Maine's watchdog editor bids adieu

By Ted Cohen

The Maine Wire's managing editor, a veteran journalist who bleeds printer's ink, has called it quits.

Sam Patten, who ran the outlet's busy news desk and also contributed his own pieces, has left to pursue another of his interests.

"I've been engaged by a Ukrainian political group to help them with coming elections, which is similar to work I was doing before someone made up a story about Trump being a Russian asset and got everyone all wound up," Patten recently wrote colleagues about his departure from the daily (24/7) grind.

To Patten it's actually been the highest of callings.

"It's been a real pleasure - I'd say privilege were that word not so overwrought nowadays - working with each of you over the past year," Patten said. "I'm sure the coming year will be exciting and filled with developments as mid-term elections approach."

He said he hopes "to keep a toe in the MW pool by contributing articles from time to time."

Patten hails from an entrenched midcoast Maine family, his father William S. Patten having been a longtime owner of the Camden Herald.

The younger Patten, a Georgetown University grad and accomplished author in his own right, began his journalism career in Camden.

He's also worked for Maine’s last three Republican U.S. senators and extensively on democracy promotion abroad.

Patten is also a former advisor to the U.S. State Department. He was the Maine campaign director for the George W. Bush presidential campaign in 2000.

For his vast experience and solid editorial judgment, Patten won't merely be replaced managing a busy, groundbreaking news operation.

Steve Robinson, The Maine Wire's chief editor, has named Tom Shattuck as Patten's successor.

Shattuck is a former Hartford radio talk-show host, podcaster and Boston newspaper editor.