(NEWS CENTER Maine) — The race for governor of Maine is taking shape, and two news stories this week will have an impact.
NEWS CENTER Maine political analysts Phil Harriman and John Richardson tackle those topics and more on this week's Political Brew.
On Friday, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to hear an appeal of a federal court ruling dismissing a lawsuit against Gov. Paul LePage by former Speaker of the House Mark Eves.
LePage had threatened to block funding for a charter school if Eves was appointed the president of the school. Last year, a federal court ruled the governor did not overstep his authority. Now that the case has been revived, it could affect Eves' campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor.
John Richardson says having the case in the news this spring will give Eves a chance to remind voters that he stood up to LePage. Phil Harriman says, "If I'm looking at this as a candidate for governor, I can't thank the federal court enough for accepting the appeal."
The state of the race for governor can also be examined through the campaign finance reports filed this past week.
Harriman and Richardson offer their thoughts on the candidates who raised the most money and those for whom fundraising was decidedly anemic.
They also discuss the Trump administration's rejection of a request from Gov. LePage to prevent the use of food stamps to buy soda and candy, Rep. Chellie Pingree's co-sponsorship of a bill to censure President Trump for his remarks about some African countries and Haiti, and Gov. LePage's decision to weigh on on fee increases for ships that use pilots to navigate into Portland Harbor.
Political Brew is hosted by Pat Callaghan and airs during NEWS CENTER Maine's Sunday Morning Report.