BRUNSWICK, Maine — Embattled Rep. Alexander Cornell du Houx probably surprised some of his Brunswick constituents in late June when he withdrew from the House District 66 race after weeks of insisting he wouldn’t.
Then on Friday, when the Bangor Daily News published details of a secret agreement struck between Cornell du Houx and fellow lawmaker Rep. Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, who at one point sought a protection from abuse order against him, Cornell du Houx resolved to “set the record straight.”
The agreement called for Cornell du Houx, among other things, to withdraw from the race by July 1, which was at odds with his repeated public statements until June 29 that he would do no such thing.
Cornell du Houx, who says he was engaged to Herbig until the romance ended messily earlier this year, said the reason he wouldn’t admit he was withdrawing was because doing so would have violated a stipulation in the agreement that neither he nor Herbig talk publicly about its terms. Furthermore, Cornell du Houx said that for a period of time he considered violating the agreement and continuing his run to regain his seat on the grounds that if necessary he could refute Herbig’s claims against him.
“I couldn’t say I was withdrawing from the race because of the agreement,” said Cornell du Houx. “That would have been violating the agreement. Now that the agreement has been leaked, I’m not going to be ridiculed and have my reputation ridiculed any longer.”
In late April, Herbig secured a temporary protection from abuse order against Cornell du Houx, alleging that among other things he had threatened and stalked her. The order was scheduled to be reviewed in Belfast District Court on May 14, but that hearing was canceled and the protection from abuse order lifted after lawyers for the former couple agreed to the terms of the private agreement.
Among the terms were that Cornell du Houx would not enter the city of Belfast, where Herbig lives, for 10 years and that if he had business at the State House in Augusta, he’d give Capitol Police 48 hours notice before his arrival.
In the agreement, Herbig reasserted that the allegations in her temporary protection from abuse order were true while Cornell du Houx maintained his innocence.
Cornell du Houx said Sunday that because the agreement, which was meant to be secret, already had been released, he has chosen to go public with his side of the story. He said his reason for signing on to the terms of the agreement — including paying Herbig’s $9,000 legal bills — was because he wanted the saga to end and didn’t want to appear in court.
“I was very concerned about my military career and her damaging it,” he said. “Being a public affairs officer requires a spotless record. There are stringent background checks. Just appearing at a hearing could have been hurtful for my future career. I was so fed up that I just wanted it to end.”
Though Cornell du Houx said he felt that he could debunk Herbig’s claims, he said there was always a possibility that a judge could rule against him and grant a long-term protection from abuse order, which among other things would have barred him from possessing a firearm.
“That’s a problem for someone serving in the military,” he said.
Cornell du Houx produced copies of numerous emails and text messages between himself and Herbig that he says prove that vast portions of her statement for the temporary protection from abuse order were untrue.
Cornell du Houx, an Iraq war veteran, is scheduled to begin an active-duty assignment with the U.S. Navy in January. He has said that it might have been possible for him to ask for another assignment that wouldn’t interfere with his duties to the Maine House of Representatives, but that recent events, including the chairman of the Maine Democratic Party, Ben Grant, calling for his resignation last month, prompted him to end his bid.
“I did seriously consider running for reelection after Ben Grant made his comments, due to the overwhelming support it created, as I considered all she could do is to try and sue me for exercising my constitutional right to run and hold office,” wrote Cornell du Houx in a statement given to the Bangor Daily News on Sunday. “At the time I signed the agreement I knew I wanted to continue my work with the Navy, which is why it stated she was allowed to say I withdrew [from the House District 66 race] and moved out of the state.”
Cornell du Houx, a Bowdoin College graduate, said his political career “is not over” and that he intends to attend graduate school for an advanced government or leadership degree. He said that he might try to represent part of Brunswick again in the future, perhaps in 2014 when his fellow Democratic lawmaker from Brunswick, Rep. Charles Priest, is forced out of the District 63 seat by term limits.
Asked whether he is considering a lawsuit against Herbig, which the former couple agreed not to pursue in their written agreement, Cornell du Houx said he is undecided.
