Democracy Forum

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine We’ll talk about anger and intimidation in the public sphere, especially in local politics. Where is this coming from? What is it that puts schools and elections in the bull’s eye? What measures should officials take? What can ordinary people do? Can we still have deliberative democracy? Guests: Patti Dubois, Waterville City Clerk and the Legislative Policy Chair for the Maine Town and City Clerks Association. Jordan LaBouff, Associate Professor of Psychology and Honors at the University of Maine. umaine.edu/psychology/jordan-labouff/ Paul Markosian, an Ellsworth business owner and member of the Ellsworth School board. To learn more about this topic: Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, Brittney Cooper, 2018. Local election officials are exhausted, under threat and thinking about quitting, Politico, March 2022 Whitmer plot underlines growing abuse of women officials | AP News, March 2022 Bill to make interfering with elect