Dear Editor:

How, we might ask, has such a creepy, profane and utterly disgusting figure such as Paul LePage become governor of Maine?

A minority electee, a candidate receiving less than 50 percent of the gubernatorial vote, this mockery to leadership has shamed and insulted Maine's people, its legislature and its esteemed reputation, forged through efforts of Margaret Chase Smith, George Mitchell, Ed Muskie and the heroic exploits of Joshua Chamberlain.

Our legislature declines to act, be its leaders simply inept or decrepit. While quick to complain that Mr. LePage, in his vulgarity and crudeness, has "gone too far," apparently, in their minds, he has not gone far enough, thus there will be no efforts to either impeach or censure.

But for the people there is a remedy. The altering of the State Constitution to foreclose a possible recurrence of minority leadership: In a gubernatorial or senatorial or senatorial election, the leading candidates not receiving a 50 percent majority will engage in a runoff of the two leading candidates, the winner to take office.

In the U.S. this is not unprecedented. Louisiana is a state imposing this constitutional rule. Given the history of that state in attempting to ward off less than impeccable candidates, common sense prevails.

It is we, the people, who by acting can preserve the dignity and respect we have earned. We will not allow oafs and spineless politicians to strip us of this.

Paul E. McArdle

Boothbay