Bangor Legislative Committee approves code amendment, discusses lobbying strategy

The Bangor Legislative Committee voted to amend the city code to allow the committee to engage directly with candidates and stakeholders on legislative matters. City Manager Carollynn Lear presented an overview of existing advocacy services provided by the Maine Municipal Association and other coalitions, noting that while these groups offer valuable support, Bangor may need additional resources for specific legislative priorities. Councilors discussed the potential benefits of hiring a part-time lobbyist or establishing a budget line item for on-demand legislative advocacy.

Key points

• The committee voted unanimously to accept recommended amendments to Chapter 9, Article 8, Section H of the city code, enabling the committee to hold conversations with candidates and stakeholders.
• City Manager Carollynn Lear explained that Bangor currently relies on the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine Service Center Coalition, and the Maine Mayors Coalition for legislative monitoring and advocacy.
• Councilor Joseph Leonard argued that Bangor's unique status as a service center city with an airport requires a dedicated lobbyist to navigate state legislation effectively.
• Councilor Carolyn Fish suggested identifying specific legislative priorities first and potentially partnering with local organizations like the realtor board that already employ lobbyists.
• Councilor Angela Walker expressed support for a part-time lobbyist to maintain a consistent presence in Augusta, noting that councilors have limited time to travel for hearings.
• Councilor Daniel Carson emphasized that while funding for a lobbyist is useful, it should not replace the council's own efforts to build relationships with state legislators.

Next steps

• City Manager Carollynn Lear will bring the lobbying budget discussion to the full council agenda on Wednesday to determine if a line item should be added.
• Jen Gunderman is coordinating a meeting with a state representative regarding the Dorothea Dix facility, after which that representative will be invited to speak to the Legislative Committee.
• Councilor Daniel Carson will compile a digestible list of legislative priorities from recent meetings to help the committee align on focus areas.

Read the full transcript