AUGUSTA, Maine — The acting director of the State Planning Office, who also serves as treasurer for Gov. Paul LePage’s reelection campaign, has been fired from his state job after he was charged over the weekend with operating under the influence.
Richard Swanson Jr., 64, of Oakland, was asked by the governor’s staff on Tuesday to resign, according to Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s spokeswoman.
“It is with deep regret that I hereby resign my position as acting director of the Maine State Planning Office,” Swanson wrote. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve in your administration.”
Waterville Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said Swanson was driving on Lincoln Street in Waterville late Monday when an officer stopped him for driving erratically.
Swanson was subjected to field sobriety tests and subsequently was taken to the police station for a blood alcohol level test, Rumsey said. His level was over the legal limit of 0.08 and police charged him with OUI and then released him on $700 bail, the deputy chief said.
Only a few hours after news of Swanson’s resignation broke, Bennett announced that Peter Rogers would take over as the SPO’s acting director. Last week, Rogers decided to step down as LePage’s director of communications, a post he held for eight months. Rogers previously worked in public affairs for the Maine Army National Guard.
Swanson had been acting director of the State Planning Office since November of last year. He took over for Daryl Brown, who resigned after helping draft recommendations to create an executive Office of Management and Policy that would effectively replace the planning office.
Brown also was LePage’s first choice for commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. He was forced to step down from that role early last year after the attorney general concluded he had a conflict of interest because of his ownership of a consulting firm that has extensive dealings with the DEP.
Swanson’s status as treasurer of LePage’s reelection campaign was unchanged as of early Tuesday afternoon, according to the governor’s senior political adviser Brent Littlefield.
“We just got this information and have not had a conversation,” Littlefield said by telephone. “If you look at the man, he has an absolutely incredible resume. It’s unfortunate right now.”
Swanson kept the books for LePage’s successful 2010 campaign for governor. He also serves as treasurer for Maine People Before Politics, a nonprofit group founded with LePage’s transition team money that advocates the governor’s accomplishments.
Prior to that, Littlefield said, Swanson was a finance executive for DuPont, one of the world’s largest chemical companies.
I think LePage has to have set a record for the number of team players who have resigned or been fired for scandalous behavior.
Think about it, LePage wants to run the state like a business… High employee turnover, part timers… isn’t that how the successful businesses like W-Mart make so much money?
Ha! Don’t give Paulie any ideas. If he sees your comment he’ll put up another sign below his “Open for Business” sign saying “Hello Welcome to WalMaine.” Next step after that will be for him to demand that we become the first state to actually lower its minimum wage.
Funny how you hate Walmart, John Baldacci did more ribbon cuttings opening Walmarts than any other governor. I guess you are so confused you don’t even know who you support or more importantly, what you support.
so don’t shop there …oh, I forgot you don’t believe in market economics, just censorship by the elite.
It does seem that they are all interchangeably incompetent and or untrustworthy. What do they say, “Birds of a feather, flock together.” We’re gonna get one good shot at the whole flock when we go vote next November.
Sounds like you learned nothing from all the todo over Gabby Giffords shooting. I seem to remember you were one of the most vocal about word usage that ignites “hate”. Hypocritical methinks.
I Love it when you folks have nothing to say but to offer critism of other’s comments. Oh well, I suppose it beats trying to defend Paul LePage or his administration. That’s got to be one tough task! Guess I can’t blame you. Well, keep trying to keep up.
Kudos to Beardsley and others in his administration seem to fly by your closed mind as fast as hate speech does from your mouth.
What kind of dumb remark is that?
You are pretending that the phrase ” taking a shot” can only mean shooting with a gun?
No one is dumb enough to buy that … except maybe you.
It is more like “misery loves company” LOL!
Could be right. Most of Baldacci’s retinue never got caught or their indiscretions were quickly covered up. Republicans are no different than Democrats; both parties are teeming with corruption and moral shortcomings. It seems like the Republicans are more apt to ‘fess up” though.
Hogwash! You republicans would have been all over anyone in the Baldacci administration who even appeared to mess up. Both parties are not equally corrupt. At least the dems haven’t sold their souls to big business. They still care about working folks and the environment.
The dems sell their souls to whomever will vote for them ! I left the party long ago !
