Richard Cebra
| Richard M. Cebra | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives for the 101st District | |
| In office December 2004 – December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Edward D. Finch |
| Succeeded by | Christine Powers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 18, 1964 Naples, Maine |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Philippa Cebra |
| Residence | Naples, Maine |
Richard M. Cebra (born May 18, 1964) is an American politician from Maine. Cebra, a Republican, represented Maine House of Representatives District 101, which included Casco, Naples and part of Poland from 2004-2012.[1] He is known for his conservative libertarian views.
Following the 2012 election in which the Republicans lost control of both the Maine House of Representatives and State Senate, Cebra sought to replace Charles Webster as Chair of the Maine Republican Party. He was endorsed by Governor Paul LePage.[2]
On December 1, 2012, Cebra was elected Chairman of the Maine Republican Party.[3]
On July 3, 2013, Cebra resigned for "personal reasons".[4]
Political views
Cebra is known for having submitted a number of conservative of bills, including ones which would allow states to nullify federal laws, require voters to prove citizenship and ban Maine's constitutional officers from endorsing legislative candidates.[5]
Controversy and calls to step down
Amid controversies about his leadership in the Maine Republican Party and calls for his resignation,[6] Cebra continued to hold his seat as Chairman of the state party.
Irregularities in county committee election
After a highly disputed County Committee election held on January 17, 2013, the voting members of that county appealed to the State GOP Committee, per state rules, to step in and solve the problem, wherein there were 71 votes cast and fewer than 50 people in the state who were allowed to cast votes per the county bylaws.[7][8]
Cebra's handling of that appeal included seeking the advice of a lawyer instead of the executive committee and finding that the legal county voter who filed the appeal was "not an affected person." [9]
A second appeal was filed, by a committeeman the Chair would agree was "affected," and a non-binding report was requested from a temporary investigative committee.[10]
A total of five Maine State Committee members and several Penobscot County Committee members resigned in response to the issue.[11]
Resignation after 6 months
Cebra resigned as Chair of the Maine State Republican Party just days after his Vice Chair resigned on July 3, 2013. The State Committee denies any connection between the two resignations.[12]
Within weeks of the Chair’s election by acclamation, he began losing confidence among Republicans affiliated with the party’s libertarian wing, and five liberty members of the State Committee resigned in protest after he failed to act upon allegations of corruption in one of the county committee elections.
His leadership was called into question when he sought legal advice in internal problems rather than addressing them with members who were raising questions.[13]
In June, his failed attempt at entering the conflagration regarding a veto override of the Governor’s budget was to create a virtual “hit list” of legislators, telling six County GOP Chairs to circulate the names of Republican state legislators who were likely to vote to override the veto.[14]
This first brought criticism from some of the legislators and then brought anger from some of the County GOP Chairs who claimed Cebra lied, throwing them under the bus, rather than take the heat for his ill-advised actions.
Executive Director Jason Savage, former advisor to Governor LePage and CEO of his advocacy organization, Maine People Before Politics, said Cebra and O'Connor are the only party officials who are stepping down, and he will keep his position.[15]
The election for a new chairman was held on July 20, per the bylaws of the Maine GOP Committee,[16][17] and former Senate President Richard A. Bennett, was elected.[18]
Former State Senator Ethan Strimling broke the story in his blog in the Bangor Daily News that Governor LePage had asked former State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin to "take over as Republican party chair,[19] though Poliquin would say only that he had been asked by more than one person to become the next party chair.[17]
References
- ↑ "Representative Richard Cebra Biography - Project Vote Smart". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ↑ "Governor LePage Endorses Rich Cebra For Maine Republican Chair". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ↑ "Maine Republican committee names successor to Charlie Webster". Bangor Daily News. December 1, 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ↑ "Chairman, vice chairwoman of Maine Republican Party resign". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ↑ "Talking Politics: Don't do that". The Phoenix. March 23, 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ↑ "Prominent Republican Calls For Maine GOP Chairman's Removal". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ↑ "Three Penobscot County Republican activists quit party, claim committee vote shenanigans". Maine Sun Journal. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Penobscotgate Heist: When Republicans Play Like Democrats". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ↑ "Maine GOP Chairman Responds to Penobscotgate". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Appeals: Original Documents". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ↑ "Fallout: Mass Resignations". Corrupt ME GOP: Original Resignation Letters. May 7, 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ "Republican Party leaders resign". Mainebiz. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ↑ "Chairman, vice chairwoman of Maine Republican Part resign". Bangor Daily News. July 3, 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Maine GOP Chairman Hangs County Chairs Out To Dry". Bangor Daily News. July 3, 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Maine Republican Party has shake-up at top". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Maine GOP chairman resigns after 6 months". Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Maine GOP chairman resigns". July 3, 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett elected chairman of state Republican Party". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ↑ "LePage asks Poliquin to take over as Republican party chair". July 3, 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.