AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Husson University President Bill Beardsley won a legislative committee’s party-line approval Wednesday for a post on the State Board of Education, but not without first answering to Democrats’ concerns about how aware he was of allegations of child sexual abuse by the late Husson chaplain the Rev. Robert Carlson.
During a committee hearing on his nomination to the education board, Beardsley called the circumstances surrounding the investigation into allegations of abuse by Carlson a “tragic, tragic situation.” Still, he maintained he had no knowledge that Carlson had done anything illegal during the time they overlapped at Husson.
Members of the Legislature’s Education Committee voted on party lines, 6-4, in favor of Beardsley’s nomination, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats in opposition. His appointment next goes to the Senate, which will take up his and dozens of other appointments by Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday.
“He might be a superb member of the State of Board of Education,” said Rep. Richard Wagner, D-Lewiston. “However, as long as there is any uncertainty whatever with respect to the Carlson case, this is the premier state education board for the state of Maine. At this time, I will not be able to support the nomination.”
Beardsley faced the Education Committee about a month after his name appeared in a Maine State Police report investigating Carlson, the Husson chaplain from 1995 until 2006 who jumped to his death last year after learning that police were investigating allegations that he sexually abused an 11-year-old boy in the 1970s.
The police report cited a witness who said that Husson students had approached Beardsley to make him aware of abuse allegations.
According to the police report, Beardsley discussed the allegations with Carlson and Carlson resigned as Husson’s chaplain. He didn’t report those allegations to police.
Beardsley has disputed the accuracy of the police report, telling the Bangor Daily News last month that he had “no knowledge of anything illegal or unlawful of anything Bob Carlson ever did.” He repeated that claim Wednesday in response to questions from Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland.
“My heart goes out to the people involved in it. My heart goes out to Bob Carlson’s family,” Beardsley said. “In my point of view, I dealt with everything appropriately.”
Alfond asked Beardsley if he thought he was a “mandated reporter” at Husson and, as a result, obligated to report any suspicion of child abuse to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
“A person at Husson in a position of mine has a responsibility to report illegal behavior, anything,” he said. “In the case of the Robert Carlson situation, it didn’t apply, but I’m very aware of that position of an educator.”
While questions about his knowledge of the allegations against Carlson marked the most controversial point of Beardsley’s nomination hearing, legislators spent the bulk of the session asking Beardsley for his thoughts on educational issues, and three people testified in his support.
“I can’t think of anyone who has more qualifications to do what you’re being nominated to do,” said Rep. Peter Johnson, R-Greenville.
Beardsley served 22 years as president of Husson before stepping down to run for governor in 2010. He later was appointed LePage’s conservation commissioner.
Beardsley’s job as conservation commissioner phased out Aug. 30 when the state’s conservation and agriculture departments merged. Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb became commissioner of the combined Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Beardsley, who lives in Ellsworth and holds a doctorate in geography and environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University, also has worked in government, banking, higher education and energy positions in Maine, Vermont and Alaska.
The nine-member State Board of Education acts in an advisory capacity to the education commissioner and makes policy recommendations to the state Legislature. The board also approves school construction projects and sets standards for teacher certification. Three of the board’s members are also members of the state’s Charter School Commission and the board appoints the remaining members.
Beardsley told Education Committee members he’s comfortable taking policy positions that don’t square perfectly with those of LePage, his former boss.
In addition to Beardsley, Education Committee members Wednesday unanimously approved two other State Board of Education nominees: Peter Geiger of Lewiston and Ande Smith of North Yarmouth.
The committee also cleared four appointees to the board of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics magnet school in Limestone: Craig Kesselheim of Southwest Harbor, Sylvia Lowry of Monroe, Christine Voyer of Portland and Dale Gordon of Caribou.
Shame on them for supporting him. We are a doomed society.
Horrible. Good ol’boy Republican behavior.
This outrage is just another piece of tainted republican political maneuvering that demeans our America. Shame on them, shame.
What did he accomplish while he was conservation commissioner? I have not heard one thing he has done in this position.
Why did all the reporters in Bangor give up on such an important case? This case should be still headline news until we all know the truth.
The truth? or what you want the truth to be?
Here’s “The Truth”
Carlson is dead. He can never be found “guilty” of anything, under our system of justice.