Or perhaps LePage is just dumb and chose a lot of equally dumb team members. Over the years I have voted for a lot of Republicans, and I’m not a Democrat. I’m an Independent. It really astounds me at the way some people will just blindly defend LePage no matter what. The man make’s Larry, his brother Daryl and his other brother Daryl from the Newhart show look bright. I don’t care what side of the political fence someone stands on…this level of stupid is plain dangerous. How can you support and defend him and still look in the mirror and take yourself seriously? Honestly…even if I were a Republican I would have jumped that ship long ago.
Really? Has ROBert Nutting confessed???? Did I miss it?????
There is that “we really aren’t that much worse” argument again.
I love that one.
Democrats would have checked him into a rehab center at taxpayer expense, put him on administrative paid leave and then had him back at his desk once he was cleared from the rehab center. Paul LePage does not tolerate bad behavior nor should he. That’s the difference oldwench, just so you know.
If LePage didn’t tolerate bad behavior he would have fired himself within a week of taking office.
His behavior is fine, it only infuriates democrats and as far as I’m concerned, them’s the breaks!!
Yup, DUI is fine behavior… fine indeed.
Field test in entire administration.
Another one bits the dust. This keeps up we will have no one in Augusta. Yea!!!!!
This is the only way LePage creates jobs…
The Governor has accomplishments? Oh yeah, art collector.
Soon to be art burner!
good that way it wont be put back up and we wont have to hear about it anymore. I hope its done publicly so I can hear all the democrats and liberals cry about it
A republican who can hear? Who’d a thought it?
You mean Art “theif” !
He ain’t No
Thomas Crown!
Thomas Crown got away with it.. Much like Lepage
Thomas Crown was a Class Act.
Lepage is a Carnival Act!
yup he did it and I was behind him on it. It was biased and went against what he was trying to do.. Funded by the democrats for whatever artsy reason and he took it down .. get over it.. its over let it go
I think this finally proves that there is a conspiracy happening against Gov. Lepage……it seems to be the only logical explanation…….
Birds of a Feather —-Flock Together!
“At 64 (years old), acting director of the State Planning Office”, wouldn’t you think he would know better? Now is the time to “pull him” from treasurer for Gov. Paul LePage’s reelection campaign!
We all know better. If that mattered no one would ever drink. Position is irrelevant
Nahh! —-Let him drink up the money!
Mainecare does!
I see this as minor in the big picture. So, this guy went out and had 1 to many. Was it intentional, I think not. Why should he not go through the program and learn. To lose his job, is wrong. Look at Robert Nutting ? Now, he should of lost his job and didn’t and his actions, hurt thousands of people.
Why can’t we get these things right and on a fair playing field ?
It’s odd that you look at Nutting’s problems as you do when the entire Democrat machine seemed to have been satisfied with the results of their investigation and settlement back when it happened (before the GOP majority takeover).
The dems got what they wanted when another business was sent packing, and employees were laid off.
Apparently the people in the Waterville area see it in a different light as they re-elected him.
Ok NoPark, Let’s get off the OUI thing for a second and talk about Bruce Poliquin then. And his questionable business actions, actions that he is not allowed to be doing as state treasurer. And let’s also talk of his not disclosing that economic activity, and the governor’s lack of direction on it?
Or about the governor lying to a town hall group regarding the Mainecare numbers, and his not providing accurate information to Appropriations. Or, his having known about the shortfall as early as last February and doing nothing until December. These are grounds in other states for a recall.
Let’s talk of Nutting’s refusal to censure a legislator who was found guilty of ethics violations, and subsequently indicted on theft.
You always seem to defend this administrations craziness by reflecting on something that happened 5, 10, or even 15 years ago. Why can’t we talk about THIS administration, and THIS legislature, and compare themselves to our standards, and not other’s who aren’t even involved?
Your silly attempts to divert appear as an exercise of desperation and futility.
Very good coment. We are being lied to, fed bogus numbers, led by a bunch with seemingly no ethics at all, and if we see it for what it really is, it’s somehow all our fault. We need a good cleaning out of laplague and his gang.
media matters much!ha Fun watching the dems grasping at straws
I think, it’s t he other way around Timjy. Now, your own caucus conclusions are being questioned, by your own selves!
Right now, it’s not the dems that are struggling to find themselves……it you guys! You are all having problems with this Tea Party thing, and you will find that your struggles will continue.
