The following appeared in the "Sounding Off" Column of Wednesday's BDN:
 
MAYO'S TIMING POOR ON WALSH ISSUE
 
Bath's Art Mayo, the Repblican representative to the State Legislature from
District 54, is saying Shawn Walsh should be fired as the head hockey coach
at Maine and wants the Maine House of Representatives to approve his
resolution to fire him.
 
Mayo's timing is poor.
 
He shold have responded on Dec. 22, 1995, when Walsh was suspended for a
year.  He should have responded on July 31, 1996 when the NCAA announced its
findings.  Then, his words may have had more impact and he could have taken
an aggressive leadership role.
 
Instead, he took the role of a politician playing it safe.  He waited,
gauged public opinion and acted three weeks before Walsh's return.
 
Mayo has been quoted as saying Walsh's behavior was described by the NCAA as
being "a violation of the provisions of ethical conduct."
 
Although Walsh was guilty of several violations, he was exonerated of
unethical conduct by the NCAA.
 
So Mayo must have his facts wrong.
 
Thee are certainly people who agree with Mayo's stance on Walsh, just as
there are people who disagree.
 
He certainly has the right to express himself.
 
But there are many more important things to be addressed by Mayo and the
Legislature.
 
He should take a peek in his own backyard at the welfare of Bath Iron Works.
It is one of the state's largest employers and it is constantly bidding for
lucrative government contracts to ensure its stability.  A lot of jobs are
at stake.
 
Roads, taxes and the welfare of the University of Maine System are other
issues worth tackling.
 
Mayo is a Maine grad, a financial supporter of the university, a former
employee of the university and a season-ticket holder to Maine hockey games.
 
If he feels this strongly about Walsh, he should give up his season ticket
and stop donating to the university.
 
The bottom line is Walsh will be back next week.  Whether you like Walsh or
hate him it is time to move on.
 
It is time to close this unfortunate chapter and look ahead to the future
where, hopefully, the mistakes made will not be repated.
 
-- Larry Mahoney, Bangor Daily News