Augusta Democrat City Committee vice chair Rick Redmond is pictured here.  According to a reporter who called the Democrats yesterday the picture was taken one year ago at a Halloween Party.  The online conservative forum As Maine Goes published the picture yesterday.

According to As Maine Goes Redmond is no stranger to publicity.  He was hired by the Democrats to follow Senator Susan Collins around with a video camera earlier this year.  His actions provoked a negative reaction out of the Collins camp.

Redmond is pictured here wearing a crown of thorns.  It is unclear whether the red fluid on his brow is make up or his own blood.  He is wearing a carefully prepared red ribbon with the name "CHRISTIAN CIVIC LEAGUE" prominently displayed on it.  The third feature of the costume is a badge that displays a portion of a "Heath" candybar wrapper.  The League's executive director is Michael Heath.

According to the liberal group Realize Maine, Redmond lives in Augusta and serves Governor John Baldacci as an Aide.  The Christian Civic League of Maine's stalwart defense of marriage and family rankles the Governor's office.  The Administration has not been above issuing public insults.  In 2005 The RECORD remembered a 2004 incident with then Director of Communications Lee Umphrey who "created a stir last year (in 2004) by calling members of the League 'cuckoo clocks' when they joined for a pro-marriage rally on the steps of the State House." 

The crown-of-thorns-topped Redmond, pictured above, was elected vice chair of the Augusta Democrat Committee this month, according to As Maine Goes.  The League exposed paganism within the Kennebec County Democrat Committee in June of this year.  Augusta is located in Kennebec County.  The county committee's chair is involved with one of Maine's thriving underground pagan worship circles.

League executive director Mike Heath offered no comment on the Redmond image.  He explained, "I sent him an email inviting him to lunch.  I hope he gets the message, and responds in the affirmative.  I'd like to get to know Mr. Redmond better.  He is certainly creative."