Brian Duff interviewed by Bangor Daily News on allegations that the governor isn't interested in working with Portland

Brian Duff, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, was interviewed by the Bangor Daily News for a story on July 21, 2011 examining allegations by former Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Norman Olsen that Gov. Paul LePage had rejected further collaboration with Portland to attempt to reinvigorate the groundfishing industry in the city because the city voted against him last November.

Duff said the LePage administration has turned out to be a “profoundly unpredictable thing.” This latest brouhaha is part and parcel of that.

“Paul LePage definitely has a habit of speaking off the cuff. Who knows if he really said that? On the other hand, it’s not going to strike anybody as out of character,” said Duff. “Is Paul LePage going to be more responsive to the northern half of the state? Definitely,” said Duff. “I don’t think that’s so surprising.”