March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

GOP county chairman refuses to resign

PORTLAND — The chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Committee, who recently was charged with shoplifting, refused to resign Wednesday night despite requests that he do so.

Paul Volle, who presided at the committee meeting, ruled that motions aimed at removing him did not comply with the committee’s bylaws.

Tony Payne of Portland, a prominent Republican who urged Volle to step down, said party members had not been prepared well enough.

“Paul was prepared to use the bylaws as his shield and he did that very effectively,” Payne said.

Volle said it was unfair for party members to presume him to be guilty before his court appearance.

“I cannot discuss my case, but I’m sure not going to have it tried here in a referendum,” Volle said after the meeting.

Debate eventually was cut off by a motion to adjourn, but Payne said a special meeting would be held April 25 to address the issue.

However, he predicted it would be difficult to muster the two-thirds majority needed to force Volle to resign.

He said that he hoped that in the next two weeks, prominent Republicans would go to Volle and urge him to step aside.


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