The Legislature is poised to elect the next state attorney general. Maine is one of a
handful of states that elects the AG, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor by a vote of
the Legisla-ture, not the public. Legislators Sean Faircloth, Janet Mills and John
Brautigam – all Demo-crats – are candidates for the AG post, and one will be chosen by
the Democratically controlled Legislature. Is this right? What if there is a Republican who
would be a great AG? What if the best candidate for the job is not a legislator? Is the
general public better able to choose? Or should the governor appoint an AG and the
Legislature act to confirm?