Governor LePage, forget me at your own risk

Last November, in one of the most exciting state elections in years, I watched as Eliot Cutler shot ahead in the race for Maine Governor. Later in the evening, as returns came in from northern Maine, notably Aroostook County, Paul LePage overtook Eliot Cutler.

Was it the conservatism of the North Country or did Paul LePage have as strong a backing among the Franco community as he bragged? Whatever the reasoning, we all know that in the end Paul LePage became Governor LePage.

Now for the bewildering part:

After becoming Governor, LePage forgot that it was mostly the Franco-American community that was hurt by the great shoe strike of 1927 and proceeded to devalue their labors  by removing the murals depicting that history from the Maine Department of Labor.

Now, as if also telling Aroostook County to kiss his butt, he is totally silent as the USDA threatens to limit potatoes in schools.

Is it a party thing? I think not. Senator Collins vociferously defended the spud and last I knew she was a Republican.

Is it that our governor does not recognize that the potato industry is a large portion of what constitutes business in this state?

Maybe.

Maybe it is because this important industry is run by hard working families with dirt under their fingernails and not by big city corporate types that he has seemingly cast them adrift. Whatever the reason his silence is louder than his thunder.

I pray the entire Maine Franco community sees. I pray the good people in Aroostook County hear.