WESTBROOK, Maine — A Westbrook city councilor is apologizing for comments he made about Gov. Paul LePage “meeting his maker.”
It happened at a meeting Tuesday night in Scarborough. Councilor Paul Emery said if LePage “goes to see his maker, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings a bit” and reportedly said it’s “unfortunate” that “assassination” isn’t a “political strategy” in Maine.
On Wednesday, the councilor said he was wrong.
“Today, basically, I’m just saying I’m sorry,” Emery said.
Emery and about 150 people were discussing the Democrats’ tax reform plan. Emery asked a question about paying for road repairs before making the remarks.
“That’s the part, the point I should have shut up, but I didn’t. I attempted to joke, which was in very poor taste,” Emery said.
Witnesses at the meeting say he also took a reporter’s cellphone to try to prevent them from reporting the comment. The mayor of Westbrook and the Westbrook City Council president are condemning his behavior.
“Generally, we behave in a civil manner and to have a Westbrook official make a statement like this very publicly is embarrassing to the city. It does not reflect how we conduct business in Westbrook,” Westbrook City Council President Brendan Rielly said.
Emery says he called LePage’s office to apologize, but LePage was not there. Emery plans to write a letter to him as well. He also says he has apologized to the reporter.
Now he wants to apologize to the residents of Westbrook.
“I’m going to have to rebuild my reputation, mainly by keeping my mouth shut in public and not making inappropriate remarks,” Emery said.
Westbrook Mayor Colleen Hilton said she is considering removing Emery from several committees he has been appointed to. The Cumberland County Republican Committee chairman is calling on Emery to resign.
LePage’s office declined to comment.