I thought it was the role of the press to hold public officials accountable for their actions.

After reading your editorial (Nov. 4) endorsing Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap's lame excuses for failing to carry out his constitutional obligations, I guess that's not the case.

Maine law requires the secretary of state to complete review of petitions within 30 days of submission.

As of Nov. 6, 56 days have passed since the people's veto petitions were submitted without the Secretary of State doing his job.

Though Secretary Dunlap claims he was too busy preparing for the election to complete the petition review, a press release on his Web site says he spent the week immediately after the petitions were submitted at a weeklong seminar in Kentucky.

If he and his office were truly as overworked and understaffed as he claims, how could he travel out of state for a week in the middle of preparations for the election?

If you or I fail to renew our driver's license by the deadline, neither the secretary of state nor the courts are going to accept the excuse that we were too busy to stand in line at the secretary of state's Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The law is the law and deadlines are deadlines. At least that's how it is for the average Mainer. But for politicians like Secretary Dunlap, who makes over $110K annually in salary and benefits, not only are there no consequences for breaking the law, but editorial writers will endorse your lawlessness.

Is there any wonder why Americans hold politicians and the press in such low regard?