2014 Maine Question 1 Explained

Question 1: Citizen Initiative
An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances
Yes:	279617
No:	320873
Total:	612821
Notes:	Source: Office of the Secretary of State of Maine, Tabulation of Votes

Maine Question 1 (MQ1), "An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances", was a citizen-initiated referendum measure in Maine, which was voted on in the general election of November 4, 2014. As the Maine Legislature declined to act on the proposed statute, it was automatically placed on the ballot. The proposal was defeated by 320,873 "No" votes to 279,617 "Yes".^[1]

Background

In 2013, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) decided to push for a restrictions on bear hunting in Maine. Maine voters previously rejected a ban on using traps, bait, and dogs to hunt bears on 2 November 2004, with 389,455 opposed and 344,322 in favor.^[2]

With support from HSUS, some Maine residents formed Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting (MFBH). On 9 July 2013, MFBH began collecting 80,000 signatures to place the question on the November 2014 ballot. 57,277 signatures were required to do so.^[3] MFBH submitted the signatures on 3 February 2014.^[4] On 5 March, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap certified 63,626 valid signatures.^[5] Under Maine law, MQ1 was then submitted to the Maine Legislature for action as LD 1845 IB 1.^[6] On 25 March, the legislature indefinitely postponed action on MQ 5, thereby sending it to the voters.

Secretary Dunlap released the final wording of the question on 25 June. It was "Do you want to ban bear hunting using bait, traps or dogs except to protect property, public safety or for research?" As the only citizen referendum to reach the ballot, it was designated Question 1 per Maine law.^[7]

Campaign

Opponents of the petition gathering effort announced the formation of Save Maine's Bear Hunt (SMBH) on September 23, 2013. SMBH had the support of the three major candidates for governor in 2014, and of 80 state legislators and 20 organizations. SMBH characterized the referendum as a vote on how to manage wildlife in Maine, and not on hunting methods, believing that wildlife professionals know best how to manage the bear population. They further criticized the intervention of HSUS in a local matter.^[8]

MFBH stated their goal was to end what they call "cruel and unsportsmanlike" practices, which they claimed were not necessary to control the bear population in Maine. They also claimed the previous referendum effort failed due to "scare tactics" and misinformation.^[9]

MFBH was almost entirely funded by HSUS. From 28 May to 15 July, HSUS gave $780,000 to MFBH. In the same period, SMBH and other opponents raised about $250,000. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle personally canvassed homes in Portland on August 10,^[10] and in Bangor on September 13.^[11]

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) and DIF&W Commissioner Chandler Woodcock officially opposed MQ1. MFBH sued DIF&W on September 30, demanding that DIF&W comply with MFBH's Freedom of Access Act requests, cease campaigning against Question 1, and repay state funds used for campaign activities. MFBH stated "We do respect the agency's right to provide factual information to voters, but they've repeatedly gone above and beyond that, and it's time for that to stop." Commissioner Woodcock called the lawsuit politically motivated and meant to "generate headlines".^[12] MFBH asked for an emergency injunction to stop DFI&W's campaigning.

In response, DIF&W announced on October 17 that it would stop using state funds to oppose the referendum, while maintaining that its actions were lawful.^[13]

Maine Superior Court Judge Joyce Wheeler denied the request for the injunction on October 22, stating that "The public interest would be adversely affected if plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order were granted when DIF&W's speech is on topics squarely within 'its competence as governor'" of Legislative directives. The Maine Attorney General's office called the ruling a victory for free speech, while MFBH said "Our government shouldn't be telling us how to vote."^[14]

After the failure of the referendum, it was speculated that its presence on the ballot aided Paul LePage's reelection as Governor, as it brought out voters also amenable to supporting LePage.^[15]

Polling

Date of opinion poll	Conducted by	Sample size (likely voters)	Yes	No	Undecided	Margin of Error
October 23–29, 2014^[16]	Bangor Daily News/Ipsos	488	45%	49%	6%	±5.1%
October 15–21, 2014^[17]	University of New Hampshire	667	36%	57%	7%	±3.8%
October 6–12, 2014	Bangor Daily News/Ipsos	540	43%	49%	7%	±4.8%
September 18–25, 2014^[18]	University of New Hampshire	441	41%	53%	6%	±4.4%
June 12–18, 2014	University of New Hampshire	441	48%	44%	8%	±4.4%

Notable endorsements

Supporters

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Humane Society of the United States^[19]
• International Fund for Animal Welfare^[19]
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals^[19]
• State Representative Alan Casavant (D-Biddeford), Mayor of Biddeford^[19]
• State Representative Ben Chipman (I-Portland)^[19]
• State Representative Denise Harlow (D-Portland)^[19]
• Kesha, musician^[19]
• Bernd Heinrich, naturalist, author, University of Vermont biology professor^[19]
• Bill Maher, comedian, TV host^[20]
• Paul C. Paquet, wildlife research biologist, University of Victoria professor ^[19]
• Steve Woods, chairman of the Yarmouth Town Council, former U.S. Senate candidate^[19]
• Biddeford Journal Tribune^[21]
• Brunswick Times-Record^[22]
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire Herald^[23]

Opponents

• Angus King, Independent U.S. senator and former governor.^[24]
• AFL-CIO of Maine
• National Rifle Association of America
• Sportsman's Alliance of Maine
• Shenna Bellows, 2014 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate^[25]
• State Senator Emily Cain (D-Penobscot), candidate for U.S Representative
• Eliot Cutler, candidate for governor
• Paul LePage, Governor of Maine^[26]
• Kris MacCabe, Maine Game Warden, cast member of North Woods Law TV show^[27]
• U.S. Representative Mike Michaud, candidate for governor^[26]
• Ted Nugent, musician^[28]
• Bruce Poliquin, former state treasurer of Maine, candidate for U.S Representative^[26]
• Chandler Woodcock, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner, former state senator
• Bangor Daily News^[29]
• MaineToday Media newspapers: Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel^[30]