“I’m considering all my options,” he said.
Herbig could not be reached by telephone or email Sunday afternoon. Her attorney, Chris MacLean of Camden, told the Bangor Daily News on Friday that Herbig was looking forward to “moving on with her life” and running for re-election to the House District 43 seat, which represents Belfast, Belmont and Northport.
I wish these two could find it within themselves to keep their private drama out of the public spotlight for the sake of the people they presume to represent, the people deserve better.
I wish the Public could be kept out of this rediculous drama.
I think we had been, I hadn’t heard anything about this since the intial story. Erin decided to go for the sympathy vote and keep it going. Don’t blame the guy for standing up for himself. No one really knows what happened but if one is going to get press time the other should too.
I’m confused about what is being termed as a sympathy vote. Whoever released the terms of the settlement……let’s say, it was Erin. Releasing the details of the settlement wouldn’t provide any kind of help or sympathy in winning a re-election.
It appears to me that du Houx and family wouldn’t settle for getting on with their lives without sullying and smearing Erin Herbig. du Houx has persisted in suggesting that Ms. Herbig launched totally false allegations against him and that she is unstable and unbalanced? That would be a breach of their settlement.
Actually, his mother and other family members have been posting critical comments about Herbig on public websites, for months. Their comments have been defamatory, and inflammatory. There is little doubt those comments are the reason Herbig released the settlement.
“His mother and other family members have been posting critical comments about Herbig” so it makes it o.k. for her to go after him because of what his family does? She is so upstanding — talk about having to get the last dig. She should have made sure that she also included any family, friends and neighbors in her “contract”. Well live and learn — she’ll get it in the next “contract” with the next man she goes after to destory.
If the people of Belfast want this woman to REPRESENT them, it will say a lot about the people of Belfast.
I think he tried to keep it out of the public, but she just randomly decided to reopen it all by providing the agreement to the BDN.
His mother leveraged media coverage by leaking it to her clients.. if you want to see who she attempts to influence goto
maineinsights.com/ and read her vitrol against Herbig.
If his mother wants to write about her son then I don’t see any wrong in that. He was simply carrying on with his life and having to explain the facts to each individual who questioned him. Then the agreement was breached entirely by Herbig. His mother may have simply wanted people to know the truth.
I believe you’re wrong. I believe that if your mother (and you, and other family members) had simply left the situation alone, the settlement would have stayed private. Now look at the results. Has it helped, or hurt, your brother?
For months, du Houx’ mother and sister have been writing comments that are critical of Herbig on public websites, and I have little doubt that Herbig leaked the settlement as payback.
Very nice to hear your side of the story.. I find you very trustworthy..
Now we know why the Dems are slathering on the faux outrage over LePage’s “Gestapo” remark…
Huh?
Exactly. Anything to distract from this sordid mess.
If he had to sign this legally unenforceable crap, she should step down as well.
Erin maybe should have left well enough alone…if he decides to share those emails and texts then her political future may be in jeopordy…if she’d kept her mouth shut by the time the election was held people may have forgotten about this. It just might backfire and she won’t end up with the sympathy vote.
All is fair in love and war. Let’s have the gossip, more garbage to clog the mind of the no life BDN basement trolls.
where do you think the porn movies went ?
TMZ
I bet you’d like to get your paws on them?
Welcome to Trollsville — EnJoY!
Now, that most of the mist has cleared, the picture clearer, I would vote for Du Houx, probably make a good Representative, but I would not vote for Herbig, one can see through her now.
I wouldn’t vote for either of them. Maine spends millions on Clean Elections funding, administrative support, and the Legislature, and we can’t afford to throw tax dollars away on immature, self-interested people who don’t respect the office to which they were elected.
The agreement provides that du Houx would withdraw his candidacy for the Legislature by July 1, that the parties would not discuss the specific facts alleged in the protection from abuse complaint, and that the parties would not disclose the terms of the settlement agreement.
