Maine City Councilor Elected Despite Killing Canadian Tourist Who Allegedly Said Racial Slur

Voters in Maine elected a woman for city councilor who was previously found guilty and served time for manslaughter.

Angela Walker, who was successfully elected in Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday, is making headlines after the surprising election results. Walker was convicted in 2003 in connection with the killing of Canadian tourist Derek Rogers, who had allegedly called her a racist name.

Walker and her brother, Benjamin Humphrey, pled guilty to the crime.

Rogers was a musician who had been visiting Old Orchard for 20 years prior. His body was discovered by a fisherman on the boardwalk close to the cottage he rented in Ocean Park, per The Maine Wire. Law enforcement found his body badly beaten and with sand forced down his throat.

Walker spoke with the Bangor Daily News about her criminal past prior to the election, which included nine candidates vying for three spots.

“I want people to see that it’s possible that we can change,” Walker said. “I was lost for so many years. I think people really need to see the other side of that.” She is also in recovery from prior addiction.

“One of the big reasons that I want to run is because I feel like, with my lived experience and the work that I’ve done in a few different agencies in the area, that I can bring concerns of community members to City Council and hope for some change and be the voice for people that can’t speak up or don’t speak up,” she added.

Walker is not affiliated with a political party. She is focused on working with the homeless and people struggling with addiction, she said, and wants to “really be on foot with our friends in the homeless community.”

Of the three councilors elected, Walker received the fewest votes, but her election was still shocking to many.

“People in Maine have turned into a Steven King horror story,” one reaction said.

“Maine deserves better,” another commenter agreed.

“This is absolute insanity,” echoed a third.