Tribal leader eyes Senate seat Richmond woman in nonvoting slot would gain visibility

AUGUSTA – Recovering from a case of laryngitis, Donna Loring doesn’t have much of a voice at the moment.

But for the Penobscot Nation’s longtime representative to the Maine Legislature, her current state, brought about by a persistent head cold, is a mere inconvenience compared to the more figurative silencing she has experienced in her nearly eight-year tenure in the House.

“I’m tired of being invisible,” Loring said Thursday, explaining her desire to give up her nonvoting seat representing the Penobscot tribe and run for Maine Senate District 19, most of which lies in Sagadahoc County.

If elected to the Senate, Loring, a Democrat who lives in Richmond, would do more than cast her first vote. It is believed she would become the first Maine tribal member to do so in either chamber.

Because the state’s Indian reservations are included within existing legislative districts, the state’s two tribal representatives cannot vote in committee or on the House floor. If they did, courts have suggested tribal members would be inordinately represented, running afoul of the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote.”

But under an arrangement – unique in the nation – Maine’s tribal representatives do wield some influence, namely the ability to sponsor legislation, speak in committee and address the House.

During a break in the session Thursday, Loring said she has had to make the most of those limited powers – and hone her own power of persuasion – to effectively advance the tribe’s agenda in Augusta.

“Without a vote, I really haven’t had the ability to say I’ll support your bill if you support mine,” said Loring, noting her Republican opponent, Sen. Art Mayo of Bath, has enjoyed that luxury throughout his tenure – four terms in the House and one in the Senate. “I’ve had to be a bit more creative and imaginative than he’s had to be.”

“I don’t know what that has to do with creativity or getting legislation passed,” countered Mayo, a moderate Republican well-known in the district, which this year added Loring’s hometown. “Perhaps contrary to public perception, that kind of vote trading hardly ever happens.”

Because of its historical significance, Loring’s candidacy has attracted a fair share of media attention. In contrast, Mayo’s expected re-election bid, has been delegated, he said, to the inside pages.

“I can’t even get a notice in the local paper saying that I’m running,” he said, laughing. “And I’m serious about that.”

Loring counts among her accomplishments drafting a law that mandates the teaching of Maine Indian history in public schools and removing the word “squaw,” which many American Indians find offensive, from names of public places.

Her tenure in Augusta has been well documented, as she has found herself in the center of several contentious issues, including casino gambling and tribal sovereignty – both of which found the state and tribes at odds.

Like Loring, Penobscot Nation Chief Barry Dana is quick to reject the suggestion she would use her senate seat as a forum to advance the tribal issues she has championed in the past.

“She is an honorable person … and our loss is your gain,” said Dana, rattling off Loring’s accomplishments, including her service in the Vietnam War.

“Would she abuse her tribal connection to change things in Augusta to the benefit of the tribes?” he asked rhetorically. “As you know, one person in Augusta can’t make that much of a change, and I don’t think there’s much need for discussion there.”