When I moved to Maine from Massachusetts in 1977, Democrats ran things. As the new director of special education for the Fryeburg School District MSAD 72, I traveled around the state to attend workshops and meet with state officials trying to bring Maine into compliance with federal law under the new U.S. Department of Education just forming in the Carter administration.

With my longish hair, beard and Irish surname, Maine officials correctly assumed I was a fellow-traveling Democrat and tried to enlist my help go elect Joe Brennan governor. In Maine, as in Massachusetts where I grew up, Irish Americans took naturally to politics — nearly all of them Democrats. At our dinner table growing up, politics were discussed nearly every evening. It was in my blood.

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