. The situation is that uncertain. Regardless, it is unfair to not only Daugherty, but all Penobscot Republicans to disallow a fair election for leadership positions.

It was also clear to every legal member who showed up that evening that something was not right.

Maine Republican Party Chairman Rich Cebra was present for the meeting prior to the election to deliver his unity speech. After he was done, he took off for the door. Penobscot County Committeewoman Michelle Anderson had called Cebra days before the election and pleaded with him to remain for the election, making him aware that the bylaws were going to be ignored and that non-voting members would be attempting to vote.

He didn’t want to hear it. He asked her not to involve him. Cebra finished his speech and headed for the door, much the way he later did with the appeal itself, wanting to avoid controversy and pretend it didn’t exist.

After the leader of the Maine Republican Party made a successful escape, the scam went live. Illegal votes were being cast and proxies were being mishandled, amounting to total chaos. It was a shame that the State Party didn’t station any ballot challengers in Penobscot like they did across the state in November.

As noted in Ken Anderson’s appeal, legal Penobscot County Committee voting member Republican Maria Hodge attempted to monitor the vote count. The request was repeatedly denied. According to Hodge, she was told that the situation was under control.

Well, the Penobscot County Republican elections were about as “under control” as an Iranian presidential election. If your name is Ahmadinejad, then you agree that nothing wrong happened there that day. But Republicans have all been led to believe that the Iranian President is evil and that this issue is of the many reasons why Iran is bad.

The day after the election, Julie Morgan resigned from the State Committee over the situation.  At least three others have indicated privately that they are considering doing the same, as the party that claims to be that of integrity, is proving to be anything but.

UNDER THE RUG: TO SILENCE THE “UNAFFECTED”

One cannot be sure what the intent was behind the Maine Republican Party refusing to even acknowledge that something went wrong. Credit has to be given to the top for delaying a response until the last possible minute, however, preventing anyone from filing another appeal.



The issue must be dead. Chalk up a victory for top-down rule.

Surely, everyone knows the “unaffected” better than that.

Despite the cancellation of the March State Committee meeting, word started to spread. The world of social media helped the word spread and members became informed that something was wrong. After all, you can’t mask a bad smell.

When word got out to those on State Committee, who would not be seeing each other for two months, it became increasingly clear that transparency was still an issue within the Maine Republican Party.

After it was revealed a prior to the article going live that Undercover Porcupine would be addressing this issue, it was pointed out that pursuant to Maine Republican Party bylaws, Chairman Cebra still had time to act. This was a few weeks after the filing.

Just how much time does one need to do the honorable thing and make the right call, by assembling a five person panel to properly address the situation with a thorough investigation?

The question is void if your intent is to assemble a shield of lawyers and hide from the situation, which is exactly what happened.

BLOWBACK: THE FAILED OPPRESSION OF THE “UNAFFECTED”

Since day one, the response from the Maine Republican Party has been insulting. When word went public that “The Penobscot Heist” was coming, Chairman Richard Cebra wasted no time axing a number of people, including myself, from his “friends list” on Facebook. Despite Undercover Porcupine heavily promoting the former State Representative’s campaign for the chairmanship, the deleting began.

It didn’t stop there however. Ken Anderson was deleted as a Facebook friend, as was his wife and Penobscot County State Committeewoman Michelle Anderson. The State Chairman began cutting people off, including members of the State Committee.



Such a thin skin for a tough game like politics.

Outrage began to brew, and the excuse began to circulate straight from the top that this was a part of the social media strategy and that a new fan page had been created for the Chairman and he would begin removing friends to convert his page to a personal account.

The timing was interesting. Although two hundred people were removed, several hundred still remained, many of which were political friends. Even Eric Brakey, the Defense of Liberty PAC chairman and former Ron Paul Presidential Campaign State Director who angered Cebra for the rumors spread about him, still remains a friend.

This, along with many other examples, contradict the official damage control attempt by the Maine Republican Party.

It was clear before “The Penobscot Heist” was even written that there would be no negotiation, no steps toward a peaceful conclusion. There would be no resolution. Everything would be done with aggression.

Even though the regime changed, the form of governance still hadn’t.

A leader’s role is to unite and move forward. The major selling point of Rich Cebra’s campaign for the chairmanship was his ability to unite. His proven leadership capabilities in the Legislature had made the case easily. Many people, after the divisive reign of Charlie Webster, were sold.

But there is no unity here.

Ken Anderson’s appeal was an honest attempt to handle the situation internally, without publicly making a scene, and to do so through the proper channels. The Maine Republican Party leadership was not interested.

