Rep. Edward Crockett of Portland is an independent candidate for governor of Maine.

Last July, I wrote an op-ed about how the Maine Legislature conducts its business, and the negative impact it has had on the citizens of Maine.(“Maine needs leaders who will put people over party”).

I’m sad to report that little has changed since then.

How we’ve operated in Augusta was my primary motivation to unenroll and run for governor as an independent. Over the last six months, I’ve met and talked to many people about the challenges facing our next chief executive. Not surprisingly, the question I get the most is, “Why do you want to be governor?”

The “why” is stressed.

My answer: “After serving eight years in the Legislature and seeing how dysfunctional and ineffective it’s become, I felt a responsibility and need to run to let you know what’s happening, and shout out that we can be much better.”

Alas, if the goal of the Legislature is to serve all Mainers (which I believe it is), we have
a long way to go.

The (supplemental) budget is the only bill that encompasses spending. Since 2020 we’ve been operating under a budget process that is operationally biased.

You see, under the current majority budget process the system is easily manipulated. How so? Well, for six years now the Maine Legislature has been operating by authoritarian rather than democratic rule. So, in practice, our representative democracy has functioned as a one-party state where power is restricted to the majority party.

At the root of this operational shift is the majority budget process. That decision has
effectively silenced minority opinions, rebuffed compromise and created a toxic work
environment that has disenfranchised most of you.

In my opinion, it’s no way to govern for all the people of Maine. In addition to now controlling the budget process, the majority party, even with slim margins, still determines when bills get moved and voted on. Meaning if they circle the wagons, have enough members present and pressure enough naysayers to conform, they win nearly every time.

In this majority rule scenario, it’s game over with little to no consideration for alternative solutions. Yes, this is inside baseball, but it’s how the work gets done. And as a result, only a small percentage of you (those most partisan) are pleased with our effort. The Legislature should be striving to have most of you be proud of our work. Sadly, we aren’t even close.

Historically, you need two-thirds support to pass the all-important budget bills. That ensures bipartisanship. Recently, the Legislature passed a one-sided supplemental budget. I voted against that budget. My vote was less about the content of the bill (although depleting the rainy day fund by nearly 25% with politically motivated $300 checks was unnecessary and irresponsible), and more about the partisan nature of the Legislature.

Don’t get me wrong, although flawed, I believe in our system of government. The governor and Legislature are designed to be separate but equal branches of government. Each prepares a budget, then the negotiations begin. However, over the last three terms the only group negotiating with the chief executive, due to the majority budget approach, has been majority party leadership.

Your next chief executive must be strong enough to resist partisan pressure and funding influences, and right this wrong. It’s not as easy as it sounds since most of the candidates in this race have been tied to the system for decades, and swayed by PACs and special interests. That is not who I am. I’m not a career politician recruited by the major parties and indebted to their lobbyists. My only commitment is to the people of Maine.

There is reason for hope. There are two paths that can quickly get the Legislature back on track: 1) if the trifecta (one party regulating the Legislature and governorship) continues the new chief executive must insist on a two-thirds budget process. Otherwise, it will be rinse and repeat again and only become more divisive, or 2) electing a divided Legislature, which forces compromise and collaboration.

So, before you cast your ballot this June and November challenge your favorites to serve all of us and not just the letter next to their name. Your vote will make a difference. Otherwise, the groups that shell out the money to get their candidate elected and protect their own selfish interests, while expecting a quid pro quo, will have their way at our expense.