[/media-credit] Jackman Town Manager Tom Kawczynski poses in front of his New Albion flag. (Facebook photo)
Jackman Town Manager Thomas Kawczynski said Saturday his days as an employee of the small northwestern Maine town are probably numbered after he came under fire Friday for his views on racial separation and anti-Islamic comments. But he said he has no plans to quit his job.
Kawczynski also said he was sorry for any negative impact his views have had on the town and local businesses. He said he was not motivated by hate and denied being a racist.
Meanwhile, Jackman selectmen remained silent Saturday about Kawczynski while the Jackman-Moose River Chamber of Commerce Facebook page filled up with public comments about Kawczynski and his New Albion website. The chamber issued a statement Saturday condemning Kawczynski’s comments.
Jackman, population 862, is in Somerset County near the Canadian border. The town bills itself as “a tourist friendly region” on its website.
Kawczynski, who was hired in June, started posting his ideas on his website in November and has regularly posted anti-Islamic and anti-feminist comments on Gab, a social networking service associated with the far right.
Kawczynski said in a telephone interview Saturday he had not heard from the selectmen or the town’s lawyer, Warren Shay, since the controversy erupted Friday. When reached by phone Saturday, Shay said he was not immediately ready to speak about the controversy.
The town manager posted comments on Gab Saturday about his doubts that he would remain on the job.
“I’m guessing I should be working on my resume as my public sector career looks likely to draw to a close in one form or another,” he wrote. “Do any gabbers need a smart writer who has plenty of skills to do independent work from home? I plan on writing a book about this all now.”
Kawczynski said Saturday that he planned to fight for his right to free speech and did not intend to resign. He has created a crowd fund on the Hatreon website. Hatreon lacks the hate speech restrictions of other crowd funding websites.
“Funds given to this project will serve to sustain Tom Kawczynski of New Albion during any legal fight about the effort to lose his job due to expressing free speech in support of Western Civilization, positive white identity, and against Islam,” the post on Hatreon said.
Three of the four Jackman selectmen – Jayme French, Charles Lumbert and Scott Smith – did not respond to multiple phone calls and phone messages Saturday, while the fourth, Alan Duplessis, answered his phone to say: “We are working through our attorney. I can’t comment on that. We really appreciate you calling.”
Gary Hall, president of the Jackman-Moose River Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement Saturday: “We the business community of Jackman, would like to state that we do not condone the current view of Tom Kawczynski. We believe in American values of freedom, diversity and inclusiveness. At this time, we are calling on our selectmen to take appropriate measures and protect our community for which so many have come to know and love. To ensure due process is followed, we ask for your patience as this issue is resolved.”
When Kawczynski’s comments were reported in news stories Friday, critics pounced on his views.
They included the Rev. Christina Sillari of First Parish Church, a Unitarian Universalist church in Portland.
“It’s really awful what he’s doing,” she said.
Kawczynski said Saturday his phone had been ringing continuously with anonymous hate calls.
Kawczynski is a 2003 graduate of Swarthmore College, where he studied British history. He was a courier and legal clerk in Pennsylvania, where he tried to run for Congress. He last worked for a private contractor in New Hampshire. He grew up in Arizona. He said both his parents are deceased and he is the sole provider for his family. He said his wife who suffers from Lyme disease.
Kawczynski said New Albion is a reference to New England. Albion is the ancient name for Britain. The flag he designed for the New Albion organization, which features a golden tree and pine cones, is based on the St. Andrew’s Cross, which has its roots in Scotland, and is not based on the Confederate flag, Kawczynski said.
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