The 125th Maine Senate confirmed Phil Congdon Jan. 25 to join the cabinet of Gov. Paul LePage as the state’s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development.
Congdon, of Bristol, did not return messages left Jan. 25.
After receiving the unanimous endorsement of the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Jan. 20, the nomination met resistance Jan. 25, with nine Democrats voting against Congdon’s confirmation.
Sen. David Trahan (R-Waldoboro) represents District 20, which includes Bristol. Trahan called the opposition to Congdon’s nomination “disappointing” in a Jan. 25 interview in Augusta.
“There was a knee-jerk reaction by the Democrats and I think they made a mistake,” Trahan said.
A widely-read state news outlet questioned Congdon’s qualifications for the post in a series of articles and editorials beginning Jan. 21.
Congdon, in a Jan. 24 phone interview, declined to comment on media reports regarding his nomination.
Lincoln County residents speaking before the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee on Congdon’s behalf included John Atwood, a retired Superior Court Justice and former cabinet member as the Commissioner of Public Safety under Gov. John McKernan; Charlie Ault, a Loan Officer at Border Trust; Mike Knof, Manager of New England Building Materials in Damariscotta; former Bristol Town Clerk Pat Landry and Todd Maurer, a local businessman and co-owner of King Eider’s Pub.