Glen Ross has satisfied the local D.A. and the State A.G. that he did nothing illegal.
Mandated reporters are not truly “mandated” to do anything. As it should the concept of “free speech” includes the right to say nothing. That is an old New England principle. Beardsley may or may not have “known” something. He may have suspected more than he knew. As with other folks involved with this case, his actions are between him and whom-so-ever he chooses to share them with. I do not know Mr. Beardsley but he is reported to be a very religious man. For him that will be punishment enough.
Some children are born to drunks and crack-heads, and some are born to kind generous folk intent on being good parents. Stop looking for “fair” it doesn’t exist, particularly under color of law.
This story is as dead as Carlson. sometimes it’s ghost will haunt all of us as the principals die and we hear about their connection to the greater world in their obituaries.
Wait a second right to say nothing? When it is part of your job to report them maybe they should not have taken the job. Right to say nothing was lost when they sign the contract to be a mandated reporter. Yes regular people can say nothing . A Teacher can not have sex with a 17 years old student but a regular person can and probably would get away with it because it is not part of a job. If that is the case why do we not dismiss all case with teachers having sex with kids over 16? Some people are sworn to protect. If you do not like get another JOB.
OMG, you think the reporters knew too?! Yuck!!
Read the post again. I said they did nothing illegal. violating employment policy is NOT illegal. It could cost you a job.
Incidently RIGHTS (as outlined in our constitution) are NEVER “lost” just given away by the meandering herd of cattle we’ve become.
I guess you do not get it if a teacher or mental heath doctor has sex with a student they go to jail where as a regular people has sex with a 16 yr old legal age of consent in Maine nothing happens . When you choice employment different laws do apply .
“This story is as dead as Carlson”….good on the 2nd part
Carlson was reported to be a very religious man too. That has nothing to do with it.
“Party Line ” voting…we will remember in November.
Exactly. This is the kind of thing that has people calling Repbulicans in the house and senate a “rubber stamp” for LePage.
Based on Beardsley’s statements to police about the Carlson case, he should be nowhere near a school board, or its children; since it is obvious that he isn’t there to protect them.
Beardsley hasn’t protected anything that was entrusted to him. He doesn’t belong in the public domain.
Note to voters. Come November 6th we can stop people who have unanswered questions like this in their background from governing over us. Time for the good old boys in the GOP/Tea Party to get a wake-up call. Vote Democratic.
Why focus on an assumption that Bill knew what was going on? Why not on all the positive things he has done?
Why focus on an assumption? Why not on the positive things Bill has done for the community and for the state of Maine?
Fred – you are lost
You may be right. I was not a Carlson fan based on a negative experience (unrelated to anything he has been accused of) But do respect he has a family that probably is tired of all the BS. Anyway….I will continue reading the post regarding Mr. Beardsley as well as the BDN reports and perhaps learn some things I do not already know.
Ya and no way his family could have suspected anything. They profited from from this mans evil either knowing or not his estate should be attached .
He may have done a few positive things but if he turned his back on a child molester that is just as bad as doing it himself.
Whatever the board was thinking, the message they are sending is that those who might have plausibly protected child abusers should suffer no consequence when it comes to gaining powerful positions in society.
Because those with powerful positions should be held to extraordinarily high standards, what the board did was wrong. It was a political not an ethical decision, and the overall message is one of mediocrity at best, and maybe much worse, depending on the evidence implicating Beardsley.
I doubt that you really mean what you said with regard to those in positions of power should be held to extraordinarily high standards. Do you mean to say that here in the USA, if you are someone important then you are treated differently under the law, that there should be special laws for the special people? I am a Bill Clinton fan but did you feel that way about him during the Lewinsky scandal? I don’t think that we can do that but I am open to your thoughts. I am not, by the way, defending the fact that Beardsley had an opportunity to tell and he didn’t, just questioning the special law theory.
I am sad to read that you don’t know the differance between a man who likes to rape children and adults having an affair.
Its fairly evident that you have a reading disorder.
I
may have dyslexia but I would never compare a married man having an affair to a
priest molesting children like you just did.
Why assume that Bill knew what was going on? He has done some positive things for Bangor and the state of Maine.
