DECD's Congdon resigns amid allegations
On the same day that Darryl Brown left his post as Maine Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Philip Congdon also resigned as commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Gov. Paul LePage announced the resignation yesterday in a press release but did not specify Congdon's reason. However, lawmakers and other officials in northern Maine are saying that Congdon made racially charged and inappropriate remarks while speaking to a number of groups in Aroostook County, the Bangor Daily News and the Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported. According to MPBN, Congdon spoke at a Caribou Chamber of Commerce awards banquet, where he allegedly said that the country's higher education has declined since affirmative action led to the admittance of more African-American students. Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, told MPBN Congdon also told audience members that they needed to "get off the reservation" in order to promote more economic development in the region.
A chamber official told the Daily News Congdon also disparaged the potato industry by saying farmers were wasting their potatoes by not using them to make vodka, and that he made a comment about poor parenting in The County. Martin then sent a letter to the LePage administration expressing concerns over Congdon's conduct. Congdon also allegedly made objectionable comments at an event held by the Northern Maine Community College, but spokesman Jason Parent did not divulge details, except to say that college officials believed the LePage administration should be made aware of them.
LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett declined to comment on Congdon's resignation, which is effective immediately, or say who would replace him.
Also yesterday, LePage announced that Brown was moving from head of the DEP to director of the Maine State Planning Office, after Attorney General William Schneider said Brown appeared "unqualified" to hold the post due to a potential conflict of interest. LePage also nominated Lt. Gen. Robert Winglass as commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor.
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