If du Houx had announced he was withdrawing from the House race because of his settlement agreement with Herbig, that would have violated the agreement, but there’s nothing in the agreement that would have prevented du Houx from simply announcing, with no elaboration, that he was withdrawing from the race. So du Houx is hardly “[setting] the record straight”, as he claims. In fact, if he repeatedly claimed up until June 29 that he wasn’t withdrawing from the race, he was either lying or intending to violate the agreement by continuing his candidacy.
This course of conduct surrounding the settlement agreement and his public statements – to say nothing about Herbig’s allegations of abuse and stalking – really call into question du Houx’s character and fitness to be a Naval officer. The Navy ought to look into this. They can start by making a simple Google search for “Alexander Cornell du Houx.”
Controlling Erin should have written out a script for him…she had him by the B**ls — his political future ruined he turned to his military future and knew that if he didn’t let her control the situation than she would ruin that too. I don’t blame him for stepping away and giving her what she wanted. It was her that blabbed to the press and here we are again. Unless Erin and her lover (oops I mean lawyer) scripted what words to use when he decided to step down from running then they should be quiet now. Maybe they’ll push him to the wall again with an add on to the “agreement” stay tuned next week for part two from Erin and her lawyer.
Yes since she is sleeping with the lawyer she new all the buttons to push.
The surprising thing was the ‘deal’ with the Navy occurred in December, long before the S*** hit the fan in May and while he denied leaving office. He got his escape hatch then; and the rest is history.
I guess the hiring credential for a ‘public affairs officer’ is a PUBLIC AFFAIR.
“Cornell du Houx produced copies of numerous emails and text messages between himself and Herbig that he says prove that vast portions of her statement for the temporary protection from abuse order were untrue.”
And the messages said what? What kind of reporting is this if you’re not going to tell us?
Now you know they can’t print anything bad about Herbig.
To save whats left of her dignity, it probably is not best for those to be published.
Your statement applies equally to both sides in this controversy. Neither will come out smelling like a posy.
An agreement isn’t worth it! Go to trial, make the b#%^}h prove you are abusive and actually a danger to them and society!!!
I will not forget the one I heard where the woman went swimming down the road from where her supposed abuser was, when she lived three towns away and there were several beaches between. Claimed he drove by twice, omg, he lives down the road. What the person can’t live a life anymore? Didn’t call the cops about her supposed concern until after her casual swim was over. If she was so scared and so concerned about her safety, why that beach, and why did she wait to make the phone call?
It should be harder to get a protection order. Don’t let people be mean to other people, take power and their kids away. I thought this country was not to support usurpation and despotism?
It’s civil, so unless you go to court for yourself, or have money, or a friend, there is no representation, but yet you should have to commit a crime for an abuse order to stand. WT……………? >:
The case won’t go to trial, at least in criminal court. A prosecutor reviewed the police investigation and declined to go forward. What does that tell you?
To support her request for the protection order Herbig wrote, “I have been concerned for my safety for the last several months and am terrified now.”
That’s not the type of thing that should be settled out of court. Her credibility is gone. The word “perjury” comes to mind.
It would be so very nice if Josh Povec (her ex-husband) would grant the press an interview. I would like to hear what he has to say about her considering the following snippets I found in earlier stories:
Hamm, Cornell du Houx’s attorney, said the relationship with Herbig
began in May of 2011 and “they continued to date throughout the summer.”
Herbig had been married to Josh Povec since 2007. According to Belfast
District Court records, the couple filed for divorce on Aug. 9, 2011.
The divorce was finalized on Jan. 17 of this year.
her ex-husband probably has a hush order on him.
You guys are all so crazy. Josh Povec is most likely trying to move on, which is what you should be doing. I can’t read these insane comments any more for any of these stories because you guys are the most ignorant, hateful and bigoted idiots I’ve ever heard of. I feel sick.
“That’s not the type of thing that should be settled out of court. Her credibility is gone. The word ‘perjury’ comes to mind.”
Obviously you don’t understand what perjury is.
Perjury applies to written affidavits. The only thing obvious here is that you are ….
