A Maine woman who was previously convicted of manslaughter for the death of a Canadian tourist has been elected to the Bangor City Council, drawing immediate condemnation from conservative social media users. Angela Walker, who served a 10-year prison sentence for the 2002 killing, was elected with support from a progressive group despite her criminal history.
Walker’s conviction stemmed from a fight in which she was allegedly called a racial slur, leading to the death of Derek Rogers, a Canadian tourist found beaten and suffocated with sand. While Walker expressed a desire to move past her past, critics have argued that her election reflects a growing trend of Democratic support for candidates with controversial backgrounds.
The incident has been compared to the case of Jay Jones, a prominent Democratic figure who controversially won a high-profile election despite past controversies. This has led to renewed discussions about the role of criminal records in political careers and the potential for voter polarization around these issues.