Hosted by Maine Municipal Association
Episodes
59
Latest episode
Jun 2026
Language
EN-US
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
Send us Fan Mail It’s a celebration 250 years in the making. In this festive edition of the Potholes & Politics podcast, hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell shine a spotlight on how municipalities around Maine are marking this milestone quarter-millennial anniversary.
Send us Fan Mail Kerry Leichtman, Camden and Rockport tax assessor and newly appointed member of the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force, shares his first impressions of the Progress and Poverty Institute‘s interim report. While Kerry found the data to be thoughtfully presented and thoroughly analyzed, he believes further study is needed to fully understand the core issue. As he puts it, the central question remains—do property owners simply dislike paying taxes, or as he suspects, are many genuinely unable to afford their tax bills. Podcast hosts, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell discuss the key issues Kerry believes the task force should prioritize as it enters its second year of work.
Send us Fan Mail In the May 11 edition, your podcast hosts, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell met with members of MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the illustrious committee. This edition continues that conversation with Elaine Aloes (Solon) and Roberta Boczkiewicz (Castine), who bring the elected official’s perspective to the discussion.
Send us Fan Mail MMA’s 70-member Legislative Policy Committee, comprised of two members elected by the councils and selectboards in each of Maine’s Senate districts, plays a critical role in shaping the association’s priorities on the issues before the Maine State Legislature. As the election of the 2026-2028 LPC gets underway, current members Steven Buck, Marc Meyers, and Dwayne Young join Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to discuss the process and its importance.
Send us Fan Mail With the Legislature poised to finally adjourn after veto day on April 29, Tanya Emery joins Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to highlight the successes, disappointments and near misses of the 2026 session.
Send us Fan Mail With committee work wrapped up, the supplemental General Fund budget finalized, and the last edition of MMA’s Legislative Bulletin published and emailed on March 27, the Legislature is on pace for an April 15 adjournment. In this episode of the podcast, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell discuss how bills move between the chambers, highlight the municipally relevant components of the supplemental budget, and provide updates on the legislation debated this week.
Send us Fan Mail In a brief, yet informative podcast, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell highlight several municipal issues moving toward final action as legislative committees conclude their work. With the April 15 adjournment date approaching, committees are finalizing amendments to bills affecting county jail funding, the Essential Programs & Services formula, interim recommendations from the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force, and housing. These, and other proposals, will soon advance to the House and Senate for debate and final votes.
Send us Fan Mail As the Legislature’s appropriators continue to work on the supplemental budget, committees are establishing their funding priorities. So far, lawmakers have supported state funding for 55% of pre-K to grade 12 education costs, additional funding for county jail operations, and resources to retrofit school buses with critical safety features. Additionally, Tanya Emery joins podcast co-hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to discuss a wide range of legislative issues, including updates on mandatory reporter provisions, new protections for certain public officials, and emerging questions regarding the authority of municipalities to regulate clean energy developments.
Send us Fan Mail Tanya Emery, MMA’s Advocacy Manager, joins podcast co-hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to discuss LD 2173, which seeks to amend LD 1829 housing development provisions enacted in 2025. The team also reviews key elements of Governor Mills’ proposed FY 2026 – FY 2027 supplemental General Fund budget (LD 2212), including funding for code enforcement officer support, pre-K to grade 12 school programs, school bus passenger safety retrofits, and an expansion of the veterans’ exemption. Amanda provides updates on General Assistance-related initiatives, including increased state reimbursement for the assistance provided applicants (LD 978), and administrator access to a statewide database used to determine applicant eligibility (LD 1996). Rebecca provides an update on an effort to collaborate with the Maine Press Association to modernize public notice requirements (LD 2042). The team also provides an update on an amended version of LD 2174, which seeks to preempt municipal regulation of renewable energy projects, which will receive a public hearing this week.
Send us Fan Mail In this edition of the Potholes & Politics podcast, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell share updates on several bills of municipal interest that recently received public hearings and work sessions. They cover initiatives seeking to fulfill a 12-year promise to adequately reimburse providers for ambulance services, including the care provided at the scene of an emergency and community paramedicine (LD 2119); the long-awaited fixes to recently enacted housing legislation (LD 2173); and efforts to ensure newspapers of record remain an effective tool for keeping residents informed about local issues (LD 2042). In roughly 15 minutes, listeners will gain the key information they need to connect with their legislators and engage in important policy discussions.
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Earth Notes / Damon Hart-Davis
Anthony Fasano, PE, AEC PM, F. ASCE and James Taylor, JR., P.E.
Anthony Fasano, PE & Nick Heim, PE
