Bumper sticker asks Vigue to run for governor

BANGOR – The homemade bumper sticker is bright yellow and has a simple message for the president and CEO of Cianbro Corp., a Pittsfield-based construction company: “Pete Vigue, Please Run for Governor.”

Its maker said so many people have asked for a copy that she had a local print shop make 250 to pass out.

“I’ve had my little homemade bumper sticker on my car for the last month,” Amanda Bost, a Brewer school board member and wife of the city manager, said last week. “Why did I do it? Before the last gubernatorial race I was thinking along the same lines [and] that didn’t happen, so I thought we should get started early.

“The state of Maine really needs someone who will look out for the people of Maine,” she said. “He’s that kind of person.”

Vigue, during a phone interview from a Nevada airport Monday, said he was unaware of the bumper sticker until recently when his secretary informed him.

“I’m humbled that the people have that level of confidence in me,” he said. “It’s America and it’s freedom of speech.”

Vigue, who started as a laborer with Cianbro in 1970 and who was appointed president in January 1991, did not dismiss the idea entirely.

“I haven’t really given that a thought,” he said. “Right now, I have a lot on my plate.”

The next political race for governor will take place in 2010, with elections in November of that year. If Vigue were to run for governor, he would not be the only person with ties to Cianbro to do so.

Peter Cianchette of South Portland, son of one of the founders of the Cianbro company, ran for governor in 2002, losing a close race to John Baldacci.

The bumper sticker has been around for the last month and has nothing to do with the recent situation involving Hollywood Slots at Bangor, Bost said. Cianbro was given the contract to construct the facility last month, but was told to stop work last week in response to state lawmakers’ proposals to take more revenues from the gambling facility to help balance the state budget. While the stop-work order was rescinded Monday after lawmakers pulled the measures off the table, the effects of the proposals may be lasting, Vigue said.

“Unfortunately, right now people from outside of the state don’t view us as friendly to business,” he said, adding, “We can work on that. I’m very proud to represent the people, our state and my company” while conducting business all over the country and world.

“It’s not about me and my company,” Vigue said. “It’s about all of us. In my opinion we have some of the finest people in the world. [And] the world has a high regard for the people in our state.”

Bost met Vigue in passing through the Boy Scouts. Bost’s son is a Scout and Vigue is a big supporter of Boy Scout programs statewide. She said his work and Cianbro’s work ethic speak loudly about his commitment to Maine.

“I think he’s a man of great integrity and he understands that in Maine a handshake still means something,” she said. “Cianbro – they have an impeccable track record of creating jobs in Maine and around the county by proving good wages, [and] good investments in communities.”

Over the last five or six years people have approached Vigue asking him to run for governor, he said.

“I’m not surprised,” he said laughing a little over the phone. “I’m not in a position right now to talk about that. My aspirations are to enhance the economy of the state and company and help the state be viewed as a great place to do business.”