Just because a settlement has been reached in a civil case does not indicate the plaintiff committed perjury in the complaint.
Now that’s a good example of the obvious. However, your logic is flawed because it doesn’t rule out perjury either. My suspicion of perjury was based on the idea that a truly “terrified” person would want the protection orders much more than the out of court settlement. I also think 17 pages is rather lengthy for a protection order filing of this type.
Do you like to argue much?
Considering that Cornell du Houx can’t enter the city in which Herbig lives and that he must give Capitol Police 48 hours’ notice before entering the Capitol, Herbig got the same effect as a judgment in her favor would have given her. Not to mention, Cornell du Houx has to turn over photos and videos of Herbig.
That is even more erroneous than your previous statements.
Right now, it would be illegal for the cops to enforce the out of court
agreement that is in place. He is free to roam the city where she lives
and keep the photos. The cops can’t enforce it any more than they can enforce a commercial contract between a contractor and his client. In order to enforce the agreement, Herbig would have to file a lawsuit claiming it was breached. Then she could seek immediate injunctive orders. If she actually gets those orders and they are not followed, she has to pursue contempt of court actions against him to get any enforcement. You can’t even begin to compare that to a PFA order.
Bottom line: I think her written statement that she was terrified is just a lie.
Herbig can enforce it by hauling Cornell du Houx back into court. Cornell du Houx is not “free to roam the city” or keep the photos.
“Thinking” that someone has lied about being terrified is never going to cut it for a perjury charge to even be entertained by the state.
1) Did you read and actually comprehend what I pointed out about the difficulties of enforcing this agreement they reached? Apparently not. She dismissed the legal action that would best protect a person who is “terrified”. She’s a liar.
2) It’s still perjury even if she is never charged. I never expressed any unrealistic expectations that she would be charged.
You seem to make assumptions for the sake of picking a fight. Once again I ask: Do you like to argue much?
I agree with part of what you say. Herbig’s and du Houx’s settlement agreement is a private contract between them that’s not enforceable by the police or any other third party. If either Herbig or du Houx is unhappy with the other’s breach of the agreement, his/her remedy is to go to court and bring a lawsuit for damages, a petition for specific performance, or something like that. It would be different if the agreement had been filed in court, approved by the judge, and made a part of a court order. But those things weren’t done, so as far as the court’s concerned it’s just a piece of paper.
That’s correct but she dismissed the request for PFA orders. Anyway, I think most judges would be wary about adding anything to those orders that doesn’t provide protection from abuse. Reasonable legal fees can be awarded in just about any type of legal action but that would probably be a separate order.
Agreed. I’m not a Maine lawyer and don’t know the scope of the PFA statute and the district court’s jurisdiction in such matters. Some of the agreement’s terms seem harsh and far ranging to me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they go beyond what the court could have ordered.
That thread was actually done beautifully. PaulNotBunyan and bandbox should be politicians. Two semi-opposing views coming together in a compromise or understanding of each other. That is really remarkable.
..and that’s adultery in the 66th district.
So what were you, hiding in the closet? You have no idea what happened, and then accuse the woman of sleeping with her lawyer? I have no idea what happened between the two and really don’t care who did what, but I think you are making up things. It sure sounds like you had a messy divorce in Belfast and can’t admit it possibly might have been your fault, but that is just pure speculation, just like your statement.
She is sleeping with her divorce lawyer.
…..and this is relevant how? Who cares about who is sleeping with whom? You seem obsessed with the character flaws and not so much with the domestic abuse stuff. She also may have bad breath and foot fungus but it doesn’t matter. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Where the proof of DV — if there was some then you can bet she’d had him in court — not signing some paper that her lawyer and she came up with…she’s vindicative enough to have taken him as far as she could in an attempt to play the victim…if there was proof and he didn’t have something that would dispute her claims then he would have lost everything.
You can argue the point about the DV or DA or harrassment but you seem focused on the character stuff. Some posting here are obsessed with it.
It’s a question of Ethics.
No. That is a different question. What politician has those?
As long as they are just sleeping.
This guy is weird.
