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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Good morning everyone,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#008000 size=2>PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHANGE MY
E-MAIL ADDRESS TO</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#008000 size=2><A
href="mailto:skipg@midmaine.com">skipg@midmaine.com</A>. THANK
YOU.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#008000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The enclosed attachment from Bryan Dench provides
confirmation that the Secretary of State concurs with Bryan's opinion that our
petition is not </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>impacted by the fact that
the recent sesssion of the legislature</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>enacted LD 2323 which amended the school
consolidation law.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We thank Bryan and his associate, Jennifer
Thompson, for their excellent legal analysis and opinion. This ought to
provide additional </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>encouragement that our work can move forward and
that we can finish collecting the necessary signatures (approximately
18,000) on primary election day, Tuesday, June 10 and file the petition in
June.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If anyone needs copies of the petitions together
with instructions to collect signatures, please contact me at <A
href="mailto:skipg@midmaine.com">skipg@midmaine.com</A> or call me at
367-2738. Every effort that anyone can make will ensure that we have
sufficient signatures to file the petition.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Another reminder, we still need to raise some money
to cover our expenses. Please send any contribution to our treasurer, Judy
Sproule,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>18 Rothry Lane, Trenton, Me. 04605 and make a check
out to Maine</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Coalition to Save Schools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Have a great remainder of this beautiful
weekend!!!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sincerely,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Skip</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=bdench@3200.com href="mailto:bdench@3200.com">Dench, Bryan M.</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=skipg@hypernet.com
href="mailto:skipg@hypernet.com">skipgreenlaw</A> ; <A
title=jcsproule@roadrunner.com href="mailto:jcsproule@roadrunner.com">Judy
Sproule</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=jthompson@3200.com
href="mailto:jthompson@3200.com">Thompson, Jennifer L.</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:02 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> FW: Request for opinion regarding petitions to repeal
school consolidation laws</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Dear
Skip,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">I am pleased to
forward Secretary Dunlap’s response to my request for his opinion regarding the
petition. He agreed with my analysis that upon our timely filing the
petitions with the requisite number of signatures the SOS would have no
authority to review it again in light of LD 2323 but would instead transmit it
to the Legislature and ultimately to the voters. This is gratifying.
Best of luck in the ongoing effort to collect
signatures.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Regards, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Bryan</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Bryan M.
Dench</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
<BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Attorney at
Law</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
<BR></SPAN></FONT><B><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=green size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Skelton,
Taintor & Abbott</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue"> <BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"
color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Attorneys at
Law</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
<BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">95 Main Street - P.O. Box
3200</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
<BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Auburn, ME
04212-3200</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
<BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=blue><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">207. 784.<st2:cite
style="COLOR: red" w:st="on" LiteralMatch="3200 x. 304"
PubRoot="sttx sttx-state-case-west" Citation="NON:STATETX 3200x304"
CiteValue="3200x304" CiteName="STATETAX-STTX-Case-01">3200 x.
304</st2:cite></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=blue><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">
</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=3>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Smith,
John T. [mailto:John.T.Smith@maine.gov] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, May 23, 2008 6:41
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Dench, Bryan
M.<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> Dunlap, Matthew;
Gardiner, Phyllis; Flynn, Julie<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: Request for opinion regarding
petitions to repeal school consolidation laws</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mr.
Dench,</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Attached to this email
you will find Secretary Dunlap's response to your letter dated May 16,
2008. Please call or email should you have any
questions.</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sincerely,</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">John T.
Smith</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN
style="COLOR: navy"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399">John T.
Smith<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399">Deputy
Secretary of State<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399">148 State
House Station<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><U2:PLACE u3:st="on"><U2:CITY
u3:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399"><U4:PLACE
u5:st="on"><U4:CITY u5:st="on">Augusta</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399"></U4:PLACE></U2:CITY></U4:CITY>,
<st1:State w:st="on"><U2:STATE u3:st="on"><st1:State
u6:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:State></U2:STATE> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on"><U2:POSTALCODE u3:st="on"><st1:PostalCode
u7:st="on">04333-0148</st1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></SPAN></U2:POSTALCODE></FONT></st1:place><FONT
face=Arial color=#333399 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399">Phone:
207-626-8409<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=#333399 size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #333399">Fax:
207-287-8598</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=3>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Dench,
Bryan M. [mailto:bdench@3200.com] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, May 16, 2008 6:37
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Office, SOS<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> phyllis.gardiner@state.me.us; Thompson,
Jennifer L.; Toth, Michele L.; skipgreenlaw; Judy Sproule<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Request for opinion regarding
petitions to repeal school consolidation laws</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><!-- Converted from text/rtf format --><<Dunlap
letter re petition.pdf>> </SPAN></FONT><BR><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Please see the attached letter, Mr. Secretary.
Thank you.</SPAN></FONT> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Bryan M.
Dench</SPAN></FONT> <BR><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Attorney at Law</SPAN></FONT>
<BR><B><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT" color=green size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Skelton,
Taintor & Abbott</SPAN></FONT></B> <BR><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Attorneys at Law</SPAN></FONT>
<BR><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">95 Main Street - P.O. Box
3200</SPAN></FONT> <BR><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">Auburn, ME 04212-3200</SPAN></FONT>
<BR><FONT face="EngraversGothic BT"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'EngraversGothic BT'">207. 784.<st2:cite style="COLOR: red"
w:st="on" LiteralMatch="3200 x. 304" PubRoot="sttx sttx-state-case-west"
Citation="NON:STATETX 3200x304" CiteValue="3200x304"
CiteName="STATETAX-STTX-Case-01">3200 x. 304</st2:cite></SPAN></FONT>
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><!--[object_id=#3200.com#]-->
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This e-mail message is confidential and
protected by the attorney client privilege and every other privilege. The
privilege is not waived by mistaken delivery to the wrong person. If you are not
the intended recipient, you should delete this message and keep no copies.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In accordance with Internal Revenue Service
Circular 230, we hereby advise you that if this e-mail or any attachment hereto
contains any tax advice, such tax advice was not intended or written to be used,
and it cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties
that may be imposed on the taxpayer by the Internal Revenue
Service.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">SKELTON, TAINTOR & ABBOTT
<BR> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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