READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Monday, July 19, 2010

For Immediate Release

MAINE ENDORSES ALE AND JOE FOR CDA PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT!

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ryan Gavin, Ryan.Gavin@Maine.edu

PORTLAND-Tuesday, Maine Democrats called on Paul LePage to clarify his controversial statements on human rights and to reject his Party's ultraconservative platform. Following the GOP convention in May, LePage was one of only two Republican Candidates for Governor who refused to even reject planks of the platform. Mayor Paul LePage, has openly called for the repeal of the Maine Human Rights Act. The Act prohibits discrimination based on one's race, color,sex, sexual orientation and religion. The sexual orientation clause was an amendment to the Act that passed with broad support from Maine voters in 2005.Yet Mr. LePage has said, "My thinking would be it clearly needs to be brought back and reformed. It should be challenged and brought back to the legislature."(http://recordings.talkshoe.com/rss52956.xml)

Mr. LePage's viewpoints seem to be falling in line with the recent Tea Party take over of the Maine GOP. During the May convention, a radical platform was passed that espoused far right philosophies and conspiracy theories. The document calls for the abolition of the Department of Education, makes the nonsensical claim that 'freedom of religion is not freedom from religion' and demands that the United States be removed from United Nations treaties. The platform specifically rejects the 'Convention on the Rights of the Child'. This important document spells out basic human rights for children, and insists that governments must work to ensure basic human rights for children (http://www.unicef.org/crc/).

"The idea that human rights need to be 'challenged' and 'reformed' is completely out of the mainstream," said Arden Manning, campaign manager for Victory 2010. "These fringe views show that LePage is too extreme for Maine. Mayor LePage says he doesn't want to run on social issues, yet he continually campaigns on this very platform-at least when he is talking to fringe media groups like the Aroostook Watchmen. If he really wants to stop focusing on social issues, LePage needs to explain these controversial comments and reject his Party's far right platform."

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Thursday, July 1, 2010

This morning, Maine College Democrats Communications Director Ryan Gavin appeared on "Political Pulse", a popular Biddeford news and politics talk show with Justin Chenette. The hour-long interview featured discussion of current political issues, including the BP oil spill, the appointment of Gen. David Petraeus to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The interview was broadcast live on Biddeford Public Access and The Wildbrook Newtwork, and will re-air on both outlets throughout the coming week. For more information about the Maine College Democrats, visit www.MaineCollegeDems.com or www.RyanGavin.net.

Maine College Democrats President Ben Goodman and Vice President Pete Christopher met with Senate President Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro), the Democratic Party's nominee for Governor of Maine, after a Portland Seadogs game on 06/15/10 in Portland.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ryan Gavin Ryan.Gavin@Maine.edu

Today, the Maine College Democrats released the following statement regarding the 2010 Maine gubernatorial primary elections:

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“Maine has spoken. The Maine Federation of College Democrats congratulates all candidates on a hard-fought and positive primary campaign, and will now fully commit to electing Libby Mitchell in November, Maine’s Democratic Nominee for Governor, as well as other Democratic candidates for national, state and local office.”

“Libby Mitchell brings a lifetime of experience to the race for the Blaine House. As an educator, lawyer, Selectwoman, Speaker of the Maine House and President of the Maine Senate, Libby certainly knows how to make state government work for all Mainers.”

“The Maine Federation of College Democrats also congratulates Waterville Mayor Paul LePage on a decisive victory in the GOP primary. Mayor LePage will be a worthy opponent, but the Maine College Democrats will never hesitate to remind Maine voters of the radical platform passed by the Republican Party in May, which is now the bedrock of LePage’s candidacy.”

“As we look forward to November, College Democrats across Maine strongly believe that electing Senate President Libby Mitchell is the best choice voters can make for the future of the state, and we’re ready to take that message to voters in the fall.”

For more information about the Maine College Democrats, visit www.MaineCollegeDems.com 

Sunday, May 23, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ryan Gavin Ryan.Gavin@Maine.edu

In an open letter to College Democrats of America President Katie Naranjo on   May 12, Maine College Democrats Vice President Pete Christopher called on the CDA leadership to create National CDA Labor Caucus. Read VP Christopher’s full letter below.

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May 12, 2010

Dear President Naranjo,

Congratulations on a successful year. I hope this letter finds you well. The past few national events have been very successful and set out various, attainable goals that college students across the nation will work tirelessly for throughout the summer and into the fall 2010 midterm elections. There were great discussions that took place with a wealth of knowledge and passion throughout a range of issues. With finance and healthcare reform on the forefront of policy there was little room for much else. With our historic victory on health care reform and the economy reviving, we can now move other issues into our scope. Among these issues, need to be labor policy. With the economy still not one hundred percent, it is important that we start to promote the benefits of legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act. Labor issues have always been at the heart of what the Democratic party stands for and as College Democrats it is our responsibility to promote these issues to our peers.

