package phpmyadmin 4:4.6.6-5 failed to install/upgrade: installed phpmyadmin package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1 -- seemed to balk at taking my password when installing via Synaptic

[Fred McKinney]

When installing via Synaptic, on a brand new Lubuntu 18.04 installation, it seemed to act like my attempts to put in a password were ignored, forcing me to skip that step. And now, I can't log in to phpmyadmin at all.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: phpmyadmin 4:4.6.6-5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-23.25-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-23-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Jun 11 23:57:12 2018
ErrorMessage: installed phpmyadmin package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-06-12 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Lubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180426)
PackageArchitecture: all
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.5, python3-minimal, 3.6.5-3
PythonDetails: N/A
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.19.0.5ubuntu2
 apt 1.6.1
SourcePackage: phpmyadmin
Title: package phpmyadmin 4:4.6.6-5 failed to install/upgrade: installed phpmyadmin package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)