Man…this is gonna be wicked good.
If only it didn’t A) cost valuable tax money, and B) deprive constituents of decent representation in Augusta, and C) distract from the Legislature’s ability to do business.
They should BOTH be out of public offices, and the BDN should then quit calling it news. People wound up in stupid things like this, even good people, have no business representing the public. They need to step out and take care of their private lives. The government has enough problems running itself as it is without this crap piled on top of it. I don’t care who is “at fault”.
Amen. A sordid spectacle, indeed.
Are these the people you want running the State??
Answer —-> NO.
Equally applies to both Herbig and du Houx.
There is something not right about this guy.
There is something not right about that women.
Cornell du Houx you might think about becoming an independent. I’d rethink the party affiliation after being chucked over board so publicly.
I thought part of the agreement was that he turn over all his computer photos and communications between the two. Evidently, he didn’t honor that either. Plus, his reasoning is flawed. If he had resigned there would have been no breaking of the confidentiality agreement. All he had to say was that he was being called back into duty. I, personally, think this young man needs psychological help, and I am surprised that the Navy is not pursuing testing prior to his return to the Navy.
It’s a good thing du Houx’s going into public affairs, where he’ll just be a face man with no serious duties and responsibilities. It’s hard to imagine him as, say, a division officer aboard a destroyer, standing watches and in charge of men at sea. This guy would never make it as a line officer in the fleet.
We all pick our jobs based on what we like and are good at…why is there a problem with him chosing something other than being a line officer in a fleet. Are you a military man at all or a police officer or anything in that line — does it make you less of a person because your not? Just wondering.
Marine Corps and Navy veteran. How about you?
25 years at a very good job — not military…does this make me less of a person? I don’t think so! I appreciate all that our military does, however,don’t think being a veteran puts you in a position to judge others anymore than anyother job would. As long as someone is doing something with THIER life then others need to repect it not put it down because it doesn’t meet what they think is more superior.
Why, then, did you ask if I was a military man?
Cornell du Houx is a combat veteran who fought in Iraq and now has a commission in the Navy.
So?
Um. Bandbox. Why are you so invested in this? That rapid fire of questioning was quite comical, but almost like it was personal. :)
Are you Cornell du Houx’s mother?
If I write anything on the blogs I use my name. So yes. Who are you?
I am bandbox. I use that name to preserve my anonymity on these internet blogs so as to avoid problems from nutcases. You never know who’s out there and what they might do. However, I will represent to you that I am not related to and do not represent your son, Ms. Herbig, or anyone else who has been mentioned in these news stories about your son. I have no personal stake and nothing to gain or lose in the matter. Now I have some questions for you:
Do you agree with your son’s claim that announcing his withdrawal from the race would have violated the agreement? If your answer is yes, please state the paragraph of the agreement and quote the exact language that you say prohibited such an announcement.
Do you know who provided a copy of the settlement agreement to the Bangor Daily News? If so, please identify that person.
Why did your son state publicly, until June 29, that he would not withdraw from the race when his agreement with Herbig required him to withdraw?
Why did your son settle the case with Herbig and sign the agreement instead of fighting it and proceeding to a hearing?
Do you agree that your son made the right decision by signing the agreement?
When did your son make his request to go on active duty with the Navy? Was it before or after he signed the settlement agreement with Herbig? Did your son’s request to go on active duty and the timing of it have anything to do with the Herbig case?
Read the article. What my son states is true.
I’ve read the article, and I don’t think your son is telling the truth.
bandbox is correct in not using his real name. You are correct using yours because of your connection to the story. You could always use something different to comment on other stories. The internet is mostly anarchy and the predators are rampant.
Best wishes to you and your son.
Um. He was pretty much a ‘grunt’ (I believe that is the term) for a number of years in the Marines who did, in fact, face very many serious duties and responsibilities. He literally worked his way up through the ranking system and just recently decided on becoming an officer in the Navy (the dark side, I suppose).
I would not have turned over any of it… and would have had a backup at a friends to publish on line if she mess with…
Trying to ruin a good mans name to better her political career with the boo hoo vote.
