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Winslow student elected Boys State governor

WATERVILLE -- Shane O'Connell didn't go to Dirigo Boys State with the intent of running for governor.

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LEADING THE WAY: Shane O'Connell of Winslow, center, acting as Governor of the 64th Annual American Legion Dirigo Boys State program, conducts a cabinet meeting to discuss the Dirigo budget on Wednesday at Thomas College in Waterville.

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He recently lost an election for president of the Winslow High School class of 2012 by one vote and didn't want to limit himself to the "all-or-nothing" experience of running for governor of the 64th Annual American Legion Dirigo Boys State program at Thomas College.

But once he became chairman of the Nationalist Party, O'Connell said he changed his mind.

After a whirlwind couple of days campaigning, appearing on radio programs and debating Federalist Party candidate Evan Eklund, O'Connell was elected governor of Dirigo by a majority of the 188 delegates attending from high schools all over the state.

The purpose of Boys State, according to the American Legion website, is to provide high school juniors with the opportunity to participate in a program that supplements their government courses. The teens, who are divided into parties after taking a survey, role play by campaigning for local, county and state offices. They then "organize and carry out the functions of the state government."

Wednesday afternoon, Gov. O'Connell said he was eager to meet Gov. Paul LePage, who was slated to deliver a speech Wednesday night to Boys State attendees.

O'Connell said he admired LePage's "business approach to politics."

"He was a good manager at Marden's and I like the management style he brings to government," said O'Connell.

Had he been old enough to vote in the last gubernatorial election, O'Connell said he would have cast his vote for LePage.

During this week of roleplaying, O'Connell said his party's goals include lowering taxes, creating jobs and balancing the budget.

In order to meet those goals, he said education and welfare programs are targeted for cuts.

The football team captain at Winslow said he was enjoying debating, hearing diverse ideas and compromising to accomplish goals.

Boys State deputy director Jim Johnson said sometimes delegates start the week thinking that governing is easy. But by the fifth 18-hour day, he said most come to appreciate how demanding it is.

Johnson, who has been associated with Boys State for 24 years, said in the past, delegates' ideologies sometimes "used to be what their parents said around the dinner table."

The goal, he said, isn't necessarily to produce junior politicians; it's to give young men "an understanding of how government works."

Carl Paradis of American Legion Bourque-Lanigan Post 5 in Waterville said delegates gain a practical working knowledge of politics.

And some, said Paradis, eventually serve in the political realm. Others excel in other fields.

Some do both. Take for instance, Paul Jacques, deputy commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and a former legislator.

Jacques, said Johnson, has also worked at Boys State for 32 years.

O'Connell said after he graduates from Winslow he would like to attend the United States Naval Academy. His career goal is to be a naval aviator.

This week, O'Connell, son of Kevin and Sue O'Connell, said he is striving to lead by example, be a good listener and be a good friend.

Beth Staples -- 861-9252

bstaples@centralmaine.com