BRUNSWICK, Maine — A photographer and consulting firm principal stepped forward and was unanimously approved to replace the embattled Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx at Saturday’s Brunswick Democratic Town Committee caucus.
Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry, 25, will replace Cornell du Houx on the ballot for House District 66 in Brunswick.
Cornell du Houx, who bowed out of the race as part of a private agreement with fellow legislator Rep. Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, to drop a temporary protection order she filed against him, submitted his withdrawal notice on July 2. The agreement with Herbig, which Cornell du Houx said Sunday was no longer in effect, also bars him from entering the city of Belfast for the next decade or visiting the state Capitol in Augusta unless he alerts Capitol Police 48 hours before his arrival.
“That is what I agreed to but in the future I have no restraint because she breached it,” he said, saying Herbig broke the contract when her lawyer released details about the secret agreement to the media. “If I want to go to the State House anytime in the next decade or go to Belfast, I‘m not barred from doing that.”
Cornell du Houx’s withdrawal notice cited an active duty assignment with the U.S. Navy that begins in January 2013, around the time a new Legislature will start work in Augusta, as the official reason for dropping out of the race.
“It was breached after I made the decision not to run,” Cornell du Houx said.
Daughtry is a photographer and principal at the consulting firm Maquoit Bay, and also writes a food blog called GrowingupJulia.com.
“One of the things that pushed me to run was protecting our small businesses, the environment and our public education system,” the new candidate said Sunday. “I love Brunswick. This is where I have grown up and I want to live here, and I want to raise my children here.”
Not just the Democratic candidate for District 66 dropped out of the race — candidates for the Green-Independent and Republican parties also withdrew after the June primary.
Green-Independents in the area replaced David Frans with Frederick Horch, and local Republicans meet on Thursday to replace John Bouchard. Several messages left for the results of the caucus were not returned as of noontime Sunday.
The Brunswick Maine Republican Town Committee’s Facebook page states the caucus would also select a replacement for the District 63 seat, but did not list the results of Thursday’s gathering.
Daughtry graduated from Brunswick High School and went to school at Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she majored in studio art and minored in history and landscape architecture. Over the years, she has worked as a reporter, photographer, waitress and farmhand.
The community has “a wealth of small businesses and a really vibrant downtown and I want to see it continue to grow,” she said, especially since she sees people leaving the area.
“A lot want to stay here but are having a hard time finding affordable housing and jobs,” Doughty said. “We all want to stay.”
BDN reporters Matthew Stone and Christopher Cousins contributed to this story.
“One of the things that pushed me to run was protecting our small businesses, the environment and our public education system,”
We already have MORE than enough politicians “protecting” the public education system. How about improving it for a change instead of relentlessly throwing money at it with no improvement in results.
I love the ironry of BDN concurrently running a story that THOUSANDS of kids are not challenged byMaine public (government) schools.
I’m sure, as a Democrat, “Daughtry, 25,” will make it a top priority to continue this sad situation.
This letter appeared in the BDN, from an active duty soldier, and I think it says a lot about the coverage this issue received:
I’m in the Army — heading back to Afghanistan in a few weeks. I’ve
followed the news about a former Marine who served in Iraq who has
withdrawn his re-election bid to go active in the Navy. Rep. Alex
Cornell du Houx is a commissioned officer in the Navy and he deserves
more respect, especially since the police dropped the investigation
without needing to interview him.
In your first report, you publicized a long list of allegations made by Rep. Erin Herbig. His
ex-fiancee’s accusations were the text of the temporary order
she obtained. These temporary orders are designed to give people and
the court system time before a hearing where a judge decides about the
allegations. Your sensationalized report troubled many veterans, like
myself. It made it seem that anyone who fights for our country may have a
mental disability. This was totally uncalled for. People said he must
have post-traumatic stress disorder.
When Cornell du Houx’s psychological report gave him a clean bill of
health, your newspaper did not write anything about this, leaving
thousands of readers in the dark. Other news agencies reported on this.
At every point you sensationalized a combat veteran’s life. Honor
veterans. They defend our constitutional rights — like freedom of speech
news agencies need.
Mark Ludzack
Augusta
Good post Mark
As a member of a service family I actually think Cornell du Houx dishonored the military by blaming his withdrawal on his active duty deployment instead of saying something totally honest like “my settlement agreement with Erin Herbig included my agreement to withdraw from the race.” That ploy tells me he isn’t officer or gentleman material.
under the terms of the agreement he was not allowed to talk about what was in the agreement, so he couldn’t say that at all.
Now he can speak out since her attorney confirmed it was the agreement that was published in the BDN.
Okay, then he could have simply said “I’ve decided to not run again.”
The problem I have is his “blaming” his decision on the military service. The paper has quoted him saying 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, so I find his blaming the ending of the race on his assignment disingenuous.
Disingenuous is a mild way of putting it.
Very well stated.
Actually in his statement on why he said he is not running he did not blame it on the military. Sadly people interpret it that way – it states clearly that he has chosen to make the decision to serve: “I have chosen to take this opportunity to serve my community, state and nation by progressing my career in the Navy.” (http://www.timesrecord.com//news/2012-07-06/Commentary/Why_I_chose_not_to_seek_reelection.html)
“Maine’s Legislature convenes in January 2013 at the same time I have orders from the Navy to report for active duty starting Jan. 8,” wrote Cornell du Houx. “When on active duty, I am prohibited from working in any political manner, as members of the military are sworn to protect the Constitution and follow the orders of our civilian political leaders. I won’t be able to be at the State House to properly represent my constituents of District 66.”
