EDDINGTON REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED

While growing up in Bangor (and Eddington) I was too young to vote because the voting age in those days was 21. So I never attended a political caucus. I don't even remember hearing either of my parents discussing, much less attending, such a thing. And then moving to a "Primary State", the whole idea of what a caucus was was completely foreign to my personal experiences.

So going to my first political caucus this past Saturday was something I looked forward to, thanks to my big brother's escort. And there we were at Husson College in the biting wind on the same day that campus's gym was packed for a swimming competition. Lots of cars parked in every parking lot and shuttle buses going all over the place. Fortunately there were also very nice campus police with knowledge and directions to this writer who knew "what" she was looking for but not quite sure "where" it was located (in spite of posted signs).

The large auditorium was packed. Tables with town names posted on signs standing high - Bradley, Carmel, Brewer, Bangor, etc. and there was Eddington. And tables with all the various candidates' campaign materials and petitions for signing. It was quite a place to wander through in search of my brother whom I was to meet in the middle of the masses. But there he was.

After listening to the opening address with a salute to Ronald Reagan, whose birthday it was, we got on with the business at hand - meeting the numerous candidates. They were introduced alphabetically. Some were there in person, others were represented by someone on their campaign staff because the candidate was attending a caucus in another location in the state. Some certainly have impressive qualifications. Others sound more like politicians than leaders who will take this state out of the financial-welfare status this state is mired in. And some needed a moment but need to move on.

Afterwards, each town gathered at their assigned table to conduct their town's business. And that is when EDDINGTON formed its first Republican Town Committee. There were at least nine of us there (and I know of at least two others who would have been but for previous commitments). Troy Morton was unanimously elected Chair. We elected a Vice Chair and Secretary/Treasurer. Troy will be setting up a Committee email address soon which I will post here on the blog for interested readers. We adopted By-Laws in between being visited by Senator Richard Rosen collecting signatures for his run for re-election (this being his last term under term limits) and various gubernatorial candidates.

Any Eddington resident who is a registered Republican is eligible for membership in the Eddington Republican Town Committee. The State Republican Convention will be held the first week in May. With the full field of many good candidates, we fill confident we will be able to field a good one to run for the office - someone who can put this state back on an even keel toward financial stability, business development friendly, reduce this "welfare state status", and take the tax burden off the back of hard-working Mainers.

BTW - The monthly meeting of the Maine Heritage Policy Center will be next Wednesday - the 17th - at the Sea Dog Restaurant - 12noon to 1:30pm. Cost for non-members is $20/members is $15. The topic this month will be the business/financial environment of the state. There are usually extra seats available for those without reservations.