Lincoln County Democrats, in a well attended first monthly meeting of the year Jan. 20 in Wiscasset, chose Jim Torbert of Whitefield as their new chairman. Torbert, a retired public school teacher, part-time farmer, board member of the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, and Democratic party activist for 50 years, replaces Lisa Miller of Somerville, who had held the position for two years. Reelected were Vice Chairman Valarie Johnson of Somerville, Treasurer Sandie O’Farrell of Waldoboro, and Secretary Nancy Bryant of Whitefield.

Torbert began his remarks by thanking Miller for her hard work during her term.

“I’ve never seen a more cohesive or active group of volunteer Democrats than I see here in Lincoln County. It’s really inspiring,” he said. “I think,” he added, “we need to be assertive as Democrats and proud of our traditions and what we stand for and what our accomplishments have been, and I don’t think we’re good enough at blowing our own horn. I’m not sure I’m any better at it, but that’s what I’ll be looking for.”

Featured speaker at the meeting was Phil Bartlett, newly elected chairman of the Maine Democratic Party. Bartlett formerly served four terms in the Maine Senate, and as majority leader in one of those terms. He is a Maine representative on the Democratic National Committee.

Bartlett told the Lincoln County group that this was one in a series of appearances he is making at county party gatherings throughout the state to discuss what happened in the last election, which was disappointing for Democrats, and to talk about “where we’re going in the future.” He then asked for comments from the attendees on what they found as they worked on the campaign last summer and fall.

In his closing comments, Bartlett said he thinks Democrats need to focus on “investing in our greatest resource, our people,” as President Barack Obama is doing. “What is the true driver of economic growth?” he asked. “It’s not corporate forces. The driver of economic progress in this country is and always has been our people.”

An added note of interest at the meeting was an announcement by Newcastle resident Morrison Bonpasse that he plans to formally announce in March his candidacy for the office of president of the United States. He said his platform will focus on reducing wrongful criminal convictions, on zero population growth, and on adoption of a single global currency. He said he plans to participate in the New Hampshire Democratic Party primary.