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Potholes & Politics: Local Maine Issues from A to Z is a podcast about municipalities in Maine and the people and policies that bring local government to your doorstep. Through stories, experiences, current events, and interviews with municipal officials this podcast will spotlight the everyday challenges and successes of local governments in our home state. Potholes & Politics is brought to you by Maine Municipal Association. Comments and suggested topics can be sent to mmapodcast@memun.org
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Send us a text On this edition of the podcast, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Kathleen Billings, Stonington’s renowned town manager, a dedicated member of MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee, and one of three municipal appointees serving on the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Tax Force. Kathleen brings a strong coastal community perspective to the discussion. From the rise in second-home ownership and the dwindling availability of year-round housing, to inflationary pr...
Send us a text This week, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Janet Kelle, MMA’s Human Resources Director. With more than 30 years of HR experience, most recently with Husson University, Janet quickly made her presence known at MMA. In this edition, Rebecca, Amanda and Janet dive into the wide range of human resource services available to MMA member municipalities. These include succession planning, employee handbook reviews, and compliance guidance, as well as...
Send us a text This week Carollynn Lear, Bangor City Manager joins Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to discuss the first meeting of the Legislature's newly established Real Estate Property Tax Relief Tax Force. Of the task force’s 13 voting members, Carollynn was appointed by Governor Mills to represent the interests of larger communities. Having served as the deputy commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Revenue, she brings to the table an in-depth knowledge of the i...
Send us a text On October 8-9, 2025, Maine’s municipal leaders will gather at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor for MMA’s Annual Convention. This year’s theme, From Partnership to Progress, highlights how collaboration can lead to the implementation of successful and sustainable solutions. This week, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Peter Osborne, MMA Education Services Director to discuss the planning that goes behind the convention. They are also ...
Send us a text In this edition of MMA’s Potholes & Politics hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell are joined by Audra Caler, Camden Town Manager; Kyle Hadyniak, Gray IT & Communications Director; Brian McDonald, MMA IT Director, and Anthony Wilson, Winthrop Town Manager to discuss how AI can support municipal work and services. The key takeaway from this session is that with practice, policies and responsible use, AI can level the playing field among municipalities by provid...
Send us a text Join Potholes and Politics with co-hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell as they sit down with Representatives Elizabeth Caruso and Michael Ray. The conversation delves into the differences and challenges between serving at the state and local levels, the importance of municipal officials' voices in legislative processes, and key concerns and accomplishments from their first legislative session. With insights on property taxes, legislative compromise, and the fast-paced nat...
Send us a text Join co-hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell in this episode of Potholes and Politics as they discuss their recent trip to the National League of Cities (NLC) workshop in Minneapolis. Amanda shares key takeaways, including innovative advocacy strategies and the recurrent challenge of housing issues. The hosts also tease their upcoming episode featuring special guests. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and tune in for more local Maine insights!
Send us a text In this brief episode of 'Potholes and Politics,' hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell dive into key legislative updates and study bills of municipal interest in Maine. They discuss the recent legislative adjournment, the upcoming issue of the Maine Town and City magazine, and various significant study bills, including those on property taxation, unfunded mandates, unregulated stormwater pollution, and school funding. The episode also touches on their upcoming trip to the ...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Potholes and Politics,' co-hosts dive into the messy world of local legislative sessions. They tackle intense debates about the state budget, revealing that the budget is safe and no government shutdown looms. Topics also include the dramatic Growth Management Act dialogues, General Assistance reforms, and jaw-dropping housing bills. Major highlights include a tussle over election reforms, public comment periods, and absurdly technical housing legislations. ...
Send us a text Dive into the complexities of Maine's legislative session with our latest podcast episode! This episode we break down key bills, budget battles, and the implications of citizens' vetoes. Join Rebecca, Kate, Rebecca & Amanda for an insightful discussion on what has been happening this session of municipal interest, what you should pay attention to and maybe what you should contact your Legislator about! Topics include the state of the budget situation, Gene...
