All posts by Michael Cianchette

Michael Cianchette

About Michael Cianchette

Michael Cianchette was the chief counsel to Gov. Paul LePage from 2012-2013 and deputy counsel from 2011-2012. A Navy reservist, he was deployed to Afghanistan from 2013-2014 as a trainer and adviser to the Afghan National Police. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Maine program and holds a BA in economics and political science from Boston College along with a JD and an MBA from Suffolk University. He works as in-house counsel and financial manager for a number of affiliated companies in southern Maine.

Maine needs a better way to welcome tourists this summer

So, I have a confession to make. I really liked Janet Mills’ inaugural address. That probably isn’t a huge surprise. Shortly after she gave the address, I applauded her in these pages. Her levelheaded, sensible approach was a welcome contrast to those offering soaring rhetoric divorced from concrete steps and, well, reality. The motif of […]

We need to get beyond our biases to bring real change

“Keep your hands to yourself, leave other people’s things alone, and be kind to one another.” Those words have become pretty famous around these parts. They are the sign-off of Lieutenant Tim Cotton, manager of the internationally-famous Bangor Police Department Facebook page. The plain advice highlights another simple truth. People are responsible for their own […]

It’s time for Maine Legislature to get to work

“The powers of this government shall be divided into 3 distinct departments, the legislative, executive and judicial.” That is Article III, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution. Take a look at the order of the departments. As the pandemic has unfolded, we have seen plenty from the executive branch. Gov. Janet Mills has exercised her […]

Let the dentists and others return to work as we learn more about coronavirus

Last year at this time, a myriad array of left-wing groups had taken to the Maine State House. Their cause was encapsulated in a catchy slogan. “Dental care is health care.” Therefore, the ongoing “shutdowns” of dentistry during the coronavirus pandemic means the government is denying people health care. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.  Of course, that doesn’t […]

Don’t let coronavirus lessons go to waste

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” That phrase was most famously said in recent history by Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama’s first chief of staff. In the wake of the so-called Great Recession, it became a clarion call built atop the Obama campaign’s “hope” and “change” slogan. So what did the […]

May Day brings a mayday for Maine’s Economy

It’s a mayday on May Day. Seven weeks ago, on March 15, Gov. Janet Mills declared a state of emergency related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Her first steps were brilliant; there were no heavy-handed orders, just encouragement and suggestions. Mainers heeded the call and, working together, took necessary steps. The Legislature quickly […]

Use caution with COVID-19 statistics

There are lies, there are damned lies, and then there are statistics. That famous axiom takes on particular meaning when faced with a worldwide pandemic and economic disruption. Statistics are an incredibly powerful tool. But, borrowing Spiderman’s equally-famous maxim: with great power comes great responsibility. Headlines — and politicians — shout numerous stats. The mortality […]

What Pope Francis, President Trump and Senate President Troy Jackson have in common

There is a wisp of commonality between Pope Francis, President Donald Trump, and Maine Senate President Troy Jackson. Whether this is a ray of hope or a natural sign of the end times is an open question. The Pope’s Easter message to members of Popular Movements made headlines worldwide for its apparent embrace of a […]