The Tea Party is so 2010.
I agree rusjan. You do see why Webster thought there was wide spread voter fraud, don’t you? :-)
This is the meal du jour for this administration: Red Herring!
Was he lying about our undereducated , underemployed workers in the state? Was he lying about businesses leaving the state or not even locating here because of overregulation and high business taxes ? Is he lying about the states’ financial mess , really. Give him some room to fix these problems , work with him instead of against him. It seems to me most posters stand in his way just because of his political party affiliation , how about we just abolish political parties and make the voters think for themselves ?
Some room to fix the problems? He knew about the shortfall last February, a year ago, and a solution hasn’t even passed yet! And it’s not the legislature’s fault, they didn’t get the numbers until December. Room?
And the undereducated and underemployed. He threatened to cut education spending to get his own way, how committed to education and job training is he really if he he willing to use these as weapons? How does his proposal of using state monies in private religious schools assist in either of them? He doesn’t need room, he needs to leave. We could give him as much room as he wanted, and he would still insist on only his way. I hear Florida has lots of room for sale.
this is all these Dems have left is personal attacks.Fun watching these corrupt destroyacrats squirm. You see no mention of the appropriations funneling money into the pockets of some legislatures though.(crickets) or now we can say media matters ha
What planet do you live on?
What rock do you live under?
Where’s the sand you have your head stuck in?
Who’s a ss are you stuck in?
Unbelievable!
He lives in denial of reality, yet demands respect for his insights.
Nutting…the feds consider the case closed.
Nutting…the people of his District returned him to office.
This particular director- appointed to his position as a political favor for being LePage’s Treasurer.
This particular director- replaced a director that Le Page forced out due to trying to manipulate the SPO ‘s duties.
Nutting- Is the Speaker of the Maine House, and as long as he is at the Legislature, the people of Maine have the right to not consider the case closed.
So Nutting being in the legislature is not the issue then? It is only an issue because he holds a leadership position? Am I reading you correctly?
He’s a member of the Legislature, there’s one issue.
He’s the Speaker of the House, that’s another issue. Only the Speaker will direct a censure of another member. The Speaker will also try to sway certain majority members to vote for certain people for constitutional office, and in this case; Bruce Poiliqun. It’s rare that an office seeker who wins office does not have the Speaker’s and the Majority Leader’s endorsement.
As a member of the Legislature, all of his current and past action are considered by the state electorate, fairly and squarely.
“He’s a member of the Legislature, there’s one issue.”
Yes he is. Voted into office by his district.
~~~~~
“He’s the Speaker of the House, that’s another issue.”
Yes is is. Voted into office by his his fellow party members of the House.
~~~~~
“Only the Speaker will direct a censure of another member. The Speaker will also try to sway certain majority members to vote for certain people for constitutional office, and in this case; Bruce Poiliqun. It’s rare that an office seeker who wins office does not have the Speaker’s and the Majority Leader’s endorsement.”
That’s kind of obvious. But remember the House and the Senate changed hands in 2010. For better or worse.
~~~~~
“As a member of the Legislature, all of his current and past action are considered by the state electorate, fairly and squarely.”
No. This is where you and I will disagree. Nutting is not elected by the “state electorate”. He is elected by his districts electorate. For better or worse, his districts electorate keep returning him to office. You and I can disagree but if we don’t live in his district, we don’t get a say in who they elect.
The fact that he is the Speaker of the House, and constitutionally required to act on behalf of the Legislature, is paramount. The Speaker, sets the agenda for a days session. This person can lower a gavel and end all discussion at will……It’s a powerful position.
In 2010, they majority changed. Time to either lead, which they won’t do, or follow, which is what the Governor WANTS them to do, or get outta the way. Because it is not what the people of the State of Maine want.
No he would not be elected Speaker without winning his legislative seat, (you have to be one in order to be considered) he would also not win the office of Speaker without out party support. When he wins an office due to party support, that makes him the target of the minority. If he is the target of the minority, then every thing he has ever said, done, or concludes is subject to question. Not only that, party members that don’t agree with him, are more apt to side in the middle. It’s a political and legislative fact.
Just because we don’t elect him to his district, or the Speaker’s office, doesn’t mean that we don’t get to scrutinize him. HE ran for the office of Speaker, HE was elected, HE is now a constitutional officer and is subject to all of the electorate’s scrutiny.