Send us a text Potholes and Politics: Bills, Brawls, and Birthday Cupcakes! Welcome to Potholes and Politics, where Rebecca Squared navigates the whirlwind of local legislation, tackling topics from voter registration to fire safety standards. Join Lambo and Grambo as they dive into the minutiae of obscure bills, from regulating corner caucuses to updating voter registration systems and debating cannabis laws—and yes, even the state of public hearings and emergency services funding. Stay tun...
Send us a text In the return episode of 'Potholes and Politics,' hosts Rebecca Graham, Rebecca Lambert, and Amanda Campbell dive into the latest happenings as the Maine legislature kicks back into gear. At the time of this recording they've printed a whopping 139 bills already, with 29 needing immediate attention for their significant impact on municipalities. Now in week 2 we are at 293 bills printed. The hosts discuss first week bills related to municipal operations, transparency, educati...
Send us a text The Regional Meetings Podcast Episode: At the taping of this podcast MMA's Advocacy Team had conducted 10 regional meetings with municipal and county officials around the state to discuss pressures on local government, possible solutions and meet with candidates for State office to understand better the needs of local government. From Presque Isle to Alfred, some issues are the same with a significant difference in the ability for local government to address them. It is ...
Send us a text The Urgency of Building Resilient Communities Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and co-chair of the Maine Climate Council, talks about the urgent importance of community action, planning and investments to build resilience to impacts of climate change following the devastating winter storms of December 2023 and January 2024. In response to these storms, Governor Mills proposed and authorized the largest recovery support packa...
Send us a text The statutory adjournment day of the 131st was April 18th, but the Legislature only recessed carrying many pieces of legislature over that was indefinitely postposed in a chaotic and partisan late night. As the Legislature did not adjourn "Sine Die" the start of the enactment clock on all but emergency legislation has not yet begn, including the much discussed Supplemental Budget. Nothing is real, and campaigning for the next session should not be starting until th...
Send us a text In a surprise move, the legislature came into session today and upended the Governor’s supplemental budget request. After spending the weekend consulting with municipal officials in their home communities, the tone changed drastically. Rebecca Squared (Lambo & Grahambo) breakdown what is municipally relevant in Augusta as the Legislature returns and is full of Easter Chocolate chipping away at the Governor's Supplemental budget request in meaningful ways.
Send us a text Much delayed first legislative breakdown of the second session has dropped. This week we only go over what has happened for the First week of February though staff has been underwater with carryover initiatives during the entire month of January. We very much hope the Legislature will adjourn mid-April as planned but until then, the proposed legislation is painful thus far. To that end we encourage you to subscribe to the Legislative Bulletin and pay attention to calls for ac...
Send us a text Why should you care about stormwater? What is a MS4 regulated community? Why do people pick up their dog poo and put it in a bag only to dump it on the trail or in the storm drain? What is a harbor trout? In this episode, Rebecca Squared & Amanda the new kid talk with Stormwater Super Heros - Giants of municipal water protection activities; South Portland's Stormwater Coordinator Fred Dillon and Portland's Stormwater Coordinator Doug Roncarati and their state level ...
Send us a text The sensationalized headlines around heated municipal meetings targeting municipal tax assessment changes, and property reevaluation haven't offered much in the way of educating the public around the root causes of Mill Rate and property tax bill increases. So Potholes & Politics is taking a deeper dive. Trust us...this is 58 minutes you won't want to miss. (Hint: It ain't because of those "greedy" volunteer municipal select boards and councils.) This episode is th...
Send us a text This week we are highlighting one of the conversations from MMA's 87th Annual Convention held at the Augusta Civic Center, October 4 & 5, 2023. This year's convention theme was "Lead, Motivate, Communicate" and featured dynamic speakers like Leila Brammer, Director of Outreach and Instructional Development of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse, University of Chicago on "Civic Leadership and the Imperative of Effective Communication" and Yellow Light Breen, Preside...
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