Statement of Mark Eves Gov. LePage is blackmailing a school for at-risk children because I have opposed his policies. He has threatened the Good Will-Hinckley School to either fire me or lose over $500,000 in budgeted state funds and thereby lose another $2,000,000 in private funding. The Governor knows that these financial losses would put the school out of business, but he has refused to back down. This is an abuse of power that jeopardizes Maine children. The Governor’s actions represent the worst kind of vendetta politics Maine has ever seen. If it goes unchecked, no legislator will feel safe in voting his conscience for fear that the Governor will go after the legislator’s family and livelihood. For 15 years, I worked on the frontlines with struggling Maine families across the state as a professional clinical therapist. I’ve helped children, adults, and seniors on the edge facing mental illness and deep poverty. My personal experience with these struggling children, families, and seniors has guided me every day in the Legislature. My father served as a chaplain in the military. My mother was a teacher. They raised me and my six siblings to give back to our communities and to serve the public. These are the values that led me to a career in counseling and behavioral mental health and they guide me each day in the Legislature. The Governor’s actions should deeply trouble every single taxpayer, Maine resident, and member of our citizen legislature. I have strongly disagreed with the Governor on many issues, but I have never gone after his family the way he has gone after me personally, my wife, and my three children.