Regarding the Sept. 4 report, “West Gardiner’s clerk broke Maine election law, and the state can’t do anything”— as a resident of West Gardiner for almost 20 years, I find this revelation disturbing.
Were it not for the spectacular hubris of West Gardiner town councilors and staff, this egregious error wouldn’t have occurred. But why did this happen in the first place? Was it willfulness or obliviousness encouraging them to flout rules and dismiss, out of hand, town residents’ questions or fellow town councilor concerns?
I recommend, for the future, West Gardiner government remembers the adage “Ignorance is no excuse for the law.”
State election laws notwithstanding, I find it impossible to understand why a conflict of interest was summarily dismissed by town officials.
Transparency has been a word thrown around recently in my town. I contend that accountability is also required. I hope to evidence of both very soon.
Joseph Keelan
West Gardiner
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