AUGUSTA – Maine Republican Party Chairman Mark Ellis wore a grin that could be seen from across the Augusta Civic Center when he stepped to the podium to address the state party convention over the weekend. The more than 2,500 delegates and alternates on the floor represented the largest turnout in party history.

“This is a tremendous success. I have not seen this room this full ever,” he said.

Through a show of hands, it appeared that more than 40 percent of those in the hall were first-time delegates or alternates. Many, it seemed, were there on behalf of maverick presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Although a minority, Paul’s supporters were a vocal and visual presence. One exuberant supporter attempted to extol his candidate’s qualities but was ushered from the hall when he would not relinquish the microphone. Within minutes of the Friday morning outburst, a video of security taking him away was up on YouTube and already had attracted 130,000 hits.

First Congressional District candidate Dean Scontras, an Eliot businessman who cites Ronald Reagan as one of his heroes, had his own Reagan moment while addressing the convention Friday afternoon. Balloting for national committeeman and committeewoman had extended into the allotted time for speeches, and the microphone plug was pulled on Scontras when he barely had started. Unlike Reagan, who famously shouted, “I paid for this microphone, Mr. Green,” when he was cut off during a 1980 debate in New Hampshire, Scontras simply gestured at convention chair Ann Robinson and continued talking, without amplification. Scontras and Ruth Summers – who is acting as husband Charles Summers’ surrogate while he wraps up service with the Navy in Iraq and also was cut short – were allowed to show their videos and reprise their full speeches to the convention Saturday morning.

Robinson, a Portland lawyer, is the first woman ever to serve as party chair, a milestone that was welcomed with cheers when announced to the gathering by Sen. Olympia Snowe on Saturday. Snowe wondered aloud why the Grand Old Party had taken so long.

In introducing Snowe, Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, pointed out that she has never lost an election and was the only person in Maine history ever to serve in both the Maine House and Senate and the U.S. House and Senate. Maine’s College Republicans were given a loud ovation when Snowe pointed out that they were named the best state federation in two of the past three years.

The committeeman and committeewoman balloting took two days to tally, having begun Friday and ended Saturday. There was some confusion by the various county delegations when collecting the votes. When the votes were counted, former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett of Norway defeated Aroostook County resident and one-time independent U.S. Senate candidate of 30 years ago, Hayes Gahagan, and former national committeewoman Jan Martins-Staples of Cape Elizabeth defeated former party chair Kathy Watson of Pittsfield and Linda Bean, a former congressional candidate and Port Clyde lobster dealer.

The convention wrapped up Saturday by electing 12 delegates and alternates from the floor and three delegates and alternates from each congressional district. Party chair Mills, Bennett and Martins-Staples will bring the total Maine delegation that will attend the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in September to 21.

Convention activists attempted to amend the party platform put forward by the 2008 Standing Resolution Committee. Moves by the contingent to eliminate all state and federal taxes, to return to the use of gold and silver as legal tender, repeal all state and federal firearms laws, abolish the IRS and Department of Education, get out of the United Nations and the Law of the Sea treaty and oppose a North American trade treaty and a common currency with Mexico, although cheered loudly, were defeated. One amendment that won approval was a requirement that all party candidates take a pledge not to raise taxes or fees.

Sen. Susan Collins, who is running for a third term, was joined on the stage by the Professional Fire Fighters after her acceptance speech. No doubt helping Collins win their support was her ability to obtain Homeland Security grants for new firetrucks and equipment for scores of communities across the state. Collins and the firefighters clapped hands in time and swayed to the beat of the Orleans classic rock song “You’re Still the One” when she wrapped up her speech. Written by band member John Hall, who is now a Democratic congressman from New York, the song also was used briefly at rallies for President Bush during the 2004 campaign but was dropped after Hall reportedly complained that they didn’t have his permission and he disagreed with Bush’s policies.

During her address, Collins thanked the state’s hunters, fishermen and trackers for being there for her, and she observed with a smile that there were probably some Democratic trackers in the hall as well, a reference to the opposition videographers who follow her around and record her appearances.

Sen. John McCain’s supporters seemed a tad slow at the switch during Snowe’s speech. For the first two-thirds, it was sign-carrying supporters of Ron Paul that circled the hall while she talked. The McCain contingent finally got the message and passed out their candidate’s signs to the delegates, quickly overwhelming the Paul people.

Charles H. Bennett, American Legion 4th District Commander, led the convention in the pledge of allegiance Saturday. He received an extended ovation when Robinson pointed out that he was a protester of a recent art project at the University of Maine at Farmington that consisted of American flags strewn about the floor of the student center. Bennett choked up when he read the poem, “The Soldier.”

Both Snowe and Collins informed the convention of their recent trip to Aroostook County to observe the flood damage and vowed not to rest until the area was rebuilt and restored. Both praised residents of The County for their strength and resilience.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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