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Much has been made about “mandates” following the 2024 election, and here in Maine, there is one in particular that we would like to flag.
State voters have left little doubt that they want to keep the current Maine flag, rejecting a referendum question on the November ballot that would have returned us to a banner inspired by an early design from Maine’s history. And this should be the end of it.
No follow-up legislation in Augusta. No second referendum. No more of the public’s business spent on flag designs while Maine people struggle to find housing, our court system is strained by mounting backlogs and dwindling lawyers, children and adults languish in emergency rooms waiting for scant behavioral help and other services, and many other ongoing issues. You know, real problems.
The clear message sent by more than 55 percent of state voters can be best respected by officials, not by wondering about the reasons for this rejection, but by dropping the issue altogether.
Readers may remember that we endorsed Question 5 in support of changing the state flag earlier this fall. Voters disagreed. Readers may also remember that we’ve consistently been flummoxed by the amount of time spent on this issue in Augusta. Now that the entire state has weighed in, and weighed in negatively, it should finally be time to move on from this debate.
We know there are still plenty of people who pine for the tree design to become our state’s official flag. We ultimately supported the change. But the question has been asked and answered. If any lawmakers are thinking about submitting legislation to revisit this or any other state flag changes in the upcoming session, please don’t.
This unsuccessful referendum should be followed by an unofficial moratorium of sorts that holds off any further legislative discussion on this topic for a long period of time. Symbols like a state flag have meaning, and it makes sense to periodically evaluate those symbols to make sure they still reflect the preferences and will of the people. In this case, the Maine people have done the reevaluation and decided not to make a change. Let’s accept that as a state and move on to more pressing issues.
