Political Scientists in Maine
This document is reprinted with permission from "The Manager Plan in Maine" published by the Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy. Copies of the complete book may be obtained by calling the Center at (207) 581-1646.
Throughout the early history of manager plan adoptions in Maine, the influence of three political scientists recurs. The first, Orren C. Hormell, a professor of Government at Bowdoin College from 1911 to 1953, was an advocate of manager government long before Auburn adopted the plan in 1917. He was instrumental in the early adoptions in Maine, appearing on request at town meetings or before clubs and civic groups to explain the plan.
Two of his students continued his work. One was Lawrence L. Pelletier, who taught government at the University of Maine and then at Bowdoin College before becoming President of Allegheny College. Among other publications, Pelletier authored the first model charter for Maine towns (Pelletier, 1953, 24 pp.) and co-authored with Hormell The Manager Plan for Maine Municipalities (Hormell & Pelletier, 1949, pp. 27). The other student was Edward F. Dow, Head of the Department of History and Government at the University of Maine from 1932 to 1966. Dr. Dow co-authored with Dr. Hormell the classic 1940 study of Portland manager government. Dr. Dow also played a large part in the organization of the annual summer New England Managers' Institutes. In 1945, he organized a unique undergraduate degree program in public management at the University of Maine. This program has graduated hundreds of students trained in municipal administration, many of whom now serve as managers in Maine or elsewhere. For several years, Dr. Dow served as an editor and contributor to Maine Managers Newsletter, the Maine Town and City Management Association publication. He also wrote numerous articles and assisted several municipalities as a charter consultant.