Augusta, MAINE – In case you missed it, the ongoing hostility within Maine’s Republican primary for Governor surfaced last night, with two of the candidates unleashing attacks on one another during the Associated General Contractors of Maine gubernatorial forum.
Auto-repair shop chain owner Shawn Moody took a direct shot at fellow Republican candidates Ken Fredette, Mary Mayhew, and Mike Thibodeau, saying that he was the only person on stage who was not a lawyer, legislator, or lobbyist. The insult prompted Fredette to hit back hard at Moody, saying “there you go again”, and even later caused Fredette to post his response on Facebook, where he wrote that “pro-choice and former independent” Moody “continued to disparage” his service. Fredette earlier in the night had also taken a separate shot at Moody, saying that being a Republican was “not something I came to recently.”
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett released the following statement in response:
“The Republican Party in Maine is divided, and it shows. While Democrats spent last night’s forum engaging in a substantive discussion about how to move Maine forward, Republicans Ken Fredette and Shawn Moody wasted no time attacking one another.
“Mainers have spent the past eight years having listened to Paul LePage fight with everyone about everything. They’re tired of it, and the last thing they want hear is the candidates uselessly bicker – but when it comes to the Republican primary, it seems like that’s exactly what they’re going to get.”
###