A small Maine town has become embroiled in political turmoil, with vicious Facebook feuds escalating into public confrontations, forcing officials from their positions, and requiring police intervention. Clifton, a community of 877 residents located near Bangor, is experiencing deep division fueled by personal attacks exchanged on rival local Facebook groups.
The online conflict has seen sensitive personal information of elected officials, including mugshots and property deeds, repeatedly shared. This has led to harassment complaints and heated exchanges at town meetings, according to reports.
Election Dispute and Personal Attacks
The town's political strife was highlighted during a contentious election for the Select Board. Steve Armenia initially lost the race by one vote, but a subsequent count of two previously uncounted absentee ballots awarded him the seat. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled in July that these ballots should be included, giving Armenia a 115-114 victory. Armenia, a former Marine and Customs and Border Protection employee, had been seeking the one-year term following another selectman's resignation amid backlash.
Armenia became a primary target of online attacks, with his mugshot from a 2019 arrest in Florida being posted numerous times in a Facebook group called Clifton Maine Truth. The group is run by resident Jeff Roberts, who acknowledged his page has contributed to the town's division. Posts in the group referred to Armenia as 'Steve “the criminal” Armenia' and allegedly included copies of his property deed and photographs of his family.
Roberts has also targeted other town officials, including Planning Board chairman Bruce Jellison, by publishing information about his business and questioning its registration status. Jellison responded with his own Facebook posts criticizing Roberts' influence and admitting to some of his own remarks being "petty."
Impact on Local Governance
The escalating online hostility has had a tangible impact on Clifton's government. Jellison recently resigned as chairman of the Planning Board, citing the