Ethan Strimling

Latest Articles

What we learned from the race

Mayoral Aftermath
As of last Tuesday, Portland has its first elected mayor in many decades; Michael Brennan will take office December 5 and serve a four-year term.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | November 16, 2011

Voting sustainable

Going green
Among the new mayor's responsibilities will be increasing energy efficiency in city buildings, managing and advocating for local alternative transit priorities, and setting an example regarding eco-friendliness.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | October 26, 2011

Mayors, media, masses

Press Releases
Portland's 15 mayoral candidates are missing an opportunity to connect with the people, both directly and through the media, by failing to publicize their support for OccupyMaine.
By JEFF INGLIS | October 19, 2011

Stranger than known

Political nonsense
In politics, things don't have to make sense. If they did, there'd be no excuse for the Tea Party, Democrat Jon Hinck's US Senate campaign, or Republican State Committee chairman Charlie Webster's existence.
By AL DIAMON | September 21, 2011

Museum dreams

Political Paleontology
This week, we're joining a guided tour of the Maine Museum of Political Paleontology. A docent is explaining to a group of schoolchildren what's happening in a scene depicting cave people trying to register to vote.
By AL DIAMON | August 24, 2011

20 questions about Portland's upcoming mayoral election

Rising from the masses
With three months until Portland's first mayoral election in more than 80 years, and two weeks until candidates are required to hand in the 300 signatures that will reserve them each a place on the ballot, a whopping 19 people have thrown their hats into the ring by taking out nominating-petition papers.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | August 11, 2011

Your credibility's shot

Dennis Bailey's political advice falls flat
He used his ability to appeal to a significant minority of the electorate to propel himself and his pals into the governor's office.
By AL DIAMON | May 04, 2011

Spookin' the horses

Scary trumps stupid every time
Move over, Freddy Krueger. Here come the real scary monsters: Libby Mitchell and Paul LePage.
By AL DIAMON | June 16, 2010

Same-sex marriage

Fighting for a basic civil right without repeating other states' mistakes
From the podium at EqualityMaine's 25th anniversary dinner last Saturday night, former state senator Ethan Strimling posed a question to the 630 people in attendance: If gay marriage were allowed in Maine, how many of you would tie the knot?
By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 25, 2009

Falling down

Mistreatment of Maine prison guards lands heavily on inmates
Critics of the state Department of Corrections say the hostage-taking last June at the Maine State Prison dramatically illustrates that the concrete, high-tech lockup in Warren is showing cracks from stress on the prison guards.
By LANCE TAPLEY | November 05, 2008

Scars and souvenirs

Politics and other mistakes
The campaign is over. Now for the fun stuff.
By AL DIAMON | November 05, 2008

They call me Mr. Lucky

Politics and other mistakes
Nominations are now open for the 2008 award for most politically inept person in Maine.
By AL DIAMON | July 16, 2008

Flavors of entanglement

Politics and other mistakes
Dear S. Donald Sussman: Please send me a million bucks.
By AL DIAMON | June 25, 2008

And the award goes to...

Politics and other mistakes
The Gaggie Awards are back.
By AL DIAMON | June 11, 2008

Bad words and warnings

Politics and other mistakes
And now, a few positive words about negative advertising.
By AL DIAMON | May 28, 2008

Letters to the Portland editor, May 23 2008

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | May 21, 2008

Corporate welfare state

A little change in the tax law with big consequences
In 2006, state lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to give away millions of tax dollars a year for decades to some of Maine’s biggest corporations.
By LANCE TAPLEY | February 20, 2008

Dressed up for the letdown

Politics and other mistakes
I needed to get this column spiffed up, so I headed for the metaphor closet.
By AL DIAMON | January 16, 2008

Tear me apart

Politics and other mistakes
Are people in southern Maine finally smartening up?
By AL DIAMON | December 12, 2007

Elect the dead

Politics and other mistakes
Before they can be taken seriously, candidates for Congress ought to meet certain stringent criteria. Such as: having a pulse.
By AL DIAMON | November 28, 2007

Stay away from me, baby

Politics and other mistakes
Imagine a Maine in which almost everybody is over the age of 40.
By AL DIAMON | November 14, 2007

It won’t be soon before long

Politics and other mistakes
What Strimling is doing in delaying his entry into the race may be on the high end of coy and the low end of ethical, but it’s dead center on traditional.
By AL DIAMON | September 26, 2007

Genuine sense of outrage

Politics and other mistakes
Democratic US Representative Tom Allen is being accused by editorial writers and other whack jobs of demeaning the political process.
By AL DIAMON | August 29, 2007

Did she jump or was she pushed?

Politics and other mistakes
There's stuff that's illegal, but not necessarily unethical.
By AL DIAMON | August 02, 2007

Civil-liberties tug-of-war

State politicians take a national stand
An amazing thing about legislative bodies is their ability to take stands on just about anything.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | June 20, 2007

This is Radio Clash

Politics and other mistakes
Portland state senator Ethan Strimling has caught some flack for his decision to continue working as a talk-show host on WGAN radio.
By AL DIAMON | June 13, 2007