Let’s clear a few things up regarding my previous column of Nov. 18, “Rollins vs. Pouliot race shaping up.” Many are surprised to learn that Matt Pouliot, a Republican state representative from Augusta, may escape a primary in June for Roger Katz’s term-limited Senate seat.

Kelly Couture of Sidney now says she will not run. In the summer of last year the selectwoman appeared before the Augusta City Council to ask for appointment to the Legislative Policy Committee (on which I once served). At that time she told city councilors (on live TV) that she planned to be a candidate for the Senate District 15 seat when Katz’s term expired. That was the source of information (from several city councilors) that I used to state in my last column that she “may be a candidate” in a primary against Pouliot. Apparently she changed her mind. My column provided her an opportunity to endorse Pouliot. Smart politics for Pouliot and his campaign. However, I suspect much more will be needed to upend Pouliot’s better-known opponent, Augusta Mayor Dave Rollins.

Criticizing this paper for running a story about a “race that doesn’t even exist” is ridiculous — it is what we call news in my opinion column, which naturally often includes speculation. Make no mistake about it, Rollins will announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Senate District 15 right after the holidays.

This column often gives our loyal readers information first. Example: In that same column, I predicted that Gov. Paul LePage would throw his former health and human services commissioner, Mary Mayhew, under the bus and support Shawn Moody for governor, which happened shortly after I wrote the column.

There was an unintended error in the listing of towns included in District 15. As I previewed a race between Pouliot and Rollins, working against deadline, my memory from so many years in politics somehow crept in. I included Chelsea in my analysis. For years the district included Chelsea — as far back as when Sen. Katz’s dad, Bennett, served as senator. I wholeheartedly agree that accurate information is imperative, and hope that the error did not cause any lasting confusion. Pouliot vs. Rollins for state Senate will be a crucial headline-making political contest next year and this column will cover it.

On to another subject.

Spectrum, new owner of local cable TV, has made technical changes to its system and major changes in TV channel assignments. One of those changes in the greater Augusta area should be of particular concern to viewers of live and repeated municipal meetings, such as those for city council and school board. Spectrum will move public access Channel 7 all the way up to Channel 1301.

That makes no sense. The conversion will interrupt many years of viewer habit, cause considerable confusion, and I would predict, as a former marketing executive with State Cable TV, (now Spectrum), a serious loss of viewers for the public access channel. Surveys have always shown extremely high ratings for this channel.

The change could effect the audience for Cony’s opening basketball game next Tuesday, Dec. 5. I originated those live cablecasts many years ago. Spectrum is not taking into consideration local needs and the popularity of the live cablecast events.

Expecting viewers to quickly find a new channel in the cable stratosphere at 1301 instead of 7 is problematic. A loud protest should be forthcoming and if nothing can be done about this highly unpopular move then at the very least Spectrum should be held liable in every way possible, at their expense, to inform the public sufficiently of this change. Spectrum’s plans for this channel should be strenuously opposed. It is the city of Augusta and its government that grants the cable franchise, and they should take action.

Don Roberts is a veteran broadcaster, writer and political consultant. He has served Augusta as a city councilor at-large, charter commission vice chairman and utilities district treasurer.

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