SHORT AND SWEET

Excellent reporting! (See "Augusta’s Mayor, His Two Hats, and $400,000," April 15, by Lance Tapley.)

Please keep up presenting the truth!

This is real journalism!

You deserve much credit for your reporting!

Thank you for presenting the facts!

Luisa Sheldon

Berwick

THE LONG VERSION

I felt compelled to write to you after reading Lance Tapley’s article "Augusta’s Mayor, His Two Hats, and $400,000."

It’s been years since I have been so excited by a piece of journalism in any paper here in Maine. I can hardly wait for next week’s follow-up article.

Upon completion of my reading the piece I realized that it was oriented toward "corporate welfare." This is the only point upon which I think that Mr. Tapley has missed the mark.

To me, and others with whom I discussed the article, it is one of the finest pieces ever written about the rampant deception and cronyism by those in public office, in order to feather one’s own nest at the expense of the taxpayers of Maine.

We all know that we have reached the breaking point of financial crisis in this state and it was sickening to read of the "good old boy" network who enrich themselves while so many others suffer under the burden of taxes and the day to day effort to keep one’s head above water so as not to lose our homes or jobs.

Therefore, I am urging, no, pleading that you encourage Mr. Tapley to continue with his series of articles. Please do not stop with the publication of the second article.

Everyone is talking about it and the response is enormous! To me and hundreds, perhaps thousands of others, as the word spreads and the story is emailed throughout the state, this expose is the most revealing piece written in 25-30 years! As his editor, I encourage you to let him have free rein to continue his investigation and to dig as deep as he can into all aspects of the corruption in Augusta.

We desperately need a hero to champion the fight to reclaim the state of Maine for its people and Lance Tapley, like it or not, became just that person yesterday.

If he doesn’t continue, no one else will have the guts to carry the ball. We all need his help to set the record straight and report on what has been happening "behind closed doors" for far too long.

Marta Badyk

Kennebunk