Rep. Willette circles the wagons
To the editor:
When the settlers found themselves in dangerous situations they would circle the wagons to protect themselves from harm. Rep. Willette’s wagons and of his supporters are being circled to justify his unethical and deceitful behavior and stifle free speech of those voters of Presque Isle who were swindled of their vote and who dare to speak out against his tyrannical behavior.
Most of his supporters don’t even vote in District 5. The voters of Presque Isle however; will decide his fate not them. So no amount of print from his family, coworkers, downstate Republican legislators, and even from the Chairman of the State Republican Party will be enough to convince the voters (Democrat and Republican) that they were not used, misled, and hoodwinked by Rep. Willette.
The few supportive responses and rhetoric that have appeared in the Star-Herald do not reflect the anger and betrayal of the majority of the voting population of Presque Isle. The few are trying to deflect the message away from Rep. Willette’s corrupt and unethical behavior and make it personal. Rep. Willette is a public official who wronged his constituents and is not the victim. He deserves whatever rage the voters have expressed about his deceitful behavior.
One would have to question the character of anyone who has misrepresented himself to the voters and then admits to the press that he ran as a Democrat because the Republican ticket was occupied. That is just plain fraud.
The Chairman of the State Republican Party verified that Rep. Willette voted against the Democratic Party line on nearly every issue before the legislature over the past two years. He also stated that the Democratic Party left Rep. Willette. I contend that he was never a Democrat but just disguised as a one so how could the Democratic Party leave him when he was never a Democrat to begin with. This was a cold, calculated, and deceitful plan that started over two years ago in the summer of 2008 when Rep. Willette decided to run for the legislature as a Republican but couldn’t because they had already selected their nominee. So he decided to deceive the voters and run as a Democrat. Once he won the election he couldn’t switch parties because he knew once he did the Democrats would have run a candidate against him and end his political career. So he really did have to torture himself for two years and wait until he was reelected.
The next part of his scam was to switch parties and tell a compelling story to the press about how tough a decision it was and how he had many sleepless nights dwelling on his switch. That was a pathetic touch and another lie. He also knew that once he got what he needed from the voters of Presque Isle that we were disposable. His path to the Republican Party bypassing the fair election process was achieved. He swindled both Democrat and Republicans voters alike. His political career in House District 5 is over. He knows it, I know it, and the voters of Presque Isle know it.
I believe that all of this led to his ultimate goal of the District 34 Senate seat now held by Roger Sherman who terms out of office in 2012. This is the other reason he had to wait until after he got reelected to switch parties. This has been the scam of the century in Aroostook County politics. What Rep. Willette didn’t plan on is that Presque Isle is a large voting block of District 34 and he has angered both Democrats and Republicans.
Presque Isle and Aroostook County voters are circling our wagons and we will vote out the most unethical legislator that Aroostook County has ever sent to Augusta no matter which path he chooses. Only time will tell if what I believe comes to pass.
Robert J. Saucier
Presque Isle