I represent a beautiful young mother who was seduced by an older man. Last April, he took the child. He conned the Department of Humans Services into giving him emergency custody, despite having served eight years for aggravated assault on another baby who was 10-weeks-old at the time of his suffocation.

On Aug. 21, at 1:30 p.m., I was at court with my client, ready to submit the defendant’s criminal record and the autopsy to prevent unsupervised visits by this man with the living 2-year-old.

On that date, the Legislature convened in Special Session at 1 p.m. As a member of a part-time citizen body, I am proud to bring a perspective that is important in making our laws. I am first a mother of children in our public schools, second a state senator for District 22 and third a practicing lawyer. On some occasions, I must heed one responsibility over the others.

At 4 p.m., I left court for Augusta where I arrived at 5 p.m. I waited with other members of the Senate as leadership, Republican and Democrat, negotiated the bond package.

At 11:15 p.m., the bond measure was placed before the Senate and Senator Woodcock, Republican assistant leader, moved to table it until later. Several Democrats joined the 17 Republicans in agreeing to that delay. I was not one of them.

Let’s get back to the real business of our community, discussing how to spur economic development, improve our schools and protect our families.

Sen. Neria Douglass, Auburn

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