Given the fact that the party is full of independent-minded conservatives and libertarians, it was quite naive for the party leadership to believe this problem would go away. Now it’s out of control, in the public eye, and dividing the party.

People are outraged by the Chairman and are unenrolling, further hurting the party going into 2014. With Governor LePage’s re-election on the line, the Maine Republican Party is sabotaging the last thing it has left to hang onto.

SMALL TRUTHS: THE SECRET SHUTDOWN OF THE “UNAFFECTED”

Social media is the great political tool which has enabled a greater networking of activists and flow of information. It also scares people who have secrets to keep.

Facebook ignited an interesting and revealing conversation, which started with the Albert Einstein quote, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.”

Merely six comments into the conversation, State Senator Andre Cushing took a cheap shot at a private citizen, one who is a registered Republican, by saying, “Interesting quote considering the poster.” Despite a number of individuals requesting he clarify his statement and explain himself, a response was never offered.

Moving forward, the conversation got interesting. Ryan McCabe, a self-described party insider who boasts insider connections, took issue with the hype behind the Penobscot controversy. Stating his belief that the issue was not that big a deal, he said it’s time for Republicans “to move on.” He said leadership had reviewed the issue and Chairman Rich Cebra believes the issue is done. The name dropped next in defense of Cebra was interesting:

 Governor Paul LePage.

Immediately, people jumped to question McCabe. Instead of a response, McCabe asked me to verify his credibility and record. Although out of respect to him the information offered will not be detailed from the last few months, it can be confirmed he has a significant level of credibility. His words could carry significant truth.

So when the words “The Governor has called for an end to this type of non sense” are written by McCabe, who is making the case that this is a non-issue and it’s time for people to forget it, it can only be assumed he’s implying Governor LePage stands by the wrong.

What does this mean for the Maine Republican Party?

U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe is gone, and both majorities in the State Legislature are lost. All that is left is Governor Paul LePage, who is up for re-election next year.

And McCabe tells us that Governor LePage says move on. Forget it.

Why would a man who rose as the anti-establishment candidate in 2010 be surrounding himself with the corruption in Augusta? What is going on?

 The uncertainty in the hearts of honest Republicans is growing as they look to the leadership, who is betraying them.

Let’s hope this is not true and that Maine Republicans can rely on their Governor to remain strong on his principles, and that he will deny this report and assure us that he will urge Chairman Rich Cebra to assemble a five-person panel to move forward on an investigation.

Another interesting point from McCabe, who claims direct connections to Cebra himself, is that an investigation has occurred. In this conversation, McCabe has indicated that the Chairman has investigated the matter.



There was an investigation? But there was no five-person panel, as required by the Maine Republican Party bylaws, assembled. No one asked Ken Anderson or any of the Penobscot County State Committee members for evidence or testimony.

Did he take things into his own hands?

 It would appear, if McCabe’s past record is any indication of his credibility, that an executive decision was made at the very top, without the State Committee.

That is, if this all is true, then there is something very corrupt occurring in the Maine Republican Party. It’s a situation all Republicans need to seriously evaluate going into 2014.

THE REACTION: THE “UNAFFECTED” SPEAK

Although those deemed unaffected have been silenced within their own party, they still speak. Hard-working Republicans and passionate human beings, they feel betrayed by their own leadership.

“It saddens me; no, it disgusts me, to find that the Maine Republican Party does not consider its membership to be ‘affected’ by an obviously illegal election of officers within the party,” Ken Anderson, the individual who filed the appeal with the party, told Undercover Porcupine. “To say that a voting member of the Penobscot County is ‘not affected’ by having his vote discounted by several non-voting members who were nevertheless encouraged and allowed to vote, I don’t even know what to say about that.”



Who could blame Anderson for being at a loss for words? Nobody expected anyone to want to carry on the legacy of Charlie Webster.

“If I am ‘not affected’ by the outcome of an election, then why should I bother voting at all?” Anderson continued, posing an important question for all Republicans to consider. All Maine Republicans need to consider what kind of leadership it has, if said leadership is telling the average voter they don’t matter.

Ken Anderson finally noted: “If the rule of law means anything at all, then everyone is affected when these rules are tossed to the floor.” 

Unless you’re in Iran. And maybe someone should have told those protesting the rigged 2009 election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to go home, as they were “unaffected” by the corruption.

“If a legal voting member of the county committee is not an ‘affected person’ when his vote is drowned out by more than 20 members who were not entitled to vote per the bylaws, then I don’t know who would be considered an ‘affected person’,” Penobscot County State Committeewoman Michelle Anderson, also wife of Ken Anderson, told Undercover Porcupine. “I contend that every member of the party is ‘affected’ by the fact that the rules are enforced selectively.”