Scrutiny is all well and good. No issues there.
Now I will go back to my original two points.
1) Nutting…the feds consider the case closed.
2) Nutting…the people of his District returned him to office.
Those are facts and while he is now the Speaker he wouldn’t be if he were in 1) Federal Prison, or 2) not reelected.
So people can scream all they want about Nutting but no level of noise will change the above two facts and follow on facts.
And I will go back to my point. As long as he is in the Legislature, and as long as he is Speaker, then it’s an open book.
The fact of the matter is, he is not in federal prison, and was re-elected. Now that’s our problem, if you want to make a giant bubble around him, it won’t work.
Mainer’s have a reputation of electing quality representation, as well as weeding out, not so quality candidates. I consider this: a weeding out.
No one is putting a bubble around him.
Maine does not elect Nutting. His district elects him. He was never convicted of anything. Do I like the Maine? No. Would I vote for him? No. But since I don’t live in his district, I don’t get to decide if he is elected or not to represent me.
If his district believes he should be replaced for whatever reason, they will do so.
He was able to get off as they could not prove “intent to overbill”. not necessarily because he was innocent. It is actually very hard to bill millions incorrectly if you follow the rules, If he did not have intent, why would would you want someone so incompetent as to allow millions of overbillings and to run their company out of business because of it? The choice to me is he is a thief, or completely clueless. Not admirable traits, even for a politician.
“He was able to get off”? Are you sure the could not “prove “intent to overbill””?
I ask because we have seen a great deal of Medicare (which is a federal program) fraud over the past year or so. The two cases that come to mind are one recent and one several decades old. A woman by the name of Grover from Orrington that was charged and a man by the name of McGovern from Calais. Both over billed, billed improperly, etc…Both were convicted of Medicare fraud and in the case of McGovern served federal time (not sure about Grover but she is likely serving federal time as I type this).
But in the case of Nutting, his district keeps re-electing him. If we don’t live in his district what are we supposed to do about it. Either his district don’t care about his problems with Medicare or the Democrats can not come up with a candidate any better than Nutting.
Either way, it is not our problem.
Right now I respect Mr Nutting for kind of standing up against Mr LePage — hopefully he will stay the course in what is very libel to become a nasty partisan fight
but you deal in facts which you have stated are true — however regardless of the final outcome Mr Nutting owned and ran a business that overbilled the DHHS 1.4 million which was never paid back — that still remains a fact
another group of facts — Mr Violette former Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority misappropriated 430,000 dollars of Authority assets — the amount has been paid back — Mr Violette was forced to resign in disgrace and is facing the possibility of 5 years in prison — again these are facts
yes Mr Violette violated public trust and should be paying the price he is —
As you said just the facts
Paul Violette is not an elected representative of the people of Maine, he hasn’t been for quite some time.
If there is a problem, then that lies with the Transport Authority, which is accountable to… the Legislature and the Executive..
Just the facts.
what? is the difference between an action of the current house speaker, and say one that presided 40 years ago? Their duties are the same……they knew the gamut that they were getting into, why is this one different.
Parlimentary procedure, as it refers to legislative procedures, in this state and in most, as well as congress, was formulated and expemplified by Thomas Reed. A representative from Maine.
“Reed’s Rules of Parlimentary Procedure are the standard” HE dictates, that the Speaker is accountable. He was also the Speaker of the House of Representatives , and that’s the one in Washington.
As long as his district keeps re-electing him as their elected representative it is there problem. The feds did not pursue the case. It is over. He was never convicted of a crime. You and I can think he is no better than crud on the bottom of the ocean but his district seems to believe differently.
You are right of course, in so many ways. Except two areas, if you don’t mind.
1. Some jobs, those involving public service and leadership, should rightfully be held to a higher standard. But in general, you are so right about a second chance and rehabilitation.
2. “Was it intentional, I think not.” It’s not about intention. It’s about responsibility. No one intends to get an OUI, but we have to think about that before we take the wheel. There is never an excuse for OUI. Call a cab, a friend, or don’t drink if you have to drive.
Yeah, drinknig & driving is minor…. I bet you’d change your mind awful fast if your kid was hit by a drunk.
Swanson was probably dipping into LePage’s bar account at the Bob In.
