Throughout his legislative career, District 20 Sen. David Trahan has established himself as a fiscal conservative who works like a dog for his constituents. Starting as a pea green legislator, who as a freshman in the House would automatically vote ‘no’ on any piece of legislation he hadn’t read, Trahan has worked hard to learn the ropes in Augusta, so much so that, as a Senator in his sixth term in Augusta, (counting four in the House) he has become one of the respected Republican voices in state government.
As much to his own surprise as anybody else’s, the logger who had never run for office before turned out to be a talented legislator, the kind who earned enough respect on both sides of the aisle to actually get things done. His long battle to bring the Office of Program and Government Accountability (OPEGA) into being is a primary case in point.
Trahan has acknowledged that he loves being a legislator, less so than being a politician. Trahan has said he loves doing the people’s business and he loves the feeling of making a difference.
All of which makes his impending departure from the political scene a loss for Maine in general and Lincoln County in particular.
Sadly, and Trahan has indicated as much in his public comments, his zest for political combat has been sapped by the negative atmosphere in Augusta, which of course mirrors the national trend, which of course, in the end, mirrors us, the people.
It’s so bad, that Trahan, a bona fide conservative, has come under fire from his right for not being conservative enough, which is ideologue shorthand for criticizing Trahan’s willingness to reach across the aisle if that’s what it takes to get something done. It’s the nature of the beast to take your lumps from the opposition, but when the stress is coming from your own side, well why bother?
True to form rather than whine about it, Trahan has taken action. He has his dream job lined up; with a few more i’s dotting and t’s crossing he is set to begin the next phase of his career.
Assuming the details can be worked out, we encourage him to go sooner than later. He has done his bit for the people. He has said he needs a career change in real life and leaving now upon accepting the job, shortcuts any ethical eyebrows that his simultaneous service to his constituents and to his employers might raise.
However, whether he takes this job or not, Trahan’s impending retirement, more so than any “can’t we all get along” speech delivered with practiced zeal on the campaign trail or on the senate floor, speaks volumes about the atmosphere in Augusta and what it says, isn’t good.