The Andersons must be unreasonable people to demand fairness in their elections and an equal application of the rules. Why should anyone take issue with Republican leadership being aspiring Democrats?

“Throughout the process, I have been very quiet hoping that the procedures within our state party bylaws would bring this complaint to a fair solution,” Penobscot County State Committeeman Bryan Daugherty told Undercover Porcupine. “Perhaps I should have filed the complaint, but it never occurred to me that the Party would assert that I was the only one involved who was an ‘affected person’.”



Daugherty continued: “I personally feel that the decision that was made was extremely disingenuous to the core issues that were addressed in the complaint by Mr. Anderson. The ruling puts forth yet another paradigm of governance from the top down, which is supposed to be the opposite of what we, as a party, believe in.”

He described well how all those “unaffected” feel. This is not what our party stands for.

Julie Morgan, who resigned from the State Committee in response to this controversy, actually made note that this has been going on far longer than most know. In fact, it has been going on since the State Convention last May.

In a statement to Undercover Porcupine, she notes that pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order, Secretary Wanda Lincoln has certain responsibilities required of her position. Secretary Lincoln is to bring the official membership roll, a list of existing committees and members, bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and recent minutes.

Back in June, Morgan requested both the membership roll and county bylaws from Lincoln. The Secretary had neither.

She then took this issue to the Maine Republican Party office, requesting both of these. She did receive a copy of the Penobscot County bylaws, but only a caucus attendee list from February (which is not a membership roll).

Morgan would finally receive the membership roll, but not until January, five days before the officer elections.



“In the seven months that I was active as Committeewoman of Penobscot, not once did we have a membership roll call or a quorum call, and the minutes for the December meeting were never presented or voted on,” Julie Morgan further stated.

The December meeting she is referring to, is the meeting in which the bylaws were illegally suspended.

“I am left to conclude that the secretary, Wanda Lincoln, is either totally incompetent or that the County Committee was deliberately corrupted.”



There indeed is a lot of corruption around. There can’t be this many incompetent people in leadership positions within the Maine Republican Party.

It is not just the opinion of those “unaffected” in Penobscot that this issue needs to be addressed. Russell Montgomery, State Committeeman from Knox County, also weighed in.

“I believe that election corruption at the county level does affect the State Committee as we are made up of elected County members,” Montgomery said to Undercover Porcupine. “I think the State Committee leaders have a duty to investigate county elections if the members witness fraud. The State Committee is the only place the witness can go if his county Chair will not correct the corruption or is the problem.”

Fairness and due process are radical ideas, but it’s clear that it’s not just those “unaffected” in Penobscot who believe it should be addressed, so we can properly move forward.

THE FUTURE: THE “UNAFFECTED” AND THE BATTLE FOR PRINCIPLE

Why does it matter? The truth is, at this point, the issue has become larger than Penobscot. Penobscot’s irregularity-filled, yet officially sanctioned election has only revealed to Republicans that their party still has much changing to do. While many conservatives and libertarians stay true to their principles, the leadership seems to have questionable motives and fails to enact an honest approach to governance.

This is a battle for principles.

In Maine, the Republican Party has made a name for itself with public crusades against voter fraud. With pushes for identification requirements and deploying challengers to ballot boxes, the party has made it clear that it will stop at nothing to cure the problem.

Of course, voter fraud is allowed when it results in a convenient election result.

The Maine Republican Party is doing its best impression of Democratic President Barack Obama. To secure its own elite interests, it is resorting to allowing illegal votes and refusing to address the situation. It’s strangely reminiscent of President Obama’s hypocritical style of aiming to spread democracy abroad, while quickly turning the United States of America into a dictatorship.

Most Republicans don’t approve of President Obama, his totalitarian style, or the idea of becoming just like him. Thus, the power struggle between the top-down elite and the principled grassroots continues.

It’s time for principled Republicans to fix their leadership. Penobscotgate has shown us there is something seriously wrong.

Certainly, this story still has no ending. More will be told with time.

In our country, parties exist to allow individuals of like-minded principles and ideologies to come together and work to enact policy. In America, the two-party system has long been dominant. While two parties have always been dominant at any given time, parties come and go. Jeffersonian Republicans and Federalists of the first party system no longer exist, nor do the Whigs of the following system. As has been the case for well over a century, the United States of America have the Democrats and the Republicans.

The Democrats have long been the champions of big government, advocating for the expansion of the military-industrial complex and police state. In the name of humanity and improving society, Democrats will inflate the size of government and the end result is decreased civil liberties. The Constitution, as has been the case for quite some time, rests in exile from politics.

