Lance Dutson
Bangor Daily News
Portland, ME, United States
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Past articles by Lance:
Picking the primary winners: Republican edition
Last week, I laid out my predictions for the Democratic primary for governor. This week I’ll continue the wild speculation with my thoughts on the Republican primary. Where the Democratic pri… → Read More
The answer to Maine’s labor shortage? Pay more.
There’s one reason Maine companies can’t find enough qualified workers: they aren’t paying enough. → Read More
Where are all the protests when it really matters?
If history is a guide, the #resist movement will be virtually silent, one more time, in the face of actual, local “immorality.” → Read More
Progressives don’t need more protests. They need a better argument.
Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including thousands in Maine, participated in this weekend’s Women’s March. It was a massive show of force from those outraged by the persistent … → Read More
Grab the popcorn — this legislative session is going to be a doozy
Maine’s next legislative session is going to be a madhouse. To begin with, this is Paul LePage’s last legislative session as governor (cue the hallelujah chorus). It’s pretty hard… → Read More
The party that cried wolf, far too many times
The Republican National Committee is actively working to elect an alleged child molester to the US Senate. And the president of the United States is taunting a nuclear-armed dictator on Twitter wit… → Read More
For Fredette and Mayhew, GOP primary may have ended before it started
It’s unconventional for a sitting governor to select his preferred successor from outside of his own party. But there are indications that’s just what Gov. Paul LePage did with Shawn Mo… → Read More
Democrats could have demanded accountability at DHHS. They caved instead.
Maine Democrats had an opportunity to start correcting a grievous wrong last week. A federal report showed Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services failed to investigate more than 15,0… → Read More
How not to lobby Susan Collins
If you want to influence Susan Collins on a key vote, the last person you’d enlist to help is Gov. Paul LePage. But that’s exactly what the Trump administration did when they flew Maine… → Read More
Poverty isn’t eliminated by threatening the poor
In his book Madness and Civilization, the French philosopher Michel Foucault describes the historical arc of social integration of those considered insane. At times, humans have driven the “mad,” a… → Read More
Hysterical fear of the media is not a political strategy
Rep. Bruce Poliquin is having another spate of bad publicity. Caught on tape behind closed doors, Poliquin reinforced his opponents’ contention that he is afraid to engage his constitu… → Read More
Federal report of ignored abuse reveals true Mayhew record
Between 2013 and 2015, 133 people with developmental disabilities died under state care. Mary Mayhew was responsible for the care of these people as commissioner of the Maine Department of Health a… → Read More
Collins, King offer alternative to executive-level lunacy
The contrast couldn’t be more striking. On one hand, there is the imagery of Anthony Scaramucci, President Donald Trump’s new communications director, hair slicked back, reaching into a… → Read More
For state government, it’s time to end “citizen surgery”
Surgeons make good livings. They drive nice cars and live in nice houses. As an American, I believe anyone should be able to become a surgeon. But just because anyone should be able to become a sur… → Read More
Portland’s government by ambiguity and conflict isn’t what residents voted for
In 2010, Portland voters were asked whether they wanted an elected mayor. Voters said yes — they wanted a chief executive accountable to voters. But so far, that’s not what we’ve … → Read More
Three good signs the Maine GOP is returning to its pro-business roots
Last week, three great initiatives emerged that could have a positive impact on Maine’s economy and our reputation as a pro-business state. And all three signal a long-awaited and welcome ret… → Read More
This issue is on every voter’s mind, and it’s what Maine needs more than anything
It’s no accident that Maine voters care primarily about jobs. → Read More
Another LePage donor, another favored land conservation project
The facts on the table show that people who write checks to LePage get support for their projects, and people who don't, don't. → Read More
Maine deserves to know why LePage suddenly likes land conservation
What could have caused LePage to have such a drastic change of heart regarding the Land for Maine's Future program we thought he scorned? → Read More
The Soviet-style energy policy of Paul LePage
It's time for the LePage administration to start putting some thought and logic into a coherent energy policy, and leave the model-making to the art teachers. → Read More