Tribal governor dies in crash

By Paul Carrier
Portland Press Herald Writer

Members of Maine's Passamaquoddy Tribe mourned the traffic death of Pleasant Point Gov. Melvin Francis on Friday, remembering him as a devoted advocate and peacemaker who routinely volunteered his skills as a carpenter to help people in need.

Francis, 60, was killed Thursday night when his pickup truck collided head-on with a tanker truck on Route 9. The tribal leader, who was alone in his truck, died instantly in the accident near a bridge over the Union River, on the wilderness highway known as the Airline.

He was returning to the Pleasant Point reservation from Indian Island, where he participated in the signing of an agreement by Venezuelan-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. to donate heating oil to four Maine tribes. That followed a meeting in Augusta with state legislators, as the tribe continues its push to legalize slot machines in Washington County.

Francis was headed east on Route 9 when he lost control of his pickup on black ice at the bottom of a hill. The vehicle swerved into the path of the tanker truck, which was empty, according to Maine State Police.

The truck driver, Scott Colcord of Monroe, and his passenger, Daren Holmes of Bucksport, were not injured. Both are employees of R.H. Foster of Hampden, the truck's owner.

Route 9 was closed for three hours while state police investigated the crash.

Francis was in the last year of a four-year term as governor at Pleasant Point. He was governor when the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes promoted a failed 2003 ballot question that would have allowed an Indian-run casino in Maine. He was a strong supporter of a proposal by an Oklahoma energy developer to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on tribal land at Pleasant Point.

"We are a very tight-knit community to begin with, and when we lose a member of the community, we all mourn," said Frederick Moore, who represents the Passamaquoddy Tribe in the Legislature and was a close friend of Francis'. "When a chief passes, it's like each and every one of us lost a parent."

The Passamaquoddy Tribe has two reservations in Washington County, each of which has its own governor and tribal council. The tribal offices at both reservations were closed Friday, Moore said, as the tribe tried to cope with Francis' death.

Moore said Lt. Gov. Mark Altvater will serve as acting governor at Pleasant Point for the balance of Francis' term, which expires Sept. 30. He said a special election will be held to fill the lieutenant governor's job.

"He did so much for his people," Maine Gov. John Baldacci said of Francis in a prepared statement. "He understood that improving the conditions of his people would improve the conditions for all Mainers. He will be sorely missed."

"People referred to him as a peacemaker," said Craig Francis, a lawyer for the tribe who grew up on the reservation and was a close friend.

Francis was a traditionalist and a one-time dancer who spoke the Passamaquoddy language, said Rep. Michael Sockalexis, the Penobscot Nation's representative in the Legislature who once worked for Francis.

"He was known to be kind and compassionate," Moore said, and he routinely grabbed a hammer to "lend a helping hand when needed" at construction sites.

Moore said Francis was the governor at Pleasant Point from 1986 until 1990 and was re-elected to a second term. Francis resigned during his second term and left the reservation, Moore said, but returned in 2002 and was elected to a third term as governor that year. He held other tribal government jobs over the years.

State legislators praised Francis. House Majority Leader Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, said members of the House Democratic caucus were impressed with the "kind, thoughtful, straightforward presentation" he made to them Thursday before he left the State House for the heating-oil event on Indian Island.

Said House Minority Leader David Bowles, R-Sanford: "He was extremely diligent in trying to improve conditions for the Passamaquoddies and the native people of Maine."

Baldacci said Friday that he will order flags across the state lowered to half-staff Tuesday.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ann's Catholic Church at Pleasant Point, Moore said. The public is invited to an around-the-clock vigil and wake beginning at 10 a.m. today at Pleasant Point's elder meal site and a supper there at 9 p.m. Monday.

Francis is survived by his wife, Carol Francis; his former wife, Alberta Francis; a brother; and several children and foster children.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.