BREWER, Maine — For 24 years, not all consecutive, City Councilor Larry Doughty has listened to the concerns of residents, and despite being unseated in Tuesday’s local election, he said he has no plans to stop now.
“I’m still going to do my job, even though I’m not a city councilor,” he said Wednesday morning after losing his re-election bid by 249 votes. “I’ll still know what is going on. I’ve been defeated before, but this is the first time in 12 years.”
Doughty admitted that he was surprised and disappointed when the vote tallies Tuesday night showed he lost to challenger and local postal carrier Matthew Vachon.
Vachon, 31, succeeded in his second bid in two years for a council seat, with his 2,383 votes topping Doughty’s total of 2,134.
“I’m really happy for Matt,” said Doughty, who was friends with Vachon’s grandfather and has known him his entire life. “He’s my mail carrier, you know, and he’s a good kid.”
Vachon thanked his mother, Michele Perkins, and Doughty, for their support during the election. He described Doughty as “the man who has been a mentor and friend since before I even thought about running.”
“There is really no words to adequately describe how important he has been to me and how important he will remain to me moving forward,” Vachon said of Doughty in a Facebook post. “I’m still in a state of shock and awe at this point, but I’m also excited to get to work and proudly serve my fellow citizens of the city of Brewer.”
The other seat up for grabs Tuesday went to Brewer Mayor Jerry Goss, who was re-elected to a second term on the City Council with 2,684 votes.
“It’s been a heck of an honor to serve,” Doughty said. “I really pride myself in the fact I’ve never missed an official City Council meeting in 24 years. I never missed one. I’ve made it to them all.”
He is second longest-serving council member, behind only Gerald “Gerry” Robertson, who served for 46 years.
Howard Kroll, Brewer’s City Clerk and registrar of voters, said almost 500 new voters turned out to cast ballots, and Doughty has a theory that many of those voted for Vachon.
“They were all young people pretty much, and I think that is one of the things that put over Matt,” he said.
Doughty, 73, said he also believes his age played in a role in his defeat, as voters said, in essence, “Let’s change the color.”
“Matt is going to be an excellent councilor,” he said. “He will serve the citizens of Brewer very well.”
Doughty also noted that he was very vocal in his opposition to the fireworks restriction referendum, which voters approved 3,013 to 1,797, and that may have played a role in his defeat.
“I have been putting my issues out there — I don’t hold back — you know me,” he said.
Doughty, who for years has used his blog, ourstory.com/larrytdoughty, to keep residents informed about happenings in the Brewer area, said he plans to continue his postings, and may add even more.
“It’s probably going to get more interesting now,” he said. “I’m going to try to be nice.”
His blog post on Wednesday said he was disappointed to lose his seat, describing his time as a city councilor as “a great ride.” Doughty also said he is looking forward to running the next time a seat on the council becomes available.
“I’m only 73, you know,” he said.
Best of luck to you Larry.
So Mr. Doughty is going to “try to be nice”? What exactly does that mean? Larry, take another look at the voting…people voted you OUT! It means they are tired of your blogs, your BDN comments, your worrying about what’s going on in Bangor and all the other childish things you do. Instead of focusing on making life miserable for the councilors like you did last time you got voted out, why not show a little bit of class for once and let them do the jobs they were elected to do without having to contend with your immaturity? Go find a hobby or something.
well stated….. good bye Larry, and please, save the taxpayers the trouble and hassle and don’t run again, EVER!
I just wish we could still use fireworks in Brewer :( The people have spoken and they embrace the nanny state.
What do you do when someone who has lost his job tells you that he’s going to keep doing his job? It’s time for Brewer to make some changes & this election is an indication that it may finally be ready to do so.
Sometimes it can be hard when your job disappears and that is what you did, it’s what you knew, and it defined you, and in communities.
At least he is old enough to collect retirement, and doesn’t have to worry about retraining and getting another job so he can get health insurance and afford to retire someday.
Any sort of politician would be very smart to stay away from these message boards and blogs like this one entirely….I’d bet that more than one of the folks who voted for the other guy in this case, did so because of something Larry said right on this particular message board….
I am gonna try to be fair here… Larry has been a very good councilor and did a decent job of listening to Brewer residents… That being said there is no doubt whatsoever that his outspokenness was his downfall in this election… Larry got the boot from this page over a year ago for mixing it up with trolls and normal posters alike… Larry I wish you well and even though I am no longer a Brewer resident I am forever a Brewer Witch… I wish you well and look forward to sparring with you with both respect and tenacity… Peace!!~!!
The superintendent and the fireworks question sank Larry. Joe Ferris,Jerry Goss, and Archie Verow stuck their necks out and did the right thing in supporting the fireworks referendum. 63 percent of Brewer voters voted to limit fireworks. How does a councilor miss that if he is a good listener?
Because he doesn’t listen, he just runs his mouth. Even my parents, life long Brewer residents were tired of his comments, and the final straw: fireworks that went off all last summer in my parents residential neighborhood, causing my elder parents great anxiety, feeling like they could not sit out on their porch with their two small dogs, because of all the fireworks so close by. One dog had so much anxiety from the noise, he had to go on medication. I was happy to be residing in Brewer this election so I could cast my vote to “evict”…… get a hobby Larry……..
I’m glad that your folks will have a better atmosphere in their neighborhood going forward. Hopefully the new legislature will rid our state of fireworks now that our Governor has way less power. Democracy worked here. Two residents went to the council asking for help on the fireworks issue. Joe Ferris, Jerry Goss and Archie Verow supported the referendum. 63% of Brewer voters supported the new law.
Larry prided himself in looking out for older residents.Did he really think that those folks wanted to listen to fireworks? One mouth and two ears Larry!
Classy comments Councilor – your service to Brewer is deeply appreciated. Hope to see you on the ballot next November. Matt was a good choice – together Brewer will do well to have you both serving.
Classy comments Councilor – thank you for your years of service to the citizens of Brewer. Matt looks like a good choice – hope to see you on the ballot next November. Brewer would do well to have both of you serving. Your twenty-four years of service is beyond commendable.
Realist04401
and Main girl. What planet are you two living on? Your comments about
Councilor Doughty, are so out to lunch. Do you have no conception of
what the councilors job is about? Obviously, you both are just to
ignorant of the duties. I have worked with Larry over several years, and
I know how he does his job, and his compassion for his fellow citizens.
You two sound so bitter, and have let true animosity cloud your minds.
Must be much behind to your comments, than what is showing up here on
this thread. Give it a rest, and try to get yourselves educated, rather
than trying to poison this man and his job. Have either one of you
people on this thread run for public office? Of course not. This message
also applies to WESTSHORES- who has had so much to say on the other
thread. He too, doesn’t have a clue about what councilor’s do, other
than rant and rave continuously.
I respect you for defending your friend Larry. However Mr. Doughty lost his re-election bid in spite of being the hard worker that most people know him to be. He initiated a ridiculous referendum requiring the superintendent to live in Brewer and sat by while some city neighborhoods became firing ranges for inconsiderate neighbors with fireworks. I know you read the story here of the elderly couple that couldn’t even enjoy their porch last summer.
Your comments concerning who has or has not held public office seem a bit off to me. Here in America citizens can criticize their elected officials when necessary. I voted for Larry every time he ran until this week. He’s just way off now on the issues and voters reacted to it.