Editor’s Note: After publication of this story, Gov. Paul LePage changed his schedule and declined to attend this event.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage is attending an invitation-only gathering of some of the nation’s top economists and investment fund managers. The gathering is held every year at Leen’s Lodge fishing camp on Grand Lake Stream in eastern Washington County.
“They are all highly educated — most of them are economists,” LePage says. “They truly understand Maine. What I do is give them a report on the modest improvement we are making and I learn a lot.”
LePage says he does not bother to try to convince them to invest in Maine. He says they know Maine’s economic problems, such as high energy costs, better than many Mainers.
Cumberland Advisors Chairman and Chief Investment Officer David Kotok started the yearly gatherings 15 years ago as a way to allow a free exchange of ideas in a relaxed atmosphere with lots of fishing and feasting.
“They’re business people,” LePage said. “They understand the tax structure, they understand the regulatory structure, they understand our high energy costs. No, we don’t talk about those. But they do give me advice on what I need to do to make us more competitive and I have been trying to do that every year.”
This article appears through a media partnership with Maine Public Broadcasting Network.