The Lincoln County Republican Committee held its June meeting in Wiscasset. Mike Violette, co-host of the “Mike and Ken Show” weekday mornings from 5 to 9 a.m. on WGAN, kicked off the June 17 meeting with an entertaining but informative talk about the political scene. He said he had zero hope for what is going on in Washington. At the state level, he started by decrying the lack of transparency by both Democrats and Republicans, with budget deals being made behind closed doors. He was also critical of the Republicans' failure to seize the initiative and make a difference when they have had control over the legislative and executive branches. Part of the problem, he said, was once legislators are in Augusta they are pressured more by lobbyists than their constituents.

Another part of the problem, he said, was the state media's bias has people thinking that the Republicans are evil. And the Republicans have not been good at dispelling that image.

Violette spoke very highly of Governor Paul LePage. He said he doesn't have a policy problem, but perhaps a bit of a presentation problem. He said he has known him personally for some 35 years. And “he has been great to my kids.”

Violette said that although he and Ken hotly debate politics on the air, they rarely talk politics once the “on the air” light is off. He said Ken, who is a lawyer, is very bright. Violette said he does have to be careful in Portland, where he lives in the most liberal section of that very liberal city. During the 2010 elections he had a LePage bumper sticker on his vehicle. It was not long before the vehicle was covered with graffiti. He decided not to repeat that experience when he bought a new vehicle before the 2014 elections.

Dan Remian of Cushing, representing the Citizen Initiative to amend the Expedited Wind Energy Act, spoke about the need for a Citizen Initiative to amend the law since the legislature has failed to act despite 20 bills offered by Maine citizens. And despite the fact that the Maine Office of Energy and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommended that the law be amended. The law was signed into law by Governor John Baldacci in 2008 on the heels of high oil and gasoline prices. The law provides special zoning and permitting processes for wind energy. The Citizen Initiative, said Remian, does not aim to repeal the act but to simply level the playing field and restore citizens' rights. He also said the current special expedited permitting process is destroying many of Maine's most valuable natural areas. He also listed a number of issues including the fact that Maine is one of the poorest states in the country for wind, exports 60 percent of the energy it produces, and wind power can't survive without huge subsidies. For more information, check www.savingMaine.org. To be acted upon, the initiative needs 60,000 signatures You can reach Remian at 207 354-0714 or N7CD@gwi.net.

Mark Holbrook of Brunswick introduced himself. He has formed an Exploratory Committee to run in the Maine First Congressional District. Holbrook was a “place holder” for Maine House District 50 in 2014 and ended up running, although he lost. Holbrook has a widely diversified background. He has a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, is a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, and has a 100-ton Master's License in the U. S. Coast Guard. In addition to volunteer work, he has worked in law enforcement, at a psychiatric unit at a Super Maximum Security Prison, in non-profit community mental health and residential agencies, in his own clinical practice, and on the sea. His website is www.holbrook2016.org.

As a fundraiser, the LCRC is selling discounted tickets to the Saturday, July 18, performance of “The Music Man” at the Maine State Music Theater at Pickard Theater on the campus of Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Tickets for the show are $64 at the box office. The LCRC is selling them at $50, but you must get your paid order to Peter Lawrence no later than Monday, July 6. To contact Peter: P.O. Box 85, Nobleboro, ME 04555, 207 563-7663. You don't have to be a member of the LCRC to buy tickets.

The meeting was hosted by the Wiscasset Town Republican Committee who provided a wide assortment of delicious refreshments.

The next county meeting will be held on July 8 in South Bristol at the Union Church Parish Hall, hosted by the South Bristol Town Committee. The meeting will be in conjunction with the town's Centennial Celebration.

For more information about the LCRC, check their website at www.lincolncountyrepublicans.org or email them at Info@lincolncountyrepublicans.org.