They’re both at fault. Neither was mature enough to serve as an elected representative.
I am amazed that, after all the killings in domestic violence cases, that people still so readily blame the woman.
I think both of these clowns are seriously mentally unstable…time for voters to stop voting for them…what has either of them done for YOU? OK du Houx…if you’re so squeaky clean, then violate the agreement, open the emails…let’s see. As for Herbig, get some help yourself as you spiral lower and lower down the “I’d hit that” food chain.
“I’d hit that food chain”. What does that mean? I think she did the protecetion order because she was worried about him “hitting that”. It looks like she doens’t want to be hit.
From what I’ve read the only one who ever HIT anyone was her.
You are really into “from what I’ve read”. It is right up there with “from what I’ve heard.” Highly unreliable!
So ready for Cornell du Houx to just get a 9-5 job and keep his nose clean and stay out of the papers. The more he drags this out, the more he ruins his own reputation. Please. Just . Go. Away.
I’m thinking that little Miss Erin continued the sagga of this…had she kept her mouth closed about the agreement more wouldn’t have come out. He has every right to not stay silent when she’s running him into the ground.
Both of them need to just go away.
maybe this will shake up the voters this year to look further than the lawmakers statements that they are all about keeping the higher standards that the people hold them too.The lawmakers are making the legislature look like a little peyton place.and the good old boys club shows thru again slap my wrist and i will be good till the next time.
Maybe he should do a background check on the next woman he gets involved with.
And vice versa. A simple Google search – Cornell du Houx – will suffice. Unless he changes his name, he’s not gonna be involved with women for a long time.
Sweet Jesus BDN – enough already!
The basic premise he puts forward is that he didn’t want to violate the agreement so he didn’t announce he wasn’t running? How do you get to announcing he wasn’t going to run as being violation of the agreement? All he had to say is that he wasn’t running! He didn’t have to say he wasn’t running because of the agreement. And Lupo, he didn’t have to sign it! He could have walked away and taken his chances in court. The fact he didn’t, and that he signed the agreement, tells me there were issues he didn’t want coming out in court.
Exactly. A simple statement that he was withdrawing from the race would not have violated the agreement.
He was afraid that if he persued it then she would ruin his military career. He already lost his political future at least for the time being why would he even chance it, I wouldn’t have. He probably would have gone quietly into the night had she not felt the need to have it resurface. I don’t know how old she is but she acts like a high school girl or someone that is very unsteady mentally.
When any repersentative announces that they are not running for reelection they usually state why. He was commissioned as an officer last December. He was planning this move long before he broke up with her and asked for his ring back. So he announced his plan to further his carrer in the Navy. Nothing wrong with that.
It’s an honarable career move.
I don’t disagree, but he could have said that and not violated the non-disclosure agreement. If he had done so I don’t think anyone would question it. The rationale that he couldn’t announce he wasn’t running because it violate the non-disclosure doesn’t ring true. As for stating a reason, he had one that had nothing to do with the agreement, he could have just stated he was returning to active duty.
He did state that he was going active to train as a public affairs officer in the Navy. When the press asked him- at that time – if his decision had anything to do with the agreement he could not tell them that then. The agreement states neither party could speak about what was in the agreement becase that would be a breach of the contract.
There was a point he was contimplating running and breaching the contract to do so, because of Ben Grants comments. Many people urged him to run after that.Now that the contract has been breached he can finally defend himself publically.
All he had to say is that he is returning to active duty and could not be sure he would be able to serve in the legislature. Period, end of story. When asked about it he could have ignored the question or just said he was returning to an active military service career. Quite honestly, it looks like he is trying to say none of this is his own doing. I’m sure there is blame on both sides, time to move on.
I agree that Ben Grant said much more than was needed in this situation.
It’s impossible to defend the indefensible. Both are now tarnished beyond repair, at least for the present.
Agreed. Nobody sane signs such an agreement voluntarily, not unless they have something to hide.
Just GO AWAY!
Who’s running against Herbig?
