Standing in downtown Lewiston on a rainy night this week, Republican candidate for Governor Robert “Bobby” Charles issued a direct plea to President Donald Trump, on social media, to take action to address what he described as a growing public safety and drug crisis in Androscoggin County.
Charles said he submitted a request two weeks ago to Gov. Janet Mills, asking her to seek a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area designation for the region. That designation would open federal funding for both drug enforcement and treatment.
He said he also asked the governor to mobilize the National Guard under Title 32, but said she did not act.
“I’m asking you, please, President Trump, use your powers under Title 10, your National Guard mobilization powers and your ability to make Androscoggin County a high intensity drug trafficking area,” Charles said.
Charles, who is running for governor, said the state must be made safe again and that the effort should begin in places like Lewiston and Androscoggin County. “Please, Mr. President, help us. We depend on you. We believe in you and we need you,” he said.
During the George W. Bush administration, Charles served as assistant secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and as a staffer on Capitol Hill helped craft the legislation that allows states to designate high intensity drug trafficking areas.
Charles said he has also directly appealed to the White House and made personal contact with personnel inside the administration.
“Fear has won out for the moment, but we can overcome it with hope, belief and hard work,” Charles said to the Maine Wire. If elected governor, he pledged to create deterrents to help all towns and “get foreign drug traffickers out of Maine.
“With deterrents in place and with supporting the police, these bad people will go somewhere else,” he said.
The Maine Wire reached out to Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline for a comment. Mayor Sheline did not respond prior to publication.
