MAINE SENATE CONFIRMS 50 LEPAGE NOMINEES

Rejects Dench for top post at UMaine System

AUGUSTA–The Maine Senate reconvened today to confirm 50 of Governor Paul LePage’s political appointments to various state boards and commissions, rejecting only one unqualified nominee.

“It’s disappointing that politics and partisanship was injected,” said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Anne Haskell of Portland, who has served as a lawmaker in the Maine House and Senate for a total of 14 years. “Under Governor King I was the point person for board and commission appointments. I have never seen a nominee go forward without some discussion from the governor’s office with legislative leadership. That has been a long standing tradition and courtesy.  Unfortunately that did not happen here.  Gov. LePage’s lack of cooperation and partisanship has led to this unfortunate situation for Mrs. Dench.”

On the recommendation of the Education and Cultural Affairs committee, the Senate voted along party lines, 17 to 15,  to reject controversial and conservative blogger Susan Dench to the University of Maine Board of Trustees following revelations that she had plagiarized.

“We simply can’t look the other way when a Trustee nominee has copied another person’s work.  We cannot endorse a role model for our students and faculty who disrespects part of the core principles and ethical standards of a university,” said Senator Chris Johnson who serves on the committee. “She did not paraphrase; she plagiarized. And this is unacceptable to students and faculty alike. If a student plagiarized, they would fail. If a faculty member plagiarized they would be fired.”

Jane Kuenz, Professor and Chair of the English Department at the University of Southern Maine provided evidence that Susan Dench plagiarized a November 22, 2012 blog post on the Bangor Daily News web site in which she lifted material from the Free Republic and William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation to argue that the Pilgrims had “conducted a failed experiment with communism…”. Since the plagiarism revelation, academics from across the country have come forward agreeing with Professor Kuenz and detailing their own assessment of Dench’s plagiarized writing.

Johnson added, “During the public hearing, we gave Mrs. Dench an opportunity to respond to the plagiarism allegations. Unfortunately, Mrs. Dench side stepped and didn’t address it. Frankly, she seemed unrepentant.”

Prior to the Senate’s vote today, each committee of jurisdiction held public hearings to vet the nominees.  A two-thirds vote would have been needed to override a committee recommendation.

A full list of the nominees can be found here.