Joseph Ponte, 64, a veteran warden for the nation's largest private-prison operator, the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), has been nominated by Republican Governor Paul LePage to be the state's Corrections commissioner, replacing Martin Magnusson. Although CCA financially helped LePage get elected, and the governor has expressed interest in helping the town of Milo convince CCA to build a prison for out-of-state prisoners, at a January 24 press conference LePage said he chose Ponte simply for his management experience. LePage added that he has "no interest in privatizing the current state system."But state Senate Democrats immediately expressed "serious concern" over Ponte's nomination because of his "orientation" toward private prisons, according to their spokeswoman, Ericka Wainberg. Two-thirds of senators must confirm a nominee. Republicans control the Senate 20 to 14 Democrats and one independent.
Ponte has worked for CCA in Florida, Arizona, Mississippi, and most recently in Nevada. He also has worked at public prisons and jails in Tennessee, Idaho, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and for over 20 years in Massachusetts, including tenure as warden at the notoriously violent Walpole prison — where, he says, he accomplished a "dramatic turnaround."
Related:
Lock-up lessons, Earth Day observances, Penal future, More 
- Lock-up lessons
Fixing Maine’s troubled prisons is not an impossible task. In fact, if the state treated adult inmates more along the lines of how it treats juvenile offenders, prison critics — including, surprisingly, the new corrections commissioner, Joseph Ponte — think the prisons might not only become more humane, they might actually “correct” the prisoners.
- Earth Day observances
Last week, the Maine House voted to ban bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical found in some plastics — much to the regret of beard-wanting ladies all over Maine.
- Penal future
The few things that Republican Governor-elect Paul LePage was reported as saying on crime-and-punishment issues during the campaign mostly sounded harsh and, of course, right-wing.
- LePage interested in corporate prisons
In the gubernatorial campaign the controversial Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation's largest for-profit prison operator, spent $25,000 on behalf of Republican candidate Paul LePage, now the governor-elect.
- Top prison officials fired
In a continuing shakeup at the troubled Maine State Prison, new Corrections commissioner Joseph Ponte has fired six top officials including its controversial security chief, Deputy Warden James O'Farrell.
- Democrats celebrate victory in the face of defeat
Senator Dawn Hill, of Cape Neddick, the lead Democrat on the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, which fashioned the recently passed $6-billion state budget, explained to the Phoenix why she voted to reduce income and estate taxes on the rich while also voting for cuts in help to the poor and in teacher and state-worker pensions.
- End of the innocence
As the legislative session ends, the amount and nature of Governor Paul LePage's political influence has become clearer.
- Bruce almighty
I'm writing this before it's officially decided whether State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin qualified as a US Senate candidate for the Republican primary in June.
- Sweet Caroline for Senate?
Just like everyone else, P+J have been following the saga of Caroline Kennedy and the New York senate seat.
- Does Scott Brown’s victory mean doom for RI Democrats?
Republican Scott Brown's stunning victory this week in the race for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts has created something approaching panic in the ranks of Congressional Democrats.
- Gonna change directions
That’s not intended as a negative reflection on the Son of God, who can’t be held responsible for the deficiencies in Beardsley’s early campaign style.
- Less
Topics:
This Just In
, Prisons, Jail, Senate, More
, Prisons, Jail, Senate, Martin Magnusson, Corrections Corporation of America, Paul Lepage, Joseph Ponte, CCA, Less
