Maine’s insurance industry is learning that Joseph Edwards, the state’s insurance commissioner, is a regulator with considerable energy, commanding a strong opinion of what constitutes appropriate business practices, who also is a man of his word.

Commissioner Edwards provided a needed shock to the system when he announced last winter that he would become aggressive in cracking down on agents guilty of unethical or illegal practices. With more than 8,000 agents and 750 insurance companies doing business here, the statistical probability exists in Maine to produce Edwards’ objective: a Bureau of Insurance newsletter listing at least 20 industry practitioners who have abused the public trust.

Until Edwards arrived in Augusta, Maine’s historic record in this area had been absolutely dismal. A year might pass with one or two sanctions against agents, but the state’s practice was to ignore its obligation to defend its own policies and the interests of the public. Activity had to be blatantly unethical or illegal to wake the state up in its role as watchdog.

This week’s announcement that six agents lost their licenses to practice in Maine, either by consent or through court proceedings, is good news for the public and the industry.

Maine’s insurance industry is strong. The overwhelming majority of agents are competent and completely reliable, but as with any profession there are people who abuse the leverage of power and trust that comes with their jobs. The state’s role is to protect both the public and the industry by weeding out malefactors. Edwards is seeing to it that the state fulfills that role.