The Republicans carry the talking points of the exact opposite. Every election, conservatism steps up to the podium, discussing their adherence to the Constitution and respect for the processes that are laid out within the document. They are the defenders of the law and here in Maine, the self-proclaimed defenders of voter integrity.

Talk is cheap.

Here is a story out of Penobscot County, where the County Republican Committee held its elections for County Chair. Enter Bryan Daugherty, a dedicated man and a principled individual who has worked hard for the Republican Party, as well as the principles they claim to live by. Daugherty was a duly elected National Delegate from Maine to the Republican National Convention. A supporter of Ron Paul in the last election, he understands the principles of fiscal conservatism and limited government, and has worked hard to ensure his children will grow up to see a prosperous government under these principles. He was also campaign manager for Sam Canders, a State House candidate from Bangor, who lost to Democrat Adam Goode after a lack of support from the State Party.

Daugherty entered the race for the Penobscot County Republican Chairman. He wasn’t the only one, however. Former State Senator Deb Plowman, who last year sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, would also run.

2012 itself was an interesting year for Republicans. Repeated conflict between the libertarian and establishment factions led to a tumultuous primary that costed the party the general election. Instead of participating in the bickering however, Daugherty was working to elect an honorable military man to the Legislature. Canders, who served four tours in Afghanistan, lost with zero support from the Maine Republican Party. This still did not stop Daugherty from working hard to ensure an honorable, liberty-supporting Republican would be elected.

Deb Plowman would enter the race for U.S. Senate after Republican Senator Olympia Snowe announced her retirement, joining other opportunists to compete with longtime candidate Scott D’Amboise.

Given these facts, what do we supposed occurred come the evening of the election?

Pure chaos, widespread fraud, and consistent denial since.

Penobscot County Republican Ken Anderson filed an appeal of the election with the State Committee, calling upon Republicans to follow the rules and have an honest election. Shouldn’t be difficult for the party that endorses following the rule of law and embarks upon crusades against voter fraud, right?

In weeks since the filing of the appeal, Anderson has heard nothing from anyone regarding his appeal. Not even a confirmation of the appeal being received, or a notice that it is actually being reviewed instead of collecting dust somewhere.

Anderson’s appeal, which is just over five pages, details many violations of party bylaws that were allowed to stand. The party of anti-voter fraud allowed “an illegal vote to permit members who were not eligible voting members of the committee to nevertheless vote in the election of officers.” In addition to the fraud committed here, there was also a mishandling of the proxies, as well as a mishandling of the votes.

Essentially, non-voting county members were allowed to cast votes. After a year where establishment Republicans cried about supposed dirty tricks by the Ron Paul delegates in the caucus process and at the State Convention, they resorted to just these tactics.

Article 3 of the Penobscot County Republican bylaws describe what constitutes a voting member. Section 5 defines the terms as: “Positions on the Committee will be deemed to have been vacated if a member fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings or to pay dues within sixty days of the due date. In either event, the member will not be entitled to notice of meetings and will forfeit his or her right to vote.”

This is the law. Republicans, who oppose democracy and the idea that a simple majority vote can override the law, would do just that.

According to Anderson’s appeal, the Penobscot County Republican Committee met on December 20th, 2012. Without a roll call taken or quorum announced, an “affirmative” vote was taken to suspend the bylaws to: “notify all those who attended the GOP State Convention that names can be submitted for consideration for Judge of Probate by Governor LePage; dues will be accepted as per ‘custom and practice’ and any dues paid up to and including at the January 17 meeting will entitle that member to be a voting members.”

This suspension of the rules by democratic majority rule was allowed to stand at the January 17th meeting, despite a final copy of the December meeting’s minutes never being voted on. It would appear that the wolves of democracy had decided what they were going to eat for dinner.

Anderson objected to the motion to suspend the bylaws prior to the vote being taken and after the vote occurred, he objected again, stating that it was illegal.

A draft of the minutes was been emailed to members of the Penobscot County Republican Committee, which interestingly omitted Anderson’s two objections to the illegal vote. After noticing this scrubbed event, Anderson e-mailed the Secretary and offered a correction. Just as with the appeal itself to the State Committee, Anderson received no response from the County Committee Secretary.

Already, it would appear that either there is deliberate fraud or enough people have a significant problem with communication.

Daugherty, also a Penobscot County State Committeeman, sent a notice of objection, declaring the meeting’s illegal vote to be in “stark contrast” to the bylaws.

Still, everything stood, despite the violation of bylaws.

The result? As Anderson noted in his appeal, “more than two-thirds of the people who were present the night of the election had not been to a single meeting since May, and perhaps longer.” There have been more than three meetings since May, which means that these individuals failed to meet the requirements of the bylaws to be legal voting members.