Yes, Mr. Beardsley has done positive things for Husson College/University, the Bangor area, and many parts of Maine. However, there are too many discrepancies to confirm his nomination at this time to the State Board of Education.
The State Police report cites that Husson students (note plural) informed him of allegations of abuse by Carlson. Furthermore, that Carlson resigned as Husson’s chaplain after Beardsley discussed the allegations with him.
Mr. Beardsley denied the accuracy of the report, stating that he had “no knowledge of anything illegal or unlawful of anything Bob Carlson ever did.” Is he denying that Husson students spoke to him about allegations that Carlson committed sexual abuse? Would they have a reason to lie to the State Police? Would Bill Beardsley have a reason to lie? Who would have more to lose?
Why didn’t the Legislative Committee dig deeper to attempt to clarify the differing statements before confirming the nomination? Also, Beardsley’s response was disingenuous to Sen. Alfond’s question if he was, as President of Husson, a mandated reporter with the legal responsibility to report any suspicion of child abuse to Maine DHHS.
Here is Beardsley’s quote, “A person at Husson in a position of mine has a responsibility to report illegal behavior, anything,” he said. “In the case of the Robert Carlson situation, it didn’t apply, but I’m very aware of that position of an educator.” He did not directly answer the question, instead gave a generalist reply. A simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ was required. He gave a political answer, in effect, a non-answer.
There are too many questions and not enough answers.
So did Carlson if you really want to go down THAT road…..when one chooses to do ‘nothing’ one is actually choosing to do ‘something’…..Beardsley knew something was going on and he did nothing….he (as well as others) enabled Carlson to continue being the monster and pedophile he was for many years…. by keeping their silence. Disgusting.
He admits he was told he had a pedofile stalking Hussin collage. He says he told the creep to stay away but we have proof that Bearsly not only let the child mollester on the school grounds but we have pictures of Beaqdsly on statge with the baby rapist sitting right next o him even afte Beardsly knew what kind of monster the preist was.
Sorry for the duplications.. had to re-register on discuss
“My heart goes out to the people involved in it. My heart goes out to
Bob Carlson’s family,” Beardsley said. “In my point of view, I dealt
with everything appropriately.” —Where have we heard this before?
Yuck
What a joke. People ….. supporting this guy.
This is what happens when you let the foxes run the hen house.
Republicans have no shame.
This is precisely how creeps like Carlson get away with their behavior.
Actually, creeps like Carlson get away with their behavior because the victims do not dare to talk for fear of embarrassment and public humiliation.
Or maybe people don’t speak up because when they do, the person they confide in doesn’t do anything. Seems like something along those lines may have happened at Husson, no?
Maybe, I’m certainly not disagreeing with you but offering other real reasons.
Its is more about greed than anything. I am thinking Carlson had enough cloat to get someone fired who mad waves . That is not the point no job is worth not protecting kids .
Bobby Henderson? Is that you?
fsm
or that their families will be killed or they’ll be sent to jail
Another fine example of the good old boys club over look all the past transgressions.When they combined the depts.Why not let him go instead of keeping him on at the same salary or more for overseeing what? another fine example of making another do nothing paid a lot position supported by the taxpayer,when they are supposed to be saving tax dollars instead of creating a bigger money eating machine.
Keeping him on the public dole is all part of the GOP ruse to maintain power over the people while lying to them about how republicans are working for the good of the citizenry.
Have heard from a friend who has worked with Bill B. that he is not even capable of composing his own emails, and dictates them, as he literally does not know how to create them himself.
Please do not elect or appoint him to anything!
I bet he knows how to use a computer when it suits him
Omission is the same as commission Dr. Beardsley……
Something very smelly and rotten about the Carlson case.
Once again Garrett Mason falls in line. Does as Lepage wants 100% of the time.
A vote for Garrett Mason is a vote for Lepage. Send Mason back to his parents home, oops, he still lives there.
Somebody tell me how this is different from the situation with Joe Paterno at Penn State.
More money at Penn State. Otherwise, exactly the same. All of them cover-up for each other. I found it disturbing to see a photo of Glenn Ross with a small child a few days ago. My stomach turned over.
