Blue Hill man alleges sheriff intimidation over sign

‘I was just shocked that he would say something like that to me because we’ve always been friends’

Barry Robertson stands next to his “Corey Bagley for Sheriff” sign at his home on Greene’s Hill in Blue Hill. Photo by John Boit.

Oct. 8, 2026

By Lydia Hart

BLUE HILL – Blue Hill resident Barry Robertson told the three Hancock County Commissioners during an Oct. 6 public meeting that Sheriff Scott Kane tried to “intimidate him” into removing his yard signs supporting Republican candidate for Sheriff Corey Bagley.

On Sept. 26, Robertson was eating a meal at Firehouse Subs in Bangor when he spotted Sheriff Kane and his wife enter the establishment. 

According to Robertson, Kane walked directly toward him, got within one foot of his face, and began berating him over the candidate he had chosen to support in the race for Hancock County sheriff. Kane, a Republican, is backing one of his subordinates, Dakota Dupuis, a Democrat who moved from Penobscot County to Hancock County to run in the race.

Robertson, a Blue Hill native who served in both the Marines and Navy, said that Kane never touched him, but said he was taken aback by their encounter.

He aired his concerns about the exchange in front of the three elected Hancock County commissioners at their regular Oct. 6 public meeting, which was recorded and broadcast.

Blue Hill resident and military veteran Barry Robertson, just off camera to the right, aired his concerns about an interaction with Sheriff Scott Kane at an Oct. 6 meeting of the county commissioners. Video courtesy of the Hancock County Commissioners.

According to Robertson, Kane approached him in the restaurant and said, “What the f— are you doing with a Corey Bagley sign on your lawn?”

“I was totally taken aback by his unprofessionalism as a sheriff of this county…I felt he was trying to bully me,” Robertson told the commissioners.

Robertson claims he responded by explaining to Kane why he is choosing to support Bagley over Democratic candidate Dakota Dupuis. 

Robertson said in an interview with The Rising Tide that Kane said: “that man [Bagley] has f–– me over.” 

Robertson alleged that Kane, during their exchange in Firehouse Subs, said he would show up at his Blue Hill home on Greene’s Hill to discuss the issue further; however, Robertson said the two have not been in contact since the interaction took place on Sept. 26. 

After knowing Kane for 40 years, Robertson was shocked by the interaction and described the situation as “unprofessional” and an attempt to intimidate him politically. 

“I was just shocked that he would say something like that to me because we’ve always been friends,” Robertson said.

Robertson said that regardless of one’s political beliefs, everyone should be able to express their personal views.

“I don't agree with some of the Democrats, I don't agree with Troy Jackson, but I’m not going to do anything to his signs,” Robertson told The Rising Tide. “Everybody has a right to put whatever sign they want on their property without being harassed.” 

To Robertson, the interaction was also an act of attempted voter intimidation. 

“It’s tampering with voters. But he can't tamper with me now because I already voted,” Robertson said. 

Robertson said he voted early on Oct. 8 and walked his ballot into the Blue Hill Town Office. 

The Rising Tide requested comment from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office but has not received a response. The Hancock County Commissioners office declined to comment. At the Oct. 6 commissioners’ meeting, none of the three elected officials—William Clark, John Wombacher and Samuel DiBella—made any comments after Robertson appeared before them. They gave no indication of any further action.