Read: Maine must change the way it selects its consitutional officers
Regardless of whether or not you think Jan. 6 constituted an insurrection or agree with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision to bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the Republican primary ballot this year, one thing is clear: Maine needs a new way of selecting its constitutional officers.
For some reason, the Pine Tree State is the only state in the country where all constitutional offices are selected by lawmakers rather than voters or by gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation. Every other state trusts its people or its chief executive to make these decisions.
The result in Maine is an insulated, opaque, who’s-who of usually termed-out, sometimes wholly unqualified former lawmakers in important public offices. It has to stop.
Click here to read the full article in the Portland Press Herald.