Justin Chenette
  • Bio
  • Commissioner
  • State Govt
  • Projects
    • Speaker
    • Author
    • Consulting Firm
    • Age Friendly Saco
    • Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission
  • Scholarships
  • News
  • Contact

PPH: York County Republican leader criticized for email denigrating gay lawmaker

7/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Democrats and Republicans criticized the head of the Republican Party in York County on Thursday for an email that they say denigrates an openly gay lawmaker as part of an effort to recruit a candidate to run against him.

​An email bearing the name of York County Republican Committee Chairman Jim Booth refers to Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, as “Little Justine” on two separate occasions. The email then states “there is a lot of HATE” for Chenette and urges someone to step forward to challenge the Democrat in the Senate District 31 race. It was unclear Thursday how widely the email – addressed to “Dear Fellow Republicans” – was circulated.
“Currently our old friend Little Justine Chenette is running unopposed!” the email reads. “We need someone to step forward by July 25th 5:00 pm. There is a lot of HATE for the Democratic nominee. But, we have no one as yet to take Chenette on. His liberal agenda must be stop (sic) NOW!”

The Portland Press Herald obtained a screen grab of the email, which concludes with “Thank you, Jim Booth YCRC Chairman,” but doesn’t show the address from which it was sent.

Booth did not respond to calls or an email seeking comment Thursday.

Chenette, who was the nation’s youngest openly gay legislator when he was elected in 2012, said he was upset by the email’s tone and the message it conveys to members of Maine’s LGBT community.

“I’m not necessarily angry. I’m just disappointed,” said Chenette, who represents part of Saco in House District 15. Chenette said he regards the email as emblematic of a “dangerous vein in the Republican Party” that he believes is aimed at rolling back anti-discrimination protections and equality gains for LGBT individuals.

“I don’t understand why, in 2016, we are still talking about this,” Chenette said. “I wish we were talking about substantive issues.”

The chairman of the Maine Republican Party, Rick Bennett, denounced the email.

“We find that type of language completely inappropriate and unfortunate,” Bennett said in a written statement.

Chenette is currently the only declared candidate in the Senate District 31 race to replace veteran Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, who is retiring. Chenette defeated fellow Democratic Rep. Barry Hobbins, D-Saco, for the Democratic nomination during the June 14 primary. A previously declared Republican candidate, William Gombar of Old Orchard Beach, withdrew from the race this month.

At 25 years old, Chenette is among the younger members of the Legislature, but is often an active participant in policy debates both on the House floor and in committees. He was the first student member ever appointed to the Maine State Board of Education, at age 17, and launched his bid for the Legislature while still a college student. He has been vocal on LGBT issues inside and outside of the Legislature.

Valentino, who has personal ties to Chenette and has shared an office with him, denounced what she called “homophobic comments,” and added that the repeated references to “Little Justine” were “pathetic.” Valentino, who has been publicly backing Chenette to succeed her, said she hoped the email did not encourage “an extremist” to run.

“I do not think his comments reflect the views and values of the Republicans that I know,” Valentino said.
Booth, an Arundel resident, serves as chairman of the York County Republican Committee and is a former city councilor. He ran unsuccessfully for the Maine Senate District 32 seat in 2014.

Rep. Donald Marean, a Hollis Republican who also represents parts of Saco, had not seen or heard of the email Thursday afternoon but said he “would be furious” if such a message was sent out by someone in his party. Marean called it inappropriate and credited Chenette for his work in Augusta.

“We have a very good working relationship,” Marean said. “He works very hard.”

Matt Moonen, executive director at EqualityMaine, an LGBT advocacy organization, said he was disappointed to read the email.

“The voters of Maine have rejected homophobia several times very loudly and clearly, and this seems like a stupid political strategy given how voters feel on homophobia and issues of LGBT equality,” Moonen said.

Chenette had not heard from Booth or any Republican leaders as of Thursday night.
​
“What I’m really looking for moving forward is some sort of apology from the York County Republican Committee,” Chenette said, adding that he hoped such a gesture would show a recognition that “words do matter.”
BY KEVIN MILLER STAFF WRITER
​
Kevin Miller can be contacted at 791-6312 or at:​ kmiller@mainetoday.com
Press Herald Story
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Latest Updates


    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    RSS Feed

Picture
Email:
justinchenette@gmail.com
Paid for & Authorized by Justin Chenette
  • Bio
  • Commissioner
  • State Govt
  • Projects
    • Speaker
    • Author
    • Consulting Firm
    • Age Friendly Saco
    • Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission
  • Scholarships
  • News
  • Contact