Good question. If I lived in her district, I’d certainly be calling town hall to find out.
District 43 – Belfast, Belmont and Northport.
Josh Povec, the ex-husband, is doing a fine job moving on…but it has not been easy for him to find out that 1) he was being cheated on for months 2) that he was being lied to 3) that she was engaged to Du Houx so soon after their marriage ended 4) that she is sleeping with her divorce lawyer. He put in hundreds of hours helping his former wife get elected in the first place. Now he fully understands that she does not deserve to represent the community in politics. I am quite sure he would love to tell his side of the story, but part of the divorce settlement states that he cannot. Every move she has made makes it clear that she is selfish, unstable, and unfit for public office. Every move Josh has made has proven what a stand up guy he is. It is hard to believe that anyone put through the ringer that Josh has been is able to consistently take the high road…that is exactly what he has done every step of the way.
Thanks for the update from the National Enquirer.
Poor chap :(
Yes, poor chap to have been married to her, but lucky to be out of it.
I hope they both find really sweet, even tempered, emotionally stable partners.
Even better – I hope they both become sweet, even-tempered, emotionally stable people.
Josh Povec: 1) he was being cheated on for months 2) that he was being lied to 3) that she was engaged to Du Houx so soon after their marriage ended 4) that she is sleeping with her divorce lawyer.
**********************
May we assume Alex du Houx, the fine upstanding military man and State legislator, was a willing participant in all this cheating and lying, as well as proposing to Ms. Herbig soon after her marriage ended? (Erin wasn’t doing all this cheating by herself?)
Your accusation of Herbig sleeping with her lawyer is slanderous. You are implying that Ms. Herbig was sleeping with her divorce attorney, while obtaining a divorce from Povec, and continued the tryst with said lawyer while romping around with du Houx, the fine upstanding military man and State legislator.
Erin Herbig cheated on Josh and then got engaged to Alex while still married to Josh. Then cheated on Alex with her divorce lawyer. You can’t make this stuff up. The truth.
Oh what a tangled web ! Why would Alex du Houx, the fine upstanding military man and State Legislator, propose to Erin Herbig and even purchase a ring while she was not yet divorced ? What does that say about du Houx’s judgment, reasoning and ethics? If he was that reckless and foolish, I’m simply stunned that Brunswick supporters would still be cheering him on to run again.
And…she accepted a ring while SHE was married? What does that say about her morals. Stunned that Belfast voters would still be cheering her on to continue to run. Who’s running against her? Oh wait I don’t care I’ll just check any box —
And the hopelessly in love with a married woman, Mr. du Houx , went out and bought the ring for the woman whose morals you question. Do you hold him responsible, in any way, for the fiasco that he certainly helped create?
Yes I do believe he is responsible for a part of this fiasco that he HELPED create but not 100% responsible for it as Erin would like people to believe. She’s trying to act completely innocent, the helpless little woman.
We aren’t, and I’ve been in secret meetings where his removal was plotted. The only letters of support are coming from Ramona, his mother, and Hinck, who apparently got du Houx to vote his way on the energy committee.
Other than perhaps Bowdoin College where du Houx was a novelty among Liberals—an Iraqi vet and involved in all those military interest groups ?????, few in town ever saw him at a public event let alone one of the many involved in legislation. Not only wasn’t he around, he spent a lot of time out of town, Belfast, etc. and ran around in several cars, one of which is pretty dinged up.
Bowdoin put him office and they will replace him. What he and his mother want is irrelevant.
Really? Secret meetings? That is absolutely sickening that his own party, where he has worked tirelessly in, held these secret meetings ‘to plot his removal’. I feel like I can really trust you now. You do not even have the gumption to have open table meetings based on truth and honesty. Way to go. Oh, that’s right you are part of the GREEN ones (who ran against Cornell du Houx).
In the real world of politics, stuff like this is always behind closed doors. Grow up and stop babbling about truth and honesty and trust, of which you know nothing. Alex was ‘installed’ by the Town Committee, he broke lots of rules, and he was removed by them.