Wow!!!! Beardsly is saying he didn’t know about the pedofile stalking his school and even when he was told about it he acted appropriotly by doing nothing???????. Is this how he will behave now that he is in charge of all our children???????????? These Republicans are sick sick people.
Not just republicans people in power on both parties. I bet some Dems know about Carlson too. Power corrupts people .
It was the Republican govenor and the Republican commitee members who want to give this pedofile enabler power over all the school children of Maine. Like I said before These Republicans are sickk , sick people who should all be tossed out this November before Beardsly lets anymore of his perverted pals into our schools.
He is sick but if the shoe was on the other foot and he was a dem the republicans would be the ones with an issue . Sick people in power from both parties. I know many decent republicans as I do democrats . Most people mean well till they are in power. Beardsley should go I agree . Many Lepage too just for suggesting this man. Bet they could find a decent Teacher to fill this job
You know you would not be saying the same thing if we were talking about one of your beloved democrats.
If the Democrats where in power they would never nominate a pedofile enabler to run our schools. Only a sick and sadistic pig Like Paul Lepage and his army of slaves would do that.
If you ride with a horse thief you hang with the horse thief. Unless your a personal friend of Paul Lepage then it’s open season on our little ponies.
Let’s all sing along….”Just a good ol’ boy, never meaning no harm…..” Glad to see the war on domestic abuse didn’t go so far as to prevent a “leader of the community” getting a position of authority over children. I gotta go gag now.
“MANDATED REPORTER”: A “mandated reporter” is a legal term under section 22 – ‘Suspected Child Abuse Reporting Law’. It says, in summary, that and educational, medical, psychological, police officer -and other similiar- professional who has ‘a reasonable cause to suspect that a child is or has been abused is required by state law to report this information to the appropriate state authority’.
This is NOT an option, NOR is it for the “mandated reporter” to make the decision of the validity of the info or not.
IF a mandated reporter FAILS to report suspected child abuse, they can be PROSECUTED by the attorney general’s office for committing a CRIME themselves! (Chapt. 22 describes this specifically). That’s the way the law has been for decades!
IF this guy was told about a case of child abuse (victim under 18 at time of alledged abuse), then he BROKE the LAW in not reporting it! As did any other mandated professional who heard or had reasonable cause to suspect MR. Carlson had or was abusing any child.
It’s important that we have conclusion on the Carlson case; specifically to follow up on the suspected/rumored failing of many mandated reporters to follow the LAW.
In the field of child abuse reporting, I’ve seen so many “respectable” mandated reporters intentionally not reporting for many reasons; not wanting to get involved, not being sure if the info was correct (there is an immunity for reporting in ‘good faith’), and not wating to squeal on a ‘good-ol-boy’ who they want to believe has changed.
Let’s see the Attorney General start prosecuting some of these “mandated reporters” who’ve broke/are breaking the law — one way to help insure our children are safer from pediphiles in professonal and powerful positions!
I can just about garrintie the AG and Paul Lepage have no interest in going after these pedofile enablers. To many of their friends would get caught in that net. Now I truly understand why the church told their parisioners to vote for Lepage.
He was in a position to strongly encourage those with allegations to report them to the police. Did he even do that much?
Pour Out The Tea !!
A November to remember !
This is a good example of why the education is so bad in Maine. You elect people like this to run a department. This man was protecting Carlson, who was abusing kids. This is not a good postition for Beardsley to have. Give it to someone who actually cares about the state of Maine, and who will “protect” kids.
Cozy!
So what is Lepage doing supporting the action of Beardsley’s by turning his head. Well the Bangor Police did the same and got away with it. Maybe there is a place down in Augusta for them to Gov. Lepage. You must need somemore people down there that don’t tell the truth that can hang around with Beardsley’s.
Of course he was approved. Would we expect anything different? A man who did not protect his students will now be in charge of the education of our children. Welcome to Maine! The goverment of this state is a disgrace.
Dear Senate,
Please do not confirm this position, you have the power to do the right thing! At the very least this man should have been fired as Commissioner for not being forthright with information he knew about Carlson and now he is being rewarded to an Education position ! Do what you have been elected to do and for once do the right thing… For the hard workers who have educated our students and the citizens of the State of Maine. Please do what we have trusted you
to do – the right thing!!