Sen. Alfond denounces LePage's offensive comments

AUGUSTA — Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland, released the following statement regarding Gov. Paul LePage’s remarks at Wednesday’s Town Hall event in Bridgton.

“At best, the governor’s comments were careless or poorly stated. At worst, they were purposeful and deeply offensive. Either way, they were completely unproductive,” said Sen. Alfond. “Maine’s drug addiction crisis is complex, and impacts every aspect of life for those affected by it. We need to work on solutions, not reduce the problem to racially charged soundbites.”

BACKGROUND: While speaking about the state’s ongoing drug abuse crisis, Gov. LePage said: “These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty… these types of guys… they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home. Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road.”

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