Maine GOP lawmaker says he'll pray for Democrats who publicized his 1980s drug arrests

[jpak]

https://bangordailynews.com/2018/10/19/politics/maine-gop-lawmaker-says-hell-pray-for-democrats-who-publicized-his-1980s-drug-arrests/

AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats on Friday publicized the criminal records of Republicans running for office in 2018, including state Rep. Jeff Pierce, who was convicted twice of felony drug offenses in the 1980s but said he went from a “stupid kid” to “a pillar of the community.”

Pierce of Dresden may run for a leadership role in the lower chamber if he wins re-election in November. He was the only sitting lawmaker highlighted by the Maine Democratic Party in a Friday news release that implored Republicans to ask Pierce and another candidate to drop out.

Though Pierce ran unsuccessfully for the Maine Senate in 2012 and has already served two terms in Augusta, Democrats went public with the opposition research just more than two weeks before the Nov. 6 election in which Democrats may be poised to increase their narrow advantage in the House of Representatives, where 14 Republicans are term-limited to just seven Democrats.

Pierce, 56, was convicted twice of felony drug charges when he lived in Augusta in 1981 and 1983, according to a state background check. The second was the most serious. Archived court records state he sold cocaine to an undercover state trooper and served 30 days in jail after being convicted of drug trafficking. He is prohibited from owning firearms.

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[Solly Mack]

1. 30 days for drug trafficking cocaine? 30 days?

[malaise]

3. I love how they always pray after they're finished

preying. .

[Solly Mack]

4. Ha! So true.

[NCjack]

9. Looks like he got a compassionate DEM judge. He showed his appreciation

by becoming a Repug.

[Turbineguy]

2. Pillar of the community?

A republican by definition cannot be that.

[SimpleC]

5. As someone who has had issues with drugs in the 80's

I don't think those convictions in and of itself is a testament to his character. As long as he's willing to disclose it. I was a little wild growing up and that's not who I am today.

Him choosing to be a republican sucks... although there was a time republicans/democrats were just known to have differing economic/social views and they didn't always clash.

Nowadays, it's extreme left or extreme right...

I was always more of an independent until the age of trump when republicans decided to show their ugly racist side and short sighted vision.

Democrats currently seem to have a more long term view and I think we should be focused on that.

[Vinca]

6. People can be rehabilitated. It's far more damaging that he's a Republican and most likely

opposed to providing services to people suffering from addiction which might have started when he was peddling cocaine.

[madaboutharry]

7. Having this in his past shouldn't be disqualifying.

What seems wrong is trying to hide it. What should have happened is that he should have disclosed it and talked openly about it. Americans love redemption stories. It’s always the cover up.

[safeinOhio]

8. I'm a saint now, not so much years ago, but

I can be a saint without running for office. That second charge is the kicker.