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/06/29/politics/embattled-brunswick-lawmaker-alex-cornell-du-houx-withdraws-from-house-race/
Very true that active duty members can not partake in politics – as your
quote notes it his was his decision and as also stated in the Bangor
Daily:
“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.” http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/07/08/politics/state-house/cornell-du-houx-i-didnt-announce-withdrawal-from-house-race-because-i-didnt-want-to-violate-agreement/?ref=relatedBox
Again, not taking personal responsibility. It’s the Navy’s fault, it’s Erin’s fault, it’s Ben Grant’s fault. There is a pattern here.
Good Letter, Mark…Thank yhou for your service
Good luck Mattie! Buckle in, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
I don’t think this is an enforceable contract as the provisions were so outrageous.
Then why did du Houx sign it?
To placate Herbig?
I guess you’re right, if signing the agreement was necessary to placate Herbig and placating Herbig was necessary to get her to drop the domestic abuse case so that he could avoid going to trial and losing.
Where are the pictures and videos he turned over????
It’s clear from paragraphs 14 and 15 of the settlement agreement (published with the July 6 article) that if either party improperly discloses or discusses the terms of the agreement, then the confiidentiality terms fly out the window and the other party can publish and discuss the entire agreement. But I don’t see anything about improper disclosure negating the entire agreement and I would be amazed if there were such a term.
If this article correctly reports what du Houx has said (i.e., that the agreement is no longer in effect and he is free to enter Belfast and the State House), I’m sure that Herbig and her lawyer will have something to say about it – real fast – and be back in court seeking further relief.
I hope the BDN follows up on this and reports anything in the agreement, or the absence of anything, that would negate du Houx’s restrictions from Belfast and the State House.
There are some photos on a Facebook page belonging to Alex’s sister
Rebecca that show Erin and Alex together, some of which show evidence that Erin lied in the original TPA. All it takes is a little digging on the internet and you can find out who is telling the truth or not.
Mattie Daughtry’s candidacy announcement can be found here.
Just so Herbig doesn’t get hysterical again I read this in the Forecaster
article:
Cornell du Houx said he is ready to leave the episode in his past.
“I want to make it clear to (Herbig) that I intend to honor the provisions
of the agreement regarding not contacting her,” he said. “I just want us
both to move on.”
“I want to make it clear to (Herbig) that I intend to honor the provisions
of the agreement …” except I am going to state in the paper that I could violate the agreement by going to belfast or the statehouse if I want.
Please. His family has been talking about Herbig and the facts of the case for months. As bandbox says below, the agreement appears to allow her to talk about the terms if they did that (sounds like her lawyer knew they were likely to engage in this behavior). So, if she did leak it, that does not mean the other provisions do not apply. Alex, do yourself a favor: keep your mouth shut and get on with your life. To his family: stop enabling him.
Good luck Mattie!!
BDN, Please ask tougher questions about this timeline and Herbig cheating on her husband (who she was married to until early 2012).
“He provided The Forecaster with several text messages, e-mails and
photographs from his time with Herbig that, he said, prove their
relationship began in early 2011 and show that he was not stalking or
harassing Herbig.
“Cornell du Houx also maintained that there were 17 different “lies” in Herbig’s request for protection.”
– http://bit.ly/NdtyVk
For those of you who are still skeptical about Alex’s side
of the story, you may find the following link eye-opening.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82782296@N02/
There are many photos here, which among other things show text messages that
were sent between Erin and Alex while they were together. Note the
time-date stamps on the messages, as well as what she is saying in private
compared to allegations made against Alex in the public.
The following statements are from a press release that Alex issued today in
regard to the new evidence:
“”The photo named “Erin’s texts” is one example of the kind of texts she
wrote to me during the time frame that she claimed, “I have been concerned
for my safety for the last several months and am terrified now.” In texts she
asked to go to DC on a romantic vacation, wanted to see my new apartment,
agreed to attend couples concealing and said she loved me and “wanted us
to move forward together forever more than everything.”
Erin claimed I moved things in our apartment. The reality is that in March I
had to get Emily Cain, minority leader in the House, to ask Erin to return my
possessions from our apartment in Belfast, as Erin would not respond to my
request. Emily Cain also told Erin I wanted my ring back as Erin never returned
it. The attached text is a conversation with Emily asking if I finally got my
positions back. Emily: “Did you get your stuff?” Alex: “Yes –
Thank you, she had Megan bring it to me – my car looks like I’m moving.”
The photo named “broken engagement” is an email to Erin from me
asking for the engagement ring back on March 26: “I can’t even
believe I am saying this an email but your lack of communication leaves me no
other option… I am asking tragically for my ring back and to call off the
engagement.” She never returned the ring.””
The Portland Sun has published emails and text content which counter key allegations made by Herbig in her temporary order. Go to: http://www.portlanddailysun.me/index.php/newsx/local-news/7278-legislators-falling-out-revived-in-emails