"I do think there are some serious questions that are being raised about the process."
Ben Davol
Senator Andrew Maynard has announced his decision to not seek re-election this fall, but he now faces questions regarding his ability to serve out the rest of his term.
After the senator’s traumatic brain injury back in 2014, and his recent car accident, one former political consultant told WNPR's Where We Live the situation has created speculation about the entire legislative process.
“This has been a really difficult year and a half, and it’s been particularly hard on [Maynard’s] family,” said Ben Davol. Davol ran Maynard's first, unsuccessful campaign for the State Senate in 2004, and said he counts the senator as one of his closest friends.
“I think some of the decisions made by folks in the legislature are unfortunate to say the least, and I just hope he gets better—that’s really what I care about. But I do think there are some serious questions that are being raised about the process, and a number of processes, involved in his tenure when he’s been in the legislature,” Davol said.
Maynard was in rehabilitative treatment for several months following the 2014 incident where he fell from a staircase at his home. He has not given an interview to the media since, despite being re-elected and returning to his senate duties.
Last month, he was involved in crash on Route 32 in Waterford. Police said he was going the wrong way on the road when he struck an SUV and crashed into a ditch.
WNPR's Colin McEnroe said that if the Senator is not capable of considering legislation and voting as an independently thinking person, then he is being used as a manipulable vote.
"That’s the kind of thing people should get in a lot of trouble for, if it’s true," said McEnroe. "There’s a fog of war thing. We don’t know exactly what’s true and what’s not. But if that were to be the case, it would be very upsetting and raise real questions about [Senate President] Marty Looney’s leadership. If there’s any version of that that’s true, it’s very disturbing. I doubt there will be any fallout from it, but it’s upsetting."
Columnist Susan Bigelow questioned the fairness to constituents and the Senator himself in this situation.
“If there’s a question about benefits, the legislature could vote for those to give them to him fairly easily,” Bigelow said. “The fact that they have not done that, to sort of allow him to retire, to get better, makes me wonder.”
Former Groton Mayor Heather Somers has said she will run for the Republican nomination in the race to replace Maynard later this year.
For the full conversation, listen below:
