LePage talks domestic violence with ‘Down East Dickering’ stars

Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday met with two stars of “Down East Dickering” to talk about a future collaboration on events to raise money for charitable groups that work with victims of domestic violence.

The governor’s official Twitter account sent this photo:

That’s Mitchell Raubeson of Auburn, at left, and his father Roland “Yummy” Raubeson of Minot to the governor’s right. Both appear regularly on the show, which features Maine-based bargain-hunters who scour the pages of Uncle Henry’s looking for deals. It’s currently in its second season on The History Channel.

I spoke with “Yummy” Raubeson after his meeting with LePage Wednesday. He said he wanted to use his celebrity to hold fundraisers for Safe Voices, a domestic violence prevention and victim resources group in Lewiston, as well as another in-state crisis hotline service.

“I asked if I could get him to come to attend two charity events I plan on holding,” Raubeson said. “He was very upbeat and interested in what I was doing.”

Raubeson said he was still working out the details of how he’d like to help, but that LePage “was very upbeat and interested” in helping out.

Domestic violence has long been a priority for LePage, who himself was a victim of his abusive father until he ran away from home when he was 11 years old. A spokesman from LePage’s office said the governor would like to attend Raubeson’s events, if it fits into his schedule.

For those who haven’t seen the show, here’s how History Channel describes Yummy and Mitch:

Yummy and Mitch always say they’ll do anything for money, and they lived up to that claim last season. They are, hands down, the team most likely to work without a net. When asked for their dickering strategy, they will famously answer, “We wing it.” Yummy and Mitch always get the job done and manage to come out ahead. Perhaps it’s because Yummy has been using Uncle Henry’s for decades, and he knows a good deal when he sees one. Just when you’re ready to write Yummy off, he somehow sails through triumphant, without ever spending a penny of his own money.

Mario Moretto

About Mario Moretto

Mario Moretto has been a Maine journalist, in print and online publications, since 2009. He joined the Bangor Daily News in 2012, first as a general assignment reporter in his native Hancock County and, now, in the State House. Mario left the BDN in 2015.