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Courtship Begins Between LaMarche and Young Voters
Augusta, Maine — The League named Patricia LaMarche their choice for political prom queen.
Patricia LaMarche beat out opponents Peter Mills, Davy Jones and Christopher Miller at The League's "ReEmergence" event. |
On May 6th, Patricia LaMarche beat out opponents Peter Mills, Davy Jones and Christopher Miller at The League's "ReEmergence" event. The League event included music, dancing and a Gubernatorial Candidates Forum staged as a political version of "The Dating Game."
"I am excited by the number of young people taking an active role in Maine's political process," said LaMarche. "I am also greatly honored that they believe in me, because I believe in them."
The questions posed by voters ranged from political (Are you pro-choice or pro-life?); to personal (What are you listening to on your CD player right now?); to serious (Do you believe there should be equal benefits and wages in the workplace?); and social (How do you believe we should take on the burning issues of construction debris and the environment?). The candidates were concealed behind a privacy screen — allowing for anonymity — and placing the focus on the depth and substance of the answers as opposed to the personality and verve of the individual candidates. By a show of audience applause, the winning "date" was chosen.
Justin Alfond, Maine State Director for The League was extremely pleased with the turn out and the tenor of the event. "ReEmergence was perfect — at one moment you had hundreds of folks dancing and then you had that same crowd asking questions about hot issues that concern them to four gubernatorial candidates. League events are simple — have fun and find creative ways to get more young people engaged and connecting to local issues and politics."
While The League made a point of stating that the results were not an official endorsement, the applause LaMarche received was overwhelming and the roar of the crowd deafening. It left no doubt that, with primary season in the air, the thoughts of Maine’s young voters are on one candidate — Pat LaMarche.
"I'm so pleased to have won the dating game with the young voters of Portland, because I was already in love with them. I will continue working to show these young people that I have their best interests at heart," LaMarche commented while clutching her bouquet of red tulips and her box of chocolates. "Now that our mutual affection is a matter of public record, I look forward to my next date with them on November 7th."
