House GOP elects minority leader

AUGUSTA – The tattered remnants of the House Republican caucus compared themselves to the winners of the “Survivor” television show Thursday as they returned to Augusta to elect Rep. Joe Bruno of Raymond as their minority leader and Rep. William J. Schneider of Durham as assistant minority leader.

The new House Republican leaders will see their troops further diminished and outnumbered in the approaching session. Republicans lost 10 seats in the Nov. 7 elections and face a Democratic majority of 89-61 with one independent, pending the results of six more recounts. The GOP also can expect to lose staff members and committee positions as a result of its election losses.

But Bruno said Thursday the Republicans are “revved up and ready to go.” He said the toughest part in the approaching session will be dealing with a budget shortfall approaching $300 million and to “just say no.”

Despite their diminished numbers, Republicans will not be irrelevant in the coming session, Bruno promised. “We don’t feel good about the election. We were outworked and the Democrats had more money from the Gore-Lieberman campaign. But we absolutely can be effective. We have to get the caucus back together to forge an agenda, focusing on three or four things. Education, health care, senior issues and living within our means will be the focus,” he said.

A minority party can be effective if properly organized, said Bruno, who was first elected in the 116th Legislature when 54 outnumbered Republicans held their ground and won a victory on Workers’ Compensation with the aid of a Republican governor, John McKernan. In order to be effective during the next session, Bruno said the party needs to “open its tent” and cooperate with House Democrats, an independent governor and a Senate divided with 17 Republicans, 17 Democrats and one independent.

Republicans told the truth about the budget shortfall during the last session and “didn’t promise the moon” during elections, so the party is in good shape to gain public support, he said. Party members pledged to work harder to get their message out. “We did the right thing and didn’t get the credit. This time we will get the credit,” Bruno said.

He told party members that fund raising and recruitment must start now for the 2002 elections when 16 party members will be removed by term limits, compared to 11 Democrats.

In his nominating speech, Rep. Irvin G. Belanger of Caribou called Bruno “a fighter, a leader and a bulldog … just what we need.”

Bruno is a Northeastern University graduate and a former pharmacist. He is chief executive officer of GHS Inc. based in Augusta, Community Pharmacies located around the state, and the Sable Oaks Golf Club in South Portland. He beat Rep. Donald P. Berry of Belmont, a self described “conservative” who compared the state to a “fiscally troubled company” and warned of dealing with the “rattlesnakes” in the Democratic caucus.

Outgoing Minority Leader Rep. Thomas Murphy of Kennebunk warned members that they are in for a “tough” session and advised them to “count up to 10 twice” when the going gets tough. Outgoing Assistant Minority Leader Dick Campbell of Holden warned the “survivors” of renewed attempts to water down the Workers’ Compensation system and eliminate the Business and Equipment Tax Reimbursement program, which allows tax rebates for expanding companies. “Be strong and stay together,” Campbell said.

Schneider edged Rep. Stavros Mendros of Lewiston for the assistant minority leader post. The vote totals for the leadership posts were not announced.