How can a body function without firm governing rules? Furthermore, how can voters trust Republicans to function as a body in elected positions and obey the law, if they cannot even do that within their own entity?

Anderson makes thorough note in his appeal that according to a number of major parliamentary authorities, these bylaw provisions cannot be suspended by a majority vote. Despite this, it was still allowed to stand.

What essentially occurred in Penobscot County in recent months amounts to the suspension of the rule of law to allow illegals to vote. Can you imagine the response if President Barack Obama announced he was declaring the Constitution to be suspended and moved to allow illegal immigrants to vote in the presidential election? Other than the approval of the Penobscot County Republican Committee, it would be widely denounced!

The fraud doesn’t stop here though. Beyond the illegal suspension of the bylaws to allow non-voting members to vote, there was also illegal proxies and telephonic voting that occurred. Anderson noted one of these instances involving Dixmont Town Chair Scott Fish, who had not attended a county meeting in more than six months and had not paid his dues as required by Penobscot County bylaws.

Julie Morgan, a Penobscot County Republican, according to the appeal, noted: “A woman comes in gives me her name. I tell her sorry your not on our list, she asks to be a proxy for Scott Fish. I explain that the proxy has to be in writing. She then calls ‘Scott’ and I say to Harrison [Treasurer] it has to be in writing-I thought he was going to give email address and get something in writing, but Harrison takes the phone and took the proxy against my protest. I am not sure if he collected dues from woman or not. Scott was on the list as town chair of Dixmont.”Article 5, Section 3 of the Penobscot County bylaws states: “Each member of the County Committee shall be entitled to one vote on all questions or elections at any regular or special meeting, if present in person or represented by a proxy WHO IS A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN. A proxy must be appointed in writing by the member, and be a resident of the same municipality as the appointing member.”

Another interesting point confirmed by a number of Penobscot Republicans was the presence of an individual outside making phone calls over the course of the night. Former Assistant Majority Leader Andre Cushing was suspiciously lingering at the door on the phone making repeated calls, which some speculate were to individuals casting votes over the phone. Illegally.

For those of you who attended the State Republican Convention, you might remember Cushing as one of those individuals passing out the fake slates as part of disruption tactics by establishment Republicans. Working alongside former Maine Republican Party communications director David Sorensen and others, Cushing was able to help orchestrate a chaotic and rocky ride for the Republicans present that day. A tumultuous weekend that would be blamed on the Ron Paul delegates, who were not resorting to dirty tricks and tactics.

The votes were counted by two individuals appointed by Chair Traci Gauthier, who were not legal voting members. Maria Hodge, a legal voting member, had her attempt to monitor the counting of the votes rejected. In the end, however, Plowman was named Chairman of the Penobscot County Republican Committee. To add to the obvious point that it was all orchestrated, she had a gavel on hand as soon as it was all said and done. Those who assured her she would win if she ran were right. The Chicago-style election was complete.

In the time since, a number of Republicans have been driven from the party. State Committeewoman Julie Morgan resigned her post in disgust with what transpired. The Republican Party is losing because of this unfair and illegal conduct.

A lot transpired that day, for sure. In all fairness to the Maine Republican Party, they still have time to review this issue. Pursuant to Rule 23, the Party has thirty days to act. Whether it is actually being reviewed remains to be seen, but Ken Anderson has yet to receive any indication either way. In fact, he has yet to hear anything.

Anderson’s request in the appeal is simple. Set aside the results of the election in question and conduct a new election in accordance with bylaws, with candidates each having someone present to monitor the counting of the votes.

Anderson also requests that until a new election can be conducted, no business be conducted by the executive committee and voted not be cast.

The answer is easy for the party. If you’re opposed to illegal immigration, you’re opposed to illegal members. If you’re opposed to illegal immigrants casting illegal votes, you’re opposed to illegal members casting illegal votes. If you oppose voter fraud and non-citizens voting in elections, then you oppose non-members voting in party elections.

Chairman Rich Cebra has a defining moment before him. As he reviews what is at hand and prepares to react, he can do one of two things. He can ignore the issue or accept it, which would be destructive to his legacy. The party will become divided, as it did when Charlie Webster destroyed the State Party and when Reince Priebus cost Republicans the general election nationally. 2014 will be a nightmare and despite the forecasts of Governor LePage scoring a victory in the probable three-way race, his re-election campaign will be difficult with the continued infighting.

Or, Chairman Cebra can step up and prove why so many Republicans supported his election for Maine Republican Chair.

Time is ticking. There will certainly be more of this story to tell, with time.