School Counselor Speaks Out About Yes on One TV Spot

PALMYRA (NEWS CENTER) -- A Newport school counselor is standing by his decision to appear in a TV ad for the Stand for Marriage Maine campaign, even at the risk of losing his job.

Don Mendell has been a school social worker and student counselor at Nokomis Regional High School for 23 years. Another school official filed a complaint against him with the Maine state licensing office following his recent appearance in a "Yes on 1" campaign ad.

In the ad, Mendell advocates claims made by proponents of the ballot question that would overturn Maine's gay marriage law. The counselor put forth the argument being made by that side that keeping the law on the books would affect curriculum in public schools and lead to "homosexual marriage being pushed on Maine children." He also goes on to label a fellow teacher at the school, Sherri Gould, as a "gay activist" in response to her appearance in a "No on 1" campaign ad.

"If we're going to bring education into the discussion, which I think she did, then I would like to weigh in on that," Mendell said.

Anne Sullivan, who works under Gould's husband at another school in the district, filed the complaint against the counselor. In it she writes that Mendell's position as a social worker should not allow him to "to make public comments that can endanger or promote discrimination."

Sullivan also mentioned Mendell's "long history" of being unsupportive of gay issues, including his outspoken opposition to Nokomis students forming a GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender) group. She also claimed that his appearance in the TV spot has fostered negative impressions with students by citing comments they have made.

Mendell called those comments into question, considering he and Sullivan do not work in the same building.

"She knows nothing of my work," he said, "The quotes she puts in about what high school kids are saying...she doesn't talk to high school kids."

Mendell added that he decided to take part in the "Stand for Marriage Maine" ad to offer his take on the issue as a private citizen and experienced educator.

"This is my experience base," he said, "so I want to say this about a referendum question. I want to say this from the position of what I've experienced, what I've learned and what I know. Isn't that what citizens are supposed to do in this country?"

The "No on 1" campaign released its own statement regarding the situation. In it they supported Mendell's right to voice his opinion and added that they "don't believe anyone's job should be threatened for exercising that right."

The campaign also responded to claims that Mendell made in the "Stand for Marriage" spot, adding that the "Yes on 1" campaign is leaning heavily into "conspiracy theories about our schools all to boost claims about schools that have been rejected by the attorney general, the commissioner of education and newspapers across the state."