LePage’s Campaign Treasurer?
Is this who LePage trusted with all his campaign contributions?
Now I can see why LePage’s DHHS budget numbers were so messed up….
yessah
Thats the best you got? There is no excuse for drinking and driving thats clear. But the guy had one too many . He hasnt been convicted of fraud or been accused of drinking on the job. Has nothing to do with is work ethic. I think thats a cheap shot from sad democrat. yessah i do
Sad?
No
I’m elated that this scofflaw, who endangered everyone of the road that night, is no longer on the state payroll.
I’m also elated to witness – once again – the bizarre reality of Tea Party Rule in the State of Maine.
November can’t get here fast enough.
Obama 2012
yessah
Be careful what you wish for. November may come and you may be a bit more sad.. This Tea Party thing is here to stay and dont look now but its big. Lepage is sitting in the big chair. We put him there once and Ill bet he may just be sitting there again come November. Im not sure giving money out by the truck load is sitting to well with some.
Here to stay? I don’t think so …. Old angry white men are a dying species, the Ugly values they preach are not even close to what the younger generation believes. It’s over dude, you’re almost extinct.
Nah, their moment is over…. It just takes a while for us up here in Maine to catch onto the trends.
OH so you want Obama to put us another 3 TRILLION dollars in debt.
George W. Bush and the Republicans took us from budget surpluses to massive deficits.
Did the pay for their massive tax cuts to the 1%?
nope.
Did they pay for their War of Lies in Iraq?
nope
Did Obama crash the economy in 2008?
nope.
Obama will reduce the deficit when GOP obstructionism ends.
and that will happen this November.
yessah
And Obama Multiplied them 3 times. Talking about wars, looks like Obama will be in at least 3 more if we don’t get him out. Look at the mess he has made out of the healthcare.
What would the unions do if EVERY state worker that is charged with OUI was fired. That might actually help reduce state spending now wouldn’t it ?
This has no political aspects. This is a story of an individual and his loved ones in real pain. Gloating over a story like this is dishonorable diminishment .
He had three Jobs!
You dont suppose there was a Conflict of Interest there do ya?
If you are being paid by the public,they have a right for your actions to be part of the public record.If he seeks help as necessary than I ‘m happy for him.And if I were to be arrested for OUI it would be in the paper as well,as it should be.
As far as I’m concerned the people who really come out of this looking bad are the people who threw this unfortunate man under the bus. You say your happy if he seeks help. I’d be a whole lot happier if he was offered help and he knew his employers would be there for him and his family. Compassion vs hypocrisy went at it in Augusta today and hypocrisy won by a knock out in the first round. This is a story of human failure on all levels. The Governor and his handlers would do well to remember that what goes around comes around. I’m sure if they were in this guys shoes they would be feeling just what he is feeling now; if they were so used. Golden Rule not! Now we can listen to Adrianne tell us how sorry they are. Come on Adrianne and make some more ice cream out of crap.
….
Director of State Planning
Treasurer for Maine People Before Politics
Treasurer of Lepage Relection Campaign
Give that Officer a Standing Ovation!
He got all Three with One Shot!
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I’m gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
If I worked for that idiot,I’d be hitting the sauce too.Thankfully nobody was injured or killed.
Congrats to WPD for taking him off the road,at least for now.
So every person that’s been cough for OUI should be fired from there job ?
He did the right thing, —–he quit!
Why ?? So if you got cough for oui than you should quit you job that’s the right thing to do .
cough cough …
I would be.
Who would not drink in excess in any of these top state jobs. I don’t care who’s running the show.
Oh yes, but I’m sure that he’ll always have Adrianne Bennett doing her ridiculous spin doctoring for her beloved employer.
And, she is not really that good at it, either … I guess “ability” is not a pre-req for employment in LePlague City!
How many of Lepage’s other department heads are drunks who are making decisions on our behalf while drunk or hung over? Based on the appalling decisions Lepage has made I’d say it must be a good many of them.
they drink and drive…lepage just drinks
why would he be fired ?
He ran up Lepage’s tab at the Bob-In.
Its about time we started charging people in power with crimes . In the past 20+ years ago most were swept under the rug.
WGME said at noon the BAC was .11. This will allow Lepage haters to feed like Pirhanas. Have fun, all!
