In this article Senator Doug Thomas claims he was threatened by environmental extremists, and that they put fish in his dooryard. Since then, Thomas’s neighbor came forward to share that a fish truck had spilled fish for about a mile along the whole road, effecting all of them. This appears to be another attempt by Thomas and EWC proponents to minimize and criminalize Corridor opponents, and create fear in the greater public. That neighbor has contacted WGME to clarify the situation. We expect a corrected news story soon.
State Senator Threatened For East-West Highway Support
Link to Video and Original Article.
AUGUSTA (WGME) — Threats and intimidation, that’s what one state senator claims he’s been subjected to, over his support for an east-west highway in Maine.
That project has been talked about for years, drawing support, opposition and controversy at every turn. But one of the most vocal supporters of the project claims the debate is taking a dark turn.
State Senator Doug Thomas: “It’s a great place to represent. I’ve got Moosehead Lake and Baxter State Park and Mount Khatadin and just wonderful people.”
State Senator Doug Thomas represents Piscataquis county. His constituents are divided over the proposed East-West highway. If built, it would cut through the southern end of the county. Senator Thomas supports the highway because he thinks it will benefit people in northern Maine by linking them to Canada.
Thomas: “They’re our biggest trading partner. And their economy is thriving while ours seems to be sinking. And we need to take a look. We need to be better connected to the Canadian economy.”
Senator Thomas believes radical environmental groups will do anything to stop this highway from being built. The senator says he met with the head of a radical environmental group and two days later, someone placed dead fish, one every 50 feet or so, in either direction on the road outside his home. The latest threat came in an email this week.
Thomas: “It said that I needed to be careful for my political future and my business’s future. And that I should change my position and if I didn’t, it was going to cost me. This is a concealed weapons permit that I’m going after today. I’m going to defend myself.”
There’s a lot of opposition to the East-West highway. Environmental groups say it won’t bring in long term jobs, won’t help local economies, and won’t bring in tourists. Instead, they say it will bring in pollution, and adversely impact Maine’s forests, waterways and wildlife. Senator Thomas, though, doesn’t believe any of that’s true.”
The senator says it should be up to the people of Maine to decide if the highway should be built, not radical environmentalists.
Earth First is one of the environmental groups working in Maine to stop the east-west highway. We tried reaching them, but did not hear back. However, on its website, Earth First says, quote, “We believe in using all the tools in the tool box, including civil disobedience.”
