Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Speaker Profiles

This is part I of a two part series.  There are 6 candidates vying for Speaker of the House of Representatives in Maine now that the body has become Republican. 

Pat Flood

Patrick Flood’s bio from his House webpage:

A retired forest products company manager, Rep. Flood received his undergraduate degrees from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University in 1974. He worked in various management roles in the forest products industry until 2004 when he retired and ran for the Legislature.

He is beginning his fourth term in the House and is on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee as well as the Joint Select Committee on Joint Rules (no doubt the outcome of the Medial Marijuana bill, ha ha little joke). 

In his webpage, his testimonials point out that he’s a “non-partisan problem solver” and “the one person not afraid to talk to the other side.”  He’s noted to be very studious, and someone who “enjoys the tedium of studying the state budget line by line.”  In About Pat Flood, he emphasizes environmental protection, encouraging business opportunities, and management of the state’s finances as high priorities.

His signature sponsored legislation included LD 144.  Requiring 2/3rds and failing by 8 votes, it would have reduced the size of the Maine legislature.  In a list of other sponsored legislation, there’s clearly a focus on land conservation and fiscal discipline. Here’s his sponsored list for the last session

VoteSmart has interest group ratings for Pat Flood.  No big surprises here - high in business and gun issues (big surprise), and low as ranked by the AFL-CIO and Maine People’s Alliance.  Pat represents Winthrop district 82.  In the 2010 gubernatorial race, he supported Steven Abbott in the Republican primary (info via Huffington Post donation lookup)

Robert Nutting

photo of Representative NuttingRobert Nunning has returned to the Maine House 6 times representing Oakland Maine.  He has been in the budget reviewing Appropriations Committee for two terms.

He ascended from the Oakland Town Council and worked as a licensed  pharmacist.  He lists his hobbies as hunting, golf, and gardening.

Not nearly as active in sponsoring legislation as Pat Flood, Nutting sponsored two bills in the last session to revise the border between Waterville and Oakland and to help cosmetologists, barbers, and manicurists perform work outside of their primary business location

In 2010, Nunning made a $500 contribution to LePage’s campaign and actively supported his bid for governorship.  Oakland borders LePage’s hometown of Waterville (the borders were recently updated, see above). 

Meredith N. Strang Burgess

photo of Representative Strang Burgess

A Southern Maine House Representative serving District 108 (Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Long Island, and North Yarmouth), Rep. Strang Burgess is the founder and owner of Burgess Advertising & Marketing in Portland.  On the Health and Human Services Committee, she is an cancer early detection activist and past President of the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Her sponsored bills in 2010 include initiatives to increase access to oral health care, add benefits for children covered in MaineCare, and numerous cancer advocacy pieces of legislation: lottery tickets for awareness, screening funding.

MeredithforMaine.com, her website, emphasizes endorsements by Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.  In the Issues section, she ties controlling spending with keeping burdens off of small businesses and mentions health care, education, and energy but offers few details.

Burgess’ contributions totaling near $135 were generic donations to the Maine Republican Party. 

No comments:

Post a Comment