For a season drunk that is sober. Don;t see how he could have been all over the road. Maybe someone turned him in that did not like him. I thought they are not allowed to give out BAC. before conviction guess it depends on who you are.
they didn’t give it out
They changed it it say .11
ahh…ok thanks
Our Governor is showing good direction in this. If it were up to Democrats, they would not be satisfied unless you took Swanson out back and shot him.
On the bright side, this is not a result from anything involving facebook and photos….
He must be a Long Island Iced Tea Partier !!
How does this compare to Ted Kennedy’s drunken murder at Chappaquiddick? Where was the Democratic outcry over that? Does anyone else see any hypocrisy with the DEMS?
That was then, this is now. No politics, just fact.
It’s all about politics. Who do you think you’re fooling? If Swanson were a DEM, you would be singing him praises.
Give it a rest, please.
Some who are excessively partisan think that everyone else is equally as partisan as they.
Some people simply don’t like it when people in positions of power break the rules.
Now, would you like to defend the actions of the ex-acting director, or would you not?
Of course, there is no excuse for driving under the influence and I will not defend that any more than I would defend the incident at Chappaquiddick. Of course, Teddy was also involved with letting his girlfriend drown and he almost won the Democratic nomination for Pres in 1980. Apparently, the same DEMS that were OK with Teddy’s behavior are now passing judgment on Mr. Swanson. Webster defines this as hypocrisy.
Let’s play the “reflected badly on” game. Kennedy’s actions reflected badly on the people of MA because they voted for him. Edwards’ actions similarly reflected badly on those who voted for him. And Mr. Acting Director, let’s see, he was chosen by . . . and therefore his actions reflect badly on . . . hmmmmm, help me out here.
Swanson’s actions reflect badly ONLY on himself and nobody else. It is very naive to think that a Governor has complete control of the personal lives of his staff. To think such a thing is laughable and naive at best.
I’m guessing / presumming that they’ve tipped a few together. I’ve a feeling the gov. knew Swanson used.
what a mess!
OOOO i see it.. Its VERY clear.. I actually come to expect it
This situation is very unfortunate and there are no excuses for driving under the influence. Hopefully, everyone will admire the Gov. for doing the right thing under this unfortunate circumstance.
I see little to admire in LePage.
I think there is a lot of mailboxers in here
Let’s all honest here — Mr LePage did what anyone in his position ( republican or democrat) would do — he did what was politically correct
Did anyone commenting in this thread stand up to defend a deceased congressman from another state? Did I miss something?
My point exactly! When the DEMs get in trouble, it’s OK, but when the Republicans violate the law the liberals come out in full attack mode. Does anyone see a double standard here? By the way, how is the John Edwards love child doing? I hear Mr. Edwards is going to jail. Is that true? Oh yeah, I guess he has some fake heart ailment and his jail time is on hold, for now. Funny how the lamestream press doesn’t cover these stories.
There are members of both parties who enjoy seeing members of the opposite party get in trouble.
That doesn’t change the fact that this is another embarrassment for the LePage administration. And it doesn’t change the fact that you keep trying to change the subject. Perhaps you should go find an article about a Democrat in trouble and post your comments there.
its called liberal media
Blah, blah blah…..why can’t any of you focus on the people that are involved? How about those that are in the news? Those are the ones that make the decisions. Jonathan Edwards, was NEVER a representative of mine. How about you?
How, about, focusing on THIS state, and not a presidential candidate that didn’t win?
Why not talk about how the republican’s screwed up their own caucus’s? And prior to that claim that there was fraud abound? Let’s talk about what’s really happening, and not what one candidate has done, a candidate that was never nominated.
Won’t get into politics…just advice…..get a freakin’ cab!
They just keep things out in the open.The last few admins would have covered and made him a director.
You know what they say…F-up…move up
What a dumbass
I’d be out drinking if I realized I helped elect this buffoon as well…
Chappa, Chappppa, Chappppppa, Quiddddiccccckkkkk!!!!!
Your about 40 years behind buddy!
awesome!
Wow,
amazing to see the disparity of comments on this matter. The majority of
Mainers who commented on the State Police Sergeant who was recently arrested
for OUI felt he needed compassion displayed to him. An overwhelming majority
felt he should be punished but keep his job.
