HIRAM – Maine Democratic Party Chairman Patrick Colwell addressed the meeting of the Oxford County Democrats on May 19 at the Horizon Building in South Hiram.

Colwell, formerly Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, outlined the progress made in his first months on the job at the Maine Democratic Party, including the purchase of a new headquarters on Winthrop Street, hiring of new staff, hosting a series of regional meetings and a commitment to building a grassroots organization.

The state budget and the work of Gov. John Baldacci and legislative leadership were highlighted for providing $300 million in property tax relief, $250 million over four years in new funding for school and funding for the Dirigo Health program.

Colwell also spoke of the potential base closures and the need for all Mainers to pull together to support the effort to remove the bases from the list.

Michael Broderick of Bethel, Joanne Morse of Waterford and Malcolm Macdonald of Denmark were elected to the 2006 Platform Committee, Nancy Willard of Bryant Pond to the Permanent Organization Committee, and India Haynes of Waterford to the Credentials Committee.

Marge Medd of Norway was congratulated for her work chairing Enterprise Maine and for her recent appointment to the University of Maine System board of trustees.

Reports were given on regional meetings held in April in Waterford, Hiram and Bethel. Regional meetings will be held in June and the next county committee meeting will be in July.

More information about the Oxford County Democratic Committee is available on the Web site, www.oxforddems.org, or by calling Cathy Newell at 875-2116.