Republican and Democratic state legislators elected House and Senate leaders last week. What was interesting, besides the individuals chosen, was where they held their caucuses.

House Republicans held theirs at the Augusta Country Club. A country club may not be the best place to dispel the stereotype of rich Republicans.

The Senate Democrats held their election at the John Martin Manor in Waterville. Sen. John Martin (no relation) was running for president of the Senate.

Holding the election in a restaurant with his name apparently didn’t help the former longtime House speaker. Martin lost to Beth Edmunds, D-Freeport.

– Bonnie Washuk
Rabbit hole

Superintendent Nina Schlikin took a deep breath Wednesday and suggested the Poland High School Committee – a mesh of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland representatives – may be close to, if not already, micromanaging the school department.

The board has a habit of creating subcommittees. Committees to which one person is appointed. Committees of one.

Schlikin said she had not encountered anything like it before in her professional experience.

Certainly, a committee of one wouldn’t have to endure disagreements, compare calendars to set meeting dates or worry about building consensus.

But what about the give-and-take of ideas, the comparison of best practices?

In the case of establishing a basketball court and erecting hoops, the Poland committee of one became so involved in the project that it prickled administrators. That’s probably because the committee – with a quorum of one – was engaged in an everlasting meeting and always at work.

Alice, while in her wonderland, complained there were no rules to the game of croquet. She argued that there had to be rules so others could understand how to play.

Subcommittees of one confound government rules about discussion and procedure.

Curiouser and curiouser.

– Judy Meyer