Mr. Swanson too made a mistake and his primary job has nothing to do
with the enforcement of the law in which he broke. Yet no one compared the
treatment of the two individuals and the hypocrisy including the Bangor daily
news reporter. Please don’t give me the Trooper is a “union” member.
If the Chief chose to fire him it would have withstood any appeal as indicated
by other officers across the country that have been fired for driving while
intoxicated. I understand that Mr. Swanson serves at the pleasure of the
Governor but he deserved at least a chance to address the mistake and move on
in the same fashion as the State Police Sergeant. Bottom line, if Mr. Swanson was
rightly fired by LePage than the State Police Sergeant should have lost his job
too. Or, conversely, if the State Police
Sergeant kept his job Mr. Swanson should have been given another opportunity to
keep his. The hypocrisy in our state is
disgusting. The firing of Mr. Swanson
shows a side of Mr. LePage that is very telling. I would suggest that if any of you were “on
the fence” about re-electing this man you now have a view into the window of his
soul that compels you not to. By the
way, I’m a lifelong Republican/Conservative.
Actually, he chose to give his job up unlike to trooper he was just wanted to keep his job. Big difference. I guess he didn’t want the Gov to have to fire him since he is at his pleasure
The
title of the article says it all, he was fired. When the Governor asks for an
appointed leader’s resignation it is a defacto firing. Mr. Swanson was not
given the opportunity to keep his job. Mr. Swanson didn’t give his job up, if
you still feel there is a big difference between the two situations please
don’t use that as a plausible argument.
Not an arguement just a fact…you just are spinning it your way based on an opinion. I am making my opinion based on what is reported
LOL no wonder jury’s in washing county scare the heck out of people!
The news reported that he quit.. so.. He quit
I agree Antilib72…isenoughtenough stated he was fired.
Well stated. Compassion or lack of it transcend party and speaks to character.
With all of these staff changes it will be interesting how any of the many changes come out of the wash. We will probably need a Chechen mafia banker with Chinese ancestry just to make sense of it all.
Next up for an OUI: LePage himself.
Naw, he must have the same detail that Baldy had. You must remember, a State Trooper with permission to drive at least 25 over the posted limit and who usually keeps it on all four wheels on the tar!
this is clearly the result of messing around with the unions, be careful paul, be very careful, we are every where.
State trooper OUI demotion, cabinet member OUI fired. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
The higher the responsibility, the higher the penalty.
A judge on Tuesday fined Robin Parker $500 and suspended his driver’s license for 90 days. The Department of Public Safety also suspended him for two months without pay and demoted him from sergeant to trooper.
Ok, how is this fair? Swanson gets fired but, a trooper who violates the same law which which by the way has a duty to enforce gets to keep his job? Parker is not the first trooper to do this and got to keep his/her job. Oh that’s right, troopers are in charge of providing security for the governor.
LePage has somehow managed to beat the turn over records at Marden’s and Chinamart! lol. His administration is one big revolving door. Someone should get a pool going on who will be the next drunk or incompetent to go away in disgrace from Poor Paul’s administration.
By the looks of all the posts made by the LePage haters: I would say that he is demanding of great personal responsibility as well as professional responsibility from those within his administration. Something those who seem to criticize the most must certainly oppose. Many times those who first show promise eventually revert to their true personality traits. It seems there is much that the governor has accomplished in restoring good people to government and not tolerating bad behavior.
Interesting; here is a man who is well respected in his field, bringing knowledge of financing from one of the worlds largest companies, and he’s not allowed even a small mistake. The story says “His level was over the legal limit of 0.08” but it doesn’t say he was .14 like the State trooper last month who did NOT lose his State job.
People continually repeat stupid little phrases like “Well, life is not fair” In my estimation it could be a lot fairer with policies which include everyone. If one State worker is going to lose his job for O.U.I., then ALL State workers found to be O.U.I. should lose their jobs.
I must ask the reporter was he fired or did he resign? It did not say the Governor fired him it says that he was asked for his resignation. The Donald would say “you’re Fired”
Testing
So when Baldacci’s treasurer loses $20m in a very bad stock deal(MAINSAIL derivatives scandal) he should have been fired but was kept as part of crony politics?
The guy was a drinker and should have been vetted. Every political leader takes a chance hoping the appointment to public office will ‘rehabilitate’ them.
Apparently there is a long line of better qualified candidates for office in Augusta than there was last year.