(NEWS CENTER) -- Speaker of the House Mark Eves said Thursday that Gov. Paul LePage abused his power in order to fire him from the position of president of Good Will-Hinckley School.
"He was very explicit in the fact that he was withholding this half million dollars to put at risk two more million dollars in private investment, that the school would have defaulted if the governor did withhold that money. The board made their decision. This type of political vendetta is really out of control. I think the general population and public here in Maine understands that politics is politics, but people's personal lives, you don't mess with," said Eves.
Eves alleges that LePage threatened the Good Will-Hinckley School to either fire him or lose over $500,000 in budgeted state funds and thereby lose another $2,000,000 in private funding. Eves' lawyer David Webbert said they have the threat in writing. Webbert also said he believes they have a good case for monetary damages.
"It is a new, dark day in Maine politics. This is why people hate politics. The governor has stepped outside of the political world into my personal life and my ability to provide for my family. It's extremely upsetting," said Eves.
Eves had been planning to start the new job as president of Good Will-Hinckley School next week, and he was also becoming President of the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, a charter school on the campus. The Board of Director of the school issued a press release Wednesday afternoon, saying it "has voted to seek a new direction for the institution's leadership. The basis for this decision is grounded in the institution's desire not to be involved in political controversy." Gov. LePage has been trying to stop the board from hiring Eves several weeks ago, saying that Eves didn't "have the skill set."
"I think of those kids that are going to be starting at that new school at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences at Good Will-Hinckley's campus in the fall. And I think about their lives and what that means to them. Not only did the governor threaten me, he threatened the livelihood of every parent and student at that school and it's just -- it's absolutely egregious," said Eves.
The previous president was Glenn Cummings, a former Speaker of the House who has now been hired to be President of the University of Southern Maine. Eves is the current Speaker of the House and said he would keep that position even as he takes on the new one, which is what LePage said he had a problem with.
"He crossed a line by threatening to withhold this money. He's following through on that threat. I don't know what else to call it other than blackmail," said Eves.
Eves said he and his lawyer will assess the legality of the situation, but they haven't decided whether or not they will file suit yet.
NEWS CENTER has reached out to Gov. LePage for comment, but has yet to hear back.