Declined to endorse

• U.S. Senator Susan Collins^[25]

External links

• Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, supporters of the referendum
• Save Maine's Bear Hunt, opponents of the referendum

Notes and References

1. http://www.pressherald.com/2014-election-results 2014 Maine Elections Results
2. Web site: Department of the Secretary of State General Election Tabulations . 2 November 2004 . 22 October 2014.
3. Web site: NECN . Group wants bear-baiting referendum in Maine . 9 July 2013 . 26 June 2014.
4. Web site: MPBN.net . Maine Bear Baiting Opponents Deliver 80K Petition Signatures . Patty . Wight . 3 February 2014 . 26 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207221340/http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/5347/ItemId/32047/Default.aspx . 7 December 2014 . dmy-all .
5. Web site: WMTW TV . Citizen's referendum to restrict bear hunting methods advances. Sharon . Handy . 5 March 2014 . 26 June 2014.
6. http://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280051852 "An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances"
7. Web site: Bangor Daily News . State releases final wording of ballot question on bear referendum. Aislinn . Sarnacki . 26 June 2014 . 26 June 2014.
8. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Maine bear hunting referendum opponents unveil coalition. John . Holyoke . September 23, 2013 . June 26, 2014.
9. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Groups join in effort for new Maine bear hunting referendum. John . Holyoke . August 7, 2013 . June 26, 2014.
10. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Visit by U.S. humane society president brings national view to Maine's bear baiting vote. Aislinn . Sarnacki . August 11, 2014 . August 11, 2014.
11. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Humane Society CEO goes door to door in Bangor to solicit support to ban 'inhumane, unsporting bear hunting practices'. Nick . McCrea . September 14, 2014 . September 15, 2014.
12. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Bear referendum proponents sue Maine wildlife department for campaign activities. Aislinn . Sarnacki . September 30, 2014 . September 30, 2014.
13. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Maine wildlife department halts use of state money to campaign against Question 1 in response to hearing. Aislinn . Sarnacki . October 17, 2014 . October 17, 2014.
14. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Judge: Maine wildlife department can campaign on bear hunting question. Judy . Harrison . October 17, 2014 . October 22, 2014.
15. Web site: Shock upset or inevitable victory? How LePage won a second term as governor. 5 November 2014.
16. http://bangordailynews.com/?attachment_id=1817036&ref=relatedSidebar Bangor Daily News/Ipsos poll results, October 23-29, 2014
17. http://www.pressherald.com/2014/10/26/poll-a-majority-of-mainers-oppose-ban-on-bear-baiting/ Poll: A majority of Mainers oppose ban on bear-baiting, October 26, 2014
18. http://www.pressherald.com/2014/09/28/in-maine-gubernatorial-race-bear-baiting-referendum-could-have-the-sleeper-effect/ In Maine gubernatorial race, bear baiting referendum could have the sleeper effect
19. http://fairbearhunt.com/about/endorsements Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting endorsements
20. Web site: . Famous talk show host Bill Maher endorses referendum to ban bear baiting . September 15, 2014 . September 15, 2014.
21. Web site: Real sportsmen don't need bait, hounds or traps. https://archive.today/20140925200543/http://www.journaltribune.com/opinion/article_3a633a10-3ac0-11e4-8945-0fa9175b3cdd.html . 2014-09-25. Journal-Tribune . 2014-09-13.
22. Web site: . Bear baiting . May 20, 2014 . July 7, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213207/http://www.timesrecord.com/news/2014-05-20/Editorial/Bear_baiting.html . July 14, 2014 . mdy-all .
23. Web site: . It's time to ban bear baiting . October 14, 2014 . October 14, 2014 . http://web.archive.org/web/20141022192614/http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20141014/OPINION/141019581/101131/NEWS . October 22, 2014 . dead.
24. Web site: Senator Angus King defends Maine's bear management . Bangor Daily News.com . April 5, 2014 . April 6, 2014 . http://web.archive.org/web/20140413093811/http://georgesoutdoornews.bangordailynews.com/2014/04/05/maine-woods/senator-angus-king-defends-maines-bear-management/ . April 13, 2014 . dead.
25. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Collins, Bellows disagree over minimum wage, health care in first debate. Paula . Brewer . October 21, 2014 . October 21, 2014 . http://web.archive.org/web/20240613110121/https://www.bangordailynews.com/2014/10/21/politics/elections/collins-bellows-disagree-over-minimum-wage-health-care-in-first-debate/?ref=latest . June 13, 2024 . live.
26. Web site: Save Maine's Bear Hunt endorsements . 2014-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130930172220/http://savemainesbearhunt.com/endorsements/ . 2013-09-30 .
27. Web site: Maine game warden Kris MacCabe stars in video opposing Question 1 . Bangor Daily News.com . September 2, 2014 . September 2, 2014.
28. Web site: Bangor Daily News . Ted Nugent speaks out against bear referendum. Aislinn . Sarnacki . June 26, 2013 . June 26, 2014.
29. Web site: Bangor Daily News . No on Question 1: The facts are on the side of baiting. October 17, 2014 . October 17, 2014.
30. Web site: Kennebec Journal . OUR OPINION: Vote no on Question 1. October 19, 2014 . October 19, 2014.