Without the numbers, it is difficult to speculate on whether or not funds were misused at the Maine State Housing Authority.

But one thing is clear: Republicans have had it out for the agency’s head since they gained control of the Legislature and Governor’s office.

Most notably, state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, a board member of the MSHA who has written statement after statement criticizing the authority’s use of funds and how it conducts business.

And it seems he finally got his way.

Dale McCormick, director of the Maine State Housing Authority, tendered her resignation Tuesday after seven years on the job. McCormick’s resignation is effective March 31. She said the authority “has been subjected to a systematic attack that’s ground the important work of the agency nearly to a halt.” She added that she hopes the agency’s good work will be able to continue once she’s out.

It’s unfortunate that McCormick felt forced to resign before the facts are released to the public; the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability has been charged with investigating the authority’s expenditures. It is also unfortunate that some of the goals of the authority are subject to change now that a new regime will be likely take over.

Following McCormick’s resignation, Poliquin said he thinks it’s “in the best interest of the people of Maine, the disadvantaged in the state of Maine that are depending on the Maine Housing Authority to provide affordable apartments and other programs. We go in a different direction than the director who has just resigned.”

The direction with which he was unpleased included initiatives to create green and energy efficient, affordable housing and the agency’s scoring criteria to determine which affordable housing proposals would get approval. Poliquin told the Bangor Daily News earlier this year that after looking through 45 pages of criteria, he wondered why extra points were awarded to projects that included solar hot water heaters or to construction companies that offered their workers health insurance or job training programs. He said he does not share those priorities, adding that the “mission is not to promote a social agenda; our mission is to get as many people as humanly possible out of those shelters and into affordable housing.”

The latter is a good goal, but considering where and how services are obtained is just good policy ”“ and good for Maine.

This country is still feeling the effects of awarding manufacturing to the lowest bidder ”“ sending jobs to countries like China, Taiwan and many in South America ”“ at the expenses of thousands of jobs lost in the United States.

The Maine State Housing Authority’s decision to take into consideration contracts with Maine companies with good business practices is good for Maine, and good for Maine people who work at those businesses getting the contracts to complete construction and other work for affordable housing projects.

Also at issue were some expenditures for employee wellness and job training days. Obviously, spending excessive amounts in these areas ”“ like the amounts uncovered that were spent at the Maine Turnpike Authority ”“ is objectionable, but most companies spend some money on their employees for perks like holiday parties, employee appreciation days, etc. The Maine State Housing Authority has not released the numbers on what was spent in these areas, and it will be up to the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability to release this information.

If it turns out that expenditures cannot be justified, further reform may be necessary, and if not, we hope Treasurer Poliquin ”“ whose own ethics and business dealings have been called into question ”“ will get back to “looking for more and better ways to save taxpayer money,” like his website states.

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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.