Not sure if we agree on our politics but the way the political game is played…..you nailed it, well said.
Well, maybe the ‘real world of politics’ should become more real.
How do you know what Herbig’s divorce settlement says?
I do feel bad for this guy’s personal life being made public, but my definition of a stand up guy doesn’t make statements like: “If I wasn’t such a stand up guy I would say that she is selfish and unstable, but since I am a stand up guy, I won’t say it…I will just get someone else to.” Up to now, I had admired the guy for staying out of it.
I wondered who the real victim was and how much he was hurt. Thanks for the update. Another reason to get rid of Alex.
I’m glad this is still ongoing. He got a raw deal initially. I hope this goes all the way to court and she is forced to abandon her political career too. Politicians really need to focus on the state, neither of these individuals are able to do that now.
“. . . goes all the way to court . . . ” Well, it went to court, but du Houx was afraid and settled it to avoid a trial.
At last, a definite sign of investigating journalism……..Good work Chris. Now if only all reporters could catch on, maybe just maybe, the reader base would increase.
In reply to bandbox:
Maybe, but from what I read, she’s a proven liar and cheat in the realationship area which usually carries over to every day life. She’s got quite the tainted history even from her college days from what I’ve read.
From what I’ve read she also practices witchcraft, reads tea leaves, night hunts and searches for bigfoot…..from what I’ve read. Outrageous.
Hmmmmm. I don’t believe she would search for big foot….but practicing witchcraft…..
Who are the poor misguided victims who aid her in her lying and cheating ways? Do these poor innocent fellows fall under some kind of a magical spell where they are rendered senseless and helpless……and held against their will?
Dellys????……when you say Erin is a proven liar and cheat……if that be so, doesn’t her male partners consent to aiding and abetting in her lying and cheating ways? In this particular case, Alex du Houx entered into this relationship with Herbig, lived with her for a year, tho she was still married and wonder of all wonders, he bought her an engagement ring before her divorce was finalized. What is your opinion of the men who willingly engage in these dalliances and illicit affairs……takes two to tango.
Du Houx made an immature, foolish and reckless mistake, he fell in love……………with a married woman?
You write an article about a man who threatened violence against a woman, and all you can report on is HIS concern about HIS career? And from a male journalist, no less. All journalists should strive to eliminate bias from their work, and seek counterweights to their biases when possible. That goes for news organizations as a whole, as well.
The article is about a man accused of threatening a woman. The only person who says this happened is the woman. Police investigated. Prosecutors declined to take the case. Why do you state that this man “threatened violence against a woman” as fact? It seems you have your own bias.
I live in his district..he, his excessive absences, his ignorance of local concerns like the RR maintenance facility, his toadyism to national energy groups, his carry permit, his stalking, his scary history in threatening students against whom he ran while at Bowdoin, the role his mother plays in his voting behavior—mom first, constituents last/never, his lack of desire to communicate with all the constituents in his district, his possible adultery w/ Herbig, and his long stays in Belfast and Solon all make him an embarassment to our district…..the secret videos and photos of her asleep were creepy and a violation of her privacy.
I’m looking forward to either a better replacement from the Town Democ. committee or voting for Fred Horch, GREEN independent candidate and well known environmental activist.
Oh now it makes sense- now we know where your bias comes from.
Any constituent has the right to their opinion concerning their representative. If your brother truly does have a less than stellar record on showing up and performing his elected duties, his constituents have the right to criticize those actions. There isn’t any “bias” in that regard. Maine taxpayers pay money that support his salary and benefits, along with considerable expenses for per diem costs, administrative costs, and to run the entire Legislature. When an elected representative has a disappointing performance record, it hurts all Mainers.
Sounds to me like Cornell du Houx and his mommy are full of Houx.
New report about Cornell du Houx clearing his name: http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2012/07/10/brunswick-lawmaker-says-his-aim-move/129283
If he sincerely wants to “move on,” as the article states, it’s unfortunate that your actions have prevented him from doing so.
Some people really, truly, sincerely do not know when to STHU and stay quiet.