Democrats Nominate Friedmann For House Seat
BAR HARBOR—Democrats nominated current Bar Harbor Town Council Vice Chair Gary Friedmann for the House District 14 seat in a quick caucus in the auditorium at the Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Wednesday night.
There were no other nominees from the floor. Both Tom Crikelair and Martha Dudman spoke in support of Friedmann.
Lynne Williams (D-Bar Harbor) had resigned from the position, April 1, and taken a job working for the state as an attorney dealing with workman’s compensation issues.
“I think her intention was to file and be a placeholder candidate,” said House Caucus Representative Sean Smith. However, he said, the timing didn’t line up.
That meant that Democrats had a small window to put her replacement on the June ballot. “Whoever is the candidate will then go right on the ballot,” he said.
Anyone who was a Democrat in the district could vote. Christa Starling chaired the meeting. Laurie Fogelman acted as secretary.
During his nomination remarks, Crikelair spoke of his time working with Friedmann on the Jesup Memorial Library’s successful capital campaign, saying that Friedmann was calm, sensible, well reasoned, and responsive and had been a mentor to his own daughter and her high school friends when they wanted the town to form a Task Force of Climate Change.
“We need someone in Augusta who will work with fellow legislators the way that Gary worked with those kids,” Crikelair said. He also said that Friedmann was persistent and relentless in working toward goals. “In Gary’s world, persistence and relentlessness wins the race.”
Dudman, a Mount Desert Select Board member, said she met Friedmann on the trails of Acadia National Park. “I’ve walked miles with him on the trails of Acadia, talking.” She praised his political expertise and passionate devotion.
Friedmann said that the 65 or so gathered at the caucus was heartwarming. He stressed that he has worked for 40 years on natural resources causes, 12 years on climate activism, and would bring new energy and ideas to Augusta about things such as a local option sales tax and affordable housing across the district and state.
“I’ll work really hard and I’ll be persistent and relentless in making these things happen,” he said.
House District 14 covers the towns of Bar Harbor/ Cranberry Isles/ Lamoine/ Mount Desert. Friedmann has also turned in papers to run for Bar Harbor Town Council this June.
UPDATE ON APRIL 11, 8 p.m.:
Though the Hancock County Republicans told us today, again, that they have no news yet about who might be running for the seat, the Mount Desert Islander has reported that it is Sandra Gray of Lamoine. That has been verified this evening with the Hancock County Republicans.
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Gary Friedmann has a poor record on government transparency and respect for residents' rights. Friedmann is part of a Bar Harbor Town Council which has disgraced itself by supporting both former Town Manager Kevin Sutherland and APPL in their attempts to obstruct community participation and voter input. Much of it in the secrecy of Executive Sessions and in public misinformation campaigns. Friedmann may be the best candidate for the House seat. Certainly to maintain the Democratic House majority, which in itself is a good thing. But after voting for him, it will be necessary to keep an eye on Friedmann to see what he actually supports - in both legislative priorities and government protocols.