Governor Lepage took office in 2011, when Maine was still in a recession, and is leaving with the state’s economy, by most standards, doing well.
Paul LePage was elected to bring change , which he has done. Among his key initiatives were cutting the state income tax, paying off the state’s debt to hospitals, cutting welfare and reducing the state workforce. Supporters cheered each victory, but many of those policies have been strongly opposed by Democrats and some independents. There were frequent battles with Legislators in both parties.
The Governor also repeatedly generated criticism by his tough, sometimes angry comments to reporters and the public. Starting with the now- infamous “ kiss my butt” during his first month in office to comments about black drug dealers at a town hall meeting, the Governor’s sharp tongue created as much controversy as his conservative policies.
Radio host Ray Richardson of WLOB radio, who is also a friend of LePage, says some of those comments also offended him and other Republicans. But Richardson said the Governor did not lose their support.
“We had a lot of guys walking around in thousand dollar suits and shiny shoes, saying a lot of pretty things and not getting things done.,” Richardson says. “Paul LePage spoke bluntly to the masses and got a lot done in his eight years. Not as much as we would like but he got a lot done.”
Richardson said some of the Governor’s statements were done on purpose, to generate buzz in the media. LePage himself told NEWS CENTER Maine’s Lee Goldberg last month that he would stir things up to distract Legislators.
“I may be the best actor in this state,” LePage said. “Half the time I made noise to get things done. Because when they’re over here discussing what I’m doing, I’m getting things done over here and positioning to win.”
Richardson says he thinks LePage was good for Maine, because of tax cuts, reduced regulation, other accomplishments, and of talking about having Maine achieve prosperity. That belief is not shared by the critics, many over whom will be part of the New Democratic Majority at he State House. That means some of LePage’s changes could be reversed in the next two years. Gov. LePage has said if Governor Janet Mills makes too many changes—or tax increases- he will return to Maine and run for Governor again.
