Potholes & Politics: Local Maine Issues from A to Z

Maine Municipal Association
  • 5.0 (7)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

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

  1. 2D AGO

    Many Roads Lead to the Budget

    Send a text 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.

    15 min

  2. FEB 24

    Collaboration, Supplemental Budget & From Out of Left Field

    Send a text 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.

    17 min

  3. FEB 10

    EMS, Housing & Newspaper Notice

    Send a text 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.

    17 min

  4. JAN 27

    Snow Day Legislative Update

    Send a text While Mainers were digging out from yet another snowstorm, podcast hosts Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell provided updates on several legislative initiatives.  Their discussion covered  proposals seeking to establish a recall process for school board members (LD 849); protecting the safety of certain judiciary and state and federal officials (LD 2121); amending the process for revoking a code enforcement officer’s state certification (LD 2097); and repealing the requirement that the state provide GA administrators access to a database necessary to determine applicant eligibility (LD 1996).  Listen now.

    16 min

  5. JAN 13

    It’s Session Time!

    Send a text Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell take to the air for their first Potholes & Politics podcast of 2026. Seeing that both hosts are members of MMA’s advocacy team, it is only fitting that this episode dives straight into the 2026 Legislative Session. The show kicks off with an overview of the work already underway, as legislative committees convened on January 5.

    15 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    2025 Wrap-up

    Send a text From the turbulent enactment of the FY 2026-FY 2027 biennial budget and new limits placed on concept draft legislation to conversation about home rule and the January 7, 2026, return of the Maine State Legislature, Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell revisit some of the issues discussed on the Potholes & Politics podcast in 2025.  Episode Links: Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force public comment can be sent to legislative staff via this email: re.ptax.relief@legislature.maine.gov  MMA’s Grassroots Advocacy one-page resource is HERE  Current LPC Listing is HERE Check out editions of the Legislative Bulletin from the first session of the 132nd Legislature HERE and contact Laura Ellis at lellis@memun.org to subscribe or update your subscription preferences!

    13 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    Winter Safety Tips

    Send a text Although MMA Risk Management Services (RMS) staff can’t keep the snow from flying, they can help prevent people from slipping on snow and ice.  This week, Dan Whitter, RMS’s Loss Control Manager, joins Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to share practical tips for avoiding slips, trips and falls.  He also outlines the steps municipalities can take to ensure their facilities, equipment, and staff remain safe throughout the winter season. In addition, Dan discusses the grant programs available to members enrolled in RMS programs—the Ed MacDonald Safety Enhancement Grant and Risk Reduction Grant—designed to keep staff and equipment safe from harm and costly damage.

    11 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    Property Tax Talk – Part III

    Send a text Nick Cloutier, current assessor for the Town of Scarborough, and soon-to-be Waterville city manager, joins Rebecca Lambert and Amanda Campbell to provide an update on the Legislature’s Real Estate Property Tax Relief Tax Force.  Appointed by the Speaker of the House, Nick represents the interests of Maine’s tax assessors on the task force. In this episode, he outlines a range of solutions, from amending current programs such as the Property Tax Fairness Credit, to deliver immediate relief to homeowners, to long-term reforms requiring constitutional amendments.  Among these proposals is the introduction of a tiered mil rate system.  Nick also urges listeners to share their perspectives with the task force before it begins to draft its official recommendations.

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

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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