The Mills-Pingree machine crushed small business in Maine. Hannah Pingree will finish the job. | Opinion
Maine Small‑Business Owner Accuses Gov. Mills Administration of Targeted Retaliation
Bethel, Maine – Former owner and founder of the Sunday River Brewing Company, Rick Savage, has accused the Gov. Janet Mills administration of deliberately targeting his brewpub and other small businesses during the COVID‑19 shutdowns. In a public statement released on Tuesday, Savage detailed the sequence of events that led to the loss of his company’s health and liquor licenses in 2020 and the $500,000 in state resources he says were expended to dismantle his business.
“We are small business owners who never ask for handouts,” Savage told local media, adding that “we want a fair shot, clear rules, and a state government that stays off our backs.” He said his experience illustrates a broader pattern, arguing that the state’s regulatory approach during the pandemic has created a hostile environment for independent enterprises.
Timeline of the Closure
In the spring of 2020, Maine’s small‑business community faced “moving goalposts” and repeated promises of reopening that were never realized, according to Savage. He testified on national television and publicly shared Governor Mills’ cellphone number, hoping to give Mainers a direct line to state officials. “When it became clear that state officials were operating behind closed doors without accountability,” he said, “I spoke out.”
Following his public criticism, state regulators—including inspectors from the Department of Health and Human Services and the state liquor licensing enforcement division—initiated an investigation into Sunday River Brewing. Savage claims the inspectors “scrutinized our operations” and ultimately stripped the company of its health and liquor licenses, forcing the brewpub to close.
“State agencies were weaponized to make an example out of anyone who dared to challenge Augusta’s dictates,” Savage said. His legal team estimates that the state deployed attorneys, inspectors, and enforcement officials at a cost of nearly $500,000, a figure he says highlights the priority given to policing small businesses over supporting them.
Involvement of Key State Officials
Savage singled out former Office of Policy Innovation and the Future director Hannah Pingree, who served as a chief architect of Gov. Mills’ policy agenda. According to Savage, Pingree sat “at the right hand of an administration that oversaw a disastrous business climate.” He argues that her office helped craft the economic and regulatory framework that shut down small shops and pushed workers out of state, favoring government mandates over the economic survival of local businesses.
While no formal inquiry has been launched into the alleged targeting of Sunday River Brewing, the case has drawn attention from statewide business groups and the Maine Small Business Association, which has called for a review of the state’s licensing procedures during the pandemic.
Political Implications for the 2026 Election
Savage’s statement comes amid a heated gubernatorial race for the 2026 election. He has endorsed Republican candidate Bobby Charles, describing him as “understanding what it takes to confront administrative overreach and dismantle the bureaucratic machine in Augusta.” According to Savage, Charles is “not a politician who views government regulation as the solution to every problem” but rather a “leader who respects working Mainers and honors the hard work of local entrepreneurs.”
“I stand firmly behind Bobby Charles for governor,” Savage said. “We need leadership that restores accountability, rein in rogue state agencies, and ensures that no entrepreneur faces the kind of government persecution my family experienced.”
State Response and Ongoing Debates
Gov. Mills’ office has not publicly responded to Savage’s allegations. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services stated that all licensing decisions are made in accordance with state law and that the agency “continues to work with businesses to meet health and safety standards.” The Maine Liquor Commission, which oversees liquor licensing, has cited its enforcement guidelines as the basis for the actions taken against Sunday River Brewing.
The dispute highlights a broader debate in Maine over the balance between public health measures and economic protection. Some legislators, including several members of the state House’s Economic Development Committee, have called for a review of pandemic‑related business closures to prevent “unnecessary harm” to small businesses. Meanwhile, supporters of the Mills administration argue that the stringent measures were essential to curb COVID‑19 transmission.
Looking Ahead
Savage’s story underscores the tensions that have emerged between state regulators and Maine’s small‑business community during the pandemic. As the 2026 gubernatorial campaign intensifies, his endorsement of Bobby Charles may influence voters who are concerned about regulatory overreach and the protection of local enterprises.
For now, the former Sunday River Brewing owner remains a vocal advocate for small‑business rights, urging Maine’s next governor to “rebuild a state where small businesses can actually thrive.” His call to action comes as Maine’s electorate weighs the legacy of the current administration and considers who will steer the state’s economic future in the coming years.
