HEBRON – One hand signal from John Williams was all it took.
About halfway into U.S. Chief of Staff Andrew Card’s speech at the annual dinner of the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, a heckler spoke up.
“What happened in Iraq then? Ten thousand civilians killed. People fighting for their country, all killed,” the unidentified man said from the back of the gym at Hebron Academy.
Aware that something like this might happen, Williams, the chamber’s executive director, gave the hand signal.
Immediately, Secret Service agents and local police ushered the man out. It took less than a minute, and it was over.
Card did not seem flustered by the outburst. He said the president is aware of the issues with the war in Iraq. Then he went on with his speech, telling the chamber members how he screens memos for the president.
Williams said he didn’t know who the man was. Because of rumors earlier in the week that there might be a protest at the dinner, chamber officials were careful when accepting reservations for the sold-out affair.
Williams said the heckler, in making his reservation, said he was from Lewiston. He said he was interested in seeing the Hebron Academy campus because he might want to send his son there.
“I don’t think it bothered anybody, even Andy,” Williams said of the protester.
Williams said Hebron Academy officials were thrilled to have the opportunity to host the dinner, particularly with Card as the speaker. Since Card arrived late, a planned forum with students did not occur.
But Card made a point of meeting with the wait staff, who were all students at the private school.
Williams said the success of the dinner starts off the chamber’s year on a strong note. American Express financial advisers are planning to host a series of workshops in the community, and there will be another major manufactured housing show at the end of April.
Maine State Rep. H. Sawin Millett Jr., R-Manchester, a chamber member, will be organizing a series of legislative breakfasts starting in March. The topics will focus on pressing issues of interest to chamber members, Williams said.
The chamber’s Education Committee, which includes Shirley Nardi and Maureen Howard, will be working more closely with the schools this year, Williams said. The focus also will be on retraining adult workers who have lost their jobs.
“We’ve got a lot going on this year,” Williams said.
ggeraghty@sunjournal.com
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