BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 12, 2020
Former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett hit Republican leaders after the returning state senator and Central Maine Power Co. critic was passed over for a seat on the legislative panel that makes utility and broadband policy. Newly elected Sen. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, was put on the energy and utilities committee. Bennett, who wanted that seat, was put on the environment panel. In his post, the Oxford senator said he was given an assignment “I did not ask for.” He appealed to Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, to overturn the decision of his leaders in the Senate. The criticism of Republican leaders by Bennett, a former state party chair, is unprecedented.