This is the first of a two-part story on the Constitutionalists of Maine.
Posting in a website forum hosted by a political organization he helped to form in Waldoboro in 2009, Nobleboro Selectman Henry Simmons wrote, “We traditionalists are better networked than ever before and will continue to build on our experiences.
As described by one of its members, the group, The Constitutionalists of Maine, is a loosely organized gathering of people who are frustrated with politics as usual and government in general.
As his race for the governor’s seat was gaining speed, Waterville Republican Paul LePage appeared as a guest speaker at a Constitutionalists of Maine meeting in early December 2009.
While they say they do not support any candidates or political parties, LePage found some support from the Constitutionalists. LePage also received support from Constitutionalist Carter Jones, who announced a Tea Party gathering in Ellsworth a year ago.
Three Constitutionalists attending LePage’s presentation formed friendships with the candidate, and later were invited to join Gov. Paul LePage’s transition team.
One of the three, Phillip Congdon, of Bristol, was confirmed as Commissioner of the Maine Dept. of Economic and Community Development Jan. 25, by a vote of 26-9.
Since the Waldoboro group invited John Birch Society President John McManus to speak, however, Congdon and another transition team member, Ralph Hassenpflug, have distanced themselves from the Constitutionalists. Hassenpflug said he is no longer a member, “for personal reasons.”
The group, whose membership now numbers roughly 130, might outwardly express themselves as a fractured whole, but certain ideologies bind these Midcoast residents together.
The website, www.constitutionalistsofmaine.com, states the political group is, “A non-partisan political discussion group promoting freedom and small government,” that a member describes as, “a loosely organized gathering of people who are frustrated with politics as usual and government in general.”
Examinations of the website reveal the following statistics: As of Jan. 16, there were 932 posts, regarding 432 topics, written by 29 individual members. The roll reveals 130 members, and 132 individual viewers to the websites.
Among other aims, they promise to, “Focus on freedom, capitalism, and the personal/group sacrifices attendant thereto to defeat the Socialist agenda.” The overriding concern among Constitutionalist members is government control over local issues.
The group hosts weekly public meetings at the First Baptist Church in Waldoboro, Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Their website also hosts a forum in which members and guests comment on a wide range of issues, from local (“How is your local favorite fishwrap covering the news that counts?”) and state politics, to President Barack Obama (“Obama, his ‘czars’ and other radicals that are inhabiting the White House”).
“It’s like a conservative support group,” said one of the group’s founding members, Bob Kanewski.
He said the Constitutionalists of Maine formed over a concern for how he and others felt the country has been going, politically. According to Kanewski, Constitutionalists are a conservative group that opposes both the Democratic Party and the GOP for “knuckling under” pressure from progressive groups.
Kanewski’s comments and discussions between members indicate that Constitutionalists are specifically concerned with private property rights they feel are being eroded through government regulations. Group meetings and forum discussions, however, cover a wide range of topics.
During a relaxed conversation, Henry Simmons told the story of the group’s origins. “There were just a handful of us going to a restaurant. We were just having breakfast and sparring back and forth, and we found it was great fun [to debate] and helped us learn.”
Simmons said it is one thing to sit in front of the, “TV and watch Glenn Beck or whomever is on…and we decided to get together.”
According to Simmons, the Constitutionalists want to fix, “where we are falling away by the wayside – with Congress for example, or even with the state legislature. They come up with any law they want, covering any sphere of our life.
“The whole point of the Constitution was to impose limits on government, and how far they can go. There’s basically two schools of thought – one says, ‘government has got to do everything,’ and the other says, ‘we’ve got to be restrained.’ Washington was saying something to that effect….or I could be mistaken, maybe Benjamin Franklin.
“It has been said, power is a great servant…and it is a fearful master,” Simmons said.
About government control, Simmons queried, “At what point will we tolerate being told what TV that you buy? They [the government] insist you buy a certain brand of computers.”
Last September, the Constitutionalists hosted John Birch Society President John McManus. The group has hosted other people with various backgrounds in politics, religion and industry. Kanewski said they don’t always agree with the speakers who have come to the meetings, but McManus received a warm reception from audience members.
The group also applauded a presentation given by a Dr. Michael Coffman, a former manager and media spokesperson for a forest and paper products company, Champion International.
Coffman came before the Constitutionalists to discuss global conspiracy and what he deems are threats to private landowners. His appearance at a December meeting generated further discussion among group members.
Kanewski said they have been trying to educate one another about the United Nations’ “Agenda 21.” He said the Constitutionalists feel there is a connection between Agenda 21 and the Rt. 1 corridor plan, “Gateway One.”
Gateway One is state sponsored effort to coordinate the development of the 100-mile stretch of U.S. Rt. 1 between Brunswick and Stockton Springs.
Constitutionalist Wayne Leach writes on a Maine Tea Party blog, called, “Paint Maine Red,” plans like Gateway One operate as a, “nose under the tent for future takings of those very inherent rights protected by the U.S. Constitution that are constantly under attack by the progressive agenda.”
Addressing some people’s fear that Gateway One is a conspiracy to rob individuals of their property rights, Misty Gorski, the planning and development director for the town of Waldoboro said, “Although some of their concerns about Gateway One are valid and should be addressed, I have found that most concerns are rising from a lack of proper information.”
According to Lincoln County Planner Bob Faunce, who has taken the local lead on the Gateway One project, the current pattern of increased traffic will cross a safety threshold for residents by 2030.
Since 2005, residents in all 20 towns along the 100-mile stretch of Rt. 1 have been involved in the study that seeks to improve future traffic conditions.
“The problem is that at this point in time, tensions are high and people are looking at key words,” Faunce said, addressing the concerns voiced by Constitutionalists. He added that words such as “planning” might suggest something negative for certain people.
One of the main purposes of the plan, Faunce said, is to improve transportation on Rt. 1. He said it is not a plan created by the state to force regulations on towns, nor is it connected to “Agenda 21.”
The Maine Dept. of Transportation seeks input from residents for future planning and development. Faunce calls the plan flexible and the comprehensive plans of each town will address future development along Rt. 1.
Faunce said he has not yet received an invitation to speak at a meeting with the Constitutionalists, but is willing to have an open conversation about the issues. For more information about the Gateway One project, visit: www.gateway1.org.
Agenda 21 will be addressed in Part II of the Constitutionalists of Maine, in the next issue of The Lincoln County News.
Kim Fletcher contributed to this article.