The strong relationship between Democrats and labor unions has lasted generations and to this day we continue to enjoy the support that they give to us. This winter, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the special election between Martha Coakley and Scott Brown tested this relationship and exit polls seemed to show that the bond was weakening. With that election in the rear-view mirror we need to start thinking about ways to rebuild this relationship. Democrats continue to represent labor's best hope for advancing their goals and expanding membership. We need to push for reform so that another generation of Americans sees us as the fighters for the working class that we have been for decades. College students need to be informed of the central role that unions play in our society and College Democrats need to take the lead on these issues.

We take the lead on many important issues that face our great country, and labor should be no different. College Democrats should start a Labor Caucus, as a vehicle to get ideas and discussions off the ground that would allow us to properly advocate and promote these issues across the nation. Labor issues need to be given the utmost consideration because of how deeply they affect the middle class that built this great country. As leaders on campuses across America, we owe it to our party and our peers to give it our utmost consideration.

Please consider my request to form a Labor Caucus within the College Democrats of America. With any questions please e-mail Pete Christopher at psc617@gmail.com or call at (857)201-9183.

Pete Christopher

Vice President- Maine College Democrats

Cc: Jamarr Brown, Dana Cronyn, Joe Day, Analiese Eicher, Jen Johns, 
Aarti Sheth, Lee Drake, Kathleen Digan, Jonny Ortwein

Last night, Maine College Democrats President Ben Goodman served as the temporary Chair of the Maine Democratic Party Convention in Lewiston, Maine and delivered remarks at the opening of the Convention.

Monday, April 26, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ryan Gavin Ryan.Gavin@Maine.edu

This past weekend, the Maine College Democrats (MCDs) held annual elections for statewide offices. Today, the MCDs are announcing a new leadership team, ready to elect a Democratic Governor for Maine in 2010, and continue working to build the future of the Democratic Party in Maine.

Ben Goodman, of the University of Maine, was elected to a second term as President of the MCDs, being first elected President last year. Goodman, a sophomore political science student, is the Student Trustee on the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, and holds many other leadership positions throughout Maine.

Nora Murray, of Bates College, was elected Vice President. A sophomore political science student, Murray has been active in the Democratic Party since  her move to Maine from Lancaster, NY.

Pete Christopher, of the University of Maine, was elected Vice President and Treasurer. Currently, Christopher is finishing a congressional internship with U.S. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA), and will remain an integral officer in the upcoming campaign year.

Ryan Gavin, of the University of Maine, was elected Director of Communications for the MCDs. Gavin, a first-year political science student, has been an active member of the Democratic Party in Southern Maine.

Afroz Baig, of Bates College, and Benjamin Richmond, of Bowdoin College, were both elected as Directors of Development. Baig, a former Director of Development for Students for Barack Obama in 2008, will continue to serve the MCDs in his second term in this post. Richmond, a new member of the MCD Executive Board, has extensive experience working with voter registration systems, and will be a tremendous asset to the organization during election season.

Casey Faulkingham, of the University of Maine, and Henry Brockway, of Bowdoin College, were both elected as Program Directors. Faulkingham and Brockway will be working extensively with newly-elected Political Affairs Director Judah Isseroff, of Bowdoin College, as the MCD Fall Convention approaches.

Derek Lane, of the University of Maine, has been elected to represent all MCDs on the Maine Democratic State Committee, a new voting representative position at the state level.

2010: The Historical Challenge

2010 presents a daunting task for Maine Democrats: not since May 8, 1850, has a Democrat succeeded another Democrat as Governor of Maine.  While national pundits like to call our state a "Blue State," our state has a tendency of electing independent Governors.  Now, more than ever, Maine needs Democratic leadership in the Blaine House and the State House.  We're committed to working hard to elect a Democratic Governor–but it's going to be difficult.

Building the Future of Maine's Democratic Party

2009-2010 provided an unparalleled level of talent for Maine's College Democrats.  Our team will lose important players like Kat Cosgrove, a great Vice President, and Dave O'Heir, the last of the "elder statesmen" of our team.  Luckily, our tremendous schools in Maine provide tremendous leaders to help build an incredible network this summer based on the foundation laid this year to hit the ground running in the fall.

For more information about the Maine College Democrats, visit the official website: MaineCollegeDems.com