Tag: Edward Mazurek

The festival board voted Tuesday, April 24, to exclude all political organizations and candidates from the annual parade held the first Saturday in August. The online application for parade entrants already includes the new policy. "The Maine Lobster Festival Parade is a non-partisan, secular and neutral private event which celebrates our community, our people and our lobsters. Board President Cynthia Powell said in these highly charged political times, there were other entrants to the parade who did not want to be marching alongside and be associated with various political groups. Powell said the policy is fair, because it excludes all political groups. “I am troubled by this decision," said Rockland Democratic Chair Gerald Weinand. "Maine has a long tradition of candidates marching in parades held throughout the state, where they often zig-zag from curb to curb to shake hands and have a brief chat with constituents. A Knox County representative of the Republican party also questioned the action, but said a formal statement should come from Knox County Republican Chair Blaine Richardson. Zachery Annis, chair of the Knox County Democratic Committee, said, "We're disappointed that candidates from across the political spectrum won't be able to march in the lobster parade, because political engagement and representation is so important to a thriving, democratic community. The Lobster Festival last year limited political groups to walking in the parade and not using vehicles, Powell said.