Debate? What debate? 

By Al Diamon

Who? Said what? On Oct. 30, Democrat Michael Michaud and Republican Kevin Raye, the candidates for Maine’s 2^nd Congressional District seat, held a debate. I know that because it was broadcast on WCSH-TV in Portland (which covers the southern part of the district) and WLBZ-TV in Bangor (which covers the rest).

I also know it because the Morning Sentinel in Waterville and the Kennebec Journal in Augusta covered it. Both papers are in the 1^st District, but have considerable circulation in the 2^nd.

Of course, the 2^nd District has daily newspapers of its own, namely the Lewiston Sun Journal and the Bangor Daily News. Neither found the debate worthy of any space, even though a Bangor Daily political analyst moderated it.

The Bangor paper did report on earlier face-to-face meetings of the contenders, but the Lewiston paper, with its limited resources, merely reprinted the coverage from the Bangor publication.

For many years, this sort of indifference could be excused. The 2^nd District wasn’t competitive, with the GOP offering up a string of less-than-serious candidates against incumbent Michaud. That’s not the case this year, with state Senate President Raye making his second bid for the office. Using what appears to be the old game plan to deal with a new situation has caused both the BDN and Sun Journal to shortchange their readers.

Here’s Johnny: Covering state Rep. John Martin of Eagle Lake ought to be a full-time beat at every news organization in Maine. On any given day, if Martin isn’t up to something, he knows somebody who is.

Even with Republicans in charge in Augusta, Democrat Martin continues to be one of the state’s most powerful legislators, as witnessed by the way he bull-rushed a bill through the last session easing mining restrictions, a measure that was scarcely even slowed down by allegations of conflict of interest.

Martin’s business and political interests are widespread and difficult to untangle. So, I was pleased to find on Oct. 31 that both the Bangor Daily News’ capable court reporter, Judy Harrison, and the tenacious team at the Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting are continuing to keep close watch on legal proceedings involving a convenience store Martin co-owns in his hometown.

But even with these fine journalists on the job, their stories left me with more questions than answers about the unusual legal maneuvers that appear to have benefited Martin and his partner, as well as some of those they owe money to.

Here’s hoping both Harrison and the center keep at it — and that they soon have plenty of competition for Martin-related scoops.

Al Diamon can be emailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.