It helped that LePage endorsed Collins for reelection last year, a move that likely helped her secure a win. After all, the race is not that simple. In fact, it comes with a major looming wild card. First, a little background. When LePage first ran for governor in , few expected him to win the Republican primary, much less win the whole thing.
In the general election, however, LePage won a five-way race with only 38 percent of the vote. When he sought reelection, LePage again benefited from an independent candidate in the race and won with 48 percent of the vote. Given that someone so controversial was elected twice without a majority of the vote, there was a movement afoot to pass Ranked Choice Voting so a majority of citizens would back the winner. Ranked Choice Voting eventually did become state law, but in a quirk of the state constitution, it cannot be used in certain statewide races like those for governor — only in federal elections.
So, where does that leave us in ? He left office on January 2, LePage was elected in the elections , when Republicans took control of both the Maine state House and the state Senate.
In the elections , Democrats again took control of the legislature. Prior to his election as governor, LePage served as mayor of Waterville, Maine, from to Before that, he served two terms on the Waterville City Council. LePage spent his early childhood in Lewiston as one of 18 children in a French-speaking family. At age 11, he left home and spent the next two years homeless, where he supported himself shining shoes.
By 13, he had been adopted into two families. He went on to receive his B. In college at Husson, he served as an editor for Husson's student newspaper. LePage headed a consulting firm, LePage and Kasevich, before becoming a general manager at Marden's, a local retail chain. LePage was sworn in as Maine's 74th governor on January 5, He first won election on November 2, , and he was re-elected on November 6, See also: Maine gubernatorial election, There are no incumbents in this race.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. LePage ran for re-election as governor in The general election took place on November 4, See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. Ballotpedia is seeking percent participation so voters can learn more about all the candidates on their ballots. Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey? LePage's re-election campaign focused on the governor's record of job creation since as well as efforts to end domestic violence and reduce government spending.
LePage said that the state's budget and repayments to state hospitals were examples of his first-term successes. He also argued that Democratic legislators had not delivered on past promises. Michaud countered that he was the only candidate on stage who had worked with Democrats and Republicans during his time in the United States House of Representatives. He also claimed that LePage was argumentative with state legislators and that this was a reason to replace him in the governor's office.
Cutler argued that voters had an opportunity to reject what he called failed policies from Republican and Democratic governors by casting ballots for his independent candidacy. Drew Gattine in a voicemail that included several obscenities. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you," LePage said in the voicemail according to audio recordings first obtained by the Portland Press Herald.
Though LePage initially stood by his comments, he later met with Gattine at the governor's office on August 31 to apologize. He also released a statement expressing remorse for his actions and offering an apology to Gattine and his family. I understand how hurtful statements affect a family and regret that my words have adversely upset your lives.
For this I am sorry," said LePage. See also: Governor Paul LePage veto record. On August 6, , the Maine Supreme Judicial Court decided against LePage in a conflict with the state legislature over a rule of veto procedure. LePage's approach to defeating the bills involved waiting out the day time limit for returning a veto.
It was predicated on his understanding that an unsigned bill, per the state constitution, would fail to pass into law after ten days provided the state legislature was adjourned.
According to the state's top court, LePage overlooked a key aspect of the pocket veto procedure when he let 65 bills pass without realizing it. In order for the bills to expire automatically after 10 days absent a governor's veto or signature, the legislature must be adjourned as well as not in session. The inverse is true whenever the legislature is still in session; a bill passes automatically if the governor fails to return a veto within the day period, as LePage did.
LePage's lawyers contended that because the legislature was temporarily adjourned, the governor was unable to deliver his vetoes within the allotted timeframe. The measures LePage unintentionally facilitated into becoming law included a proposal to outlaw the opioid acetyl fentanyl and another to increase access to naloxone, a drug that can be obtained under special circumstances to prevent fatal overdoses.
LePage opposed increased access because he said it enabled existing drug addicts. Clearly, the lack of consequences for serious drug use is having the opposite effect from what is advertised," LePage explained in his veto message to the legislature. David Burns R , a former state trooper, sponsored the acetyl fentanyl ban on behalf of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. LePage said in his veto message that he is "concerned we are tinkering with our laws that deal with illegal drugs while more and more of our citizens are being destroyed because we do not have the appropriate resources to enforce the laws on the books.
See also: Governor Paul LePage threatened with impeachment In an official statement, LePage did not deny Eves' charges. LePage criticized the school for hiring Eves, whom LePage considers a politician with an anti-charter school stance. The statement criticized the decision to hire Eves:. Following Eves' charges, a second accusation of wrongdoing by LePage emerged.
According to the source, LePage gave Beaudoin the direction to stop payment on the already-approved money on the same day that Good Will-Hinckley announced Eves' appointment as school president. District Court, alleging that the governor used public funds and the power of his office to block the Good Will-Hinckley employment contract.
This was the first time in 40 years that a sitting governor of Maine had been sued personally. Six members of the Democrat -controlled House of Representatives announced they would attempt to press for the initiation of impeachment or disciplinary proceedings against LePage for the alleged funding threats.
There had been no successful impeachment efforts against a governor in Maine's history, and there was no procedure in the state for citizens to recall a governor.
Cynthia Montgomery, LePage's counsel, sent a letter to the director of OPEGA , informing her that the organization did not have the authority to investigate the governor. Following hearings, Evangelos said they had "the necessary grounds to believe that the governor is abusing the bounds of his power.
The Maine House of Representatives indefinitely postponed the impeachment effort on January 14, In the vote, Republicans unanimously opposed impeachment of LePage; Democrats were split. In a letter to Reps. Evangelos, Chipman, and Warren, Mills and Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney wrote "that there is not a basis at this time for us to pursue a criminal investigation.
There have been 15 governors impeached by state legislatures in American history. Eight impeachments resulted in convictions, with the remaining seven ending in acquittals, resignations, or the completion of terms. The first impeachment effort targeted but failed to remove Kansas Gov. Charles Robinson in following questions about the state's bond sale.
The most recent impeachment was the conviction of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich following federal corruption charges. Getting into Husson presented a challenge in itself. With the help of U. Senator Olympia Snowe's first husband, Peter, he was able to take his admissions exam in French to demonstrate his strong comprehension abilities, ultimately earning admittance.
In college, Governor LePage excelled academically and graduated with a B. Governor LePage has had a long career in business management. His industry experience includes manufacturing, wood products, forestry, power, furniture, food and beverage, building supply and construction in Maine and Canada. He became a turn-around specialist, heading a private consultancy through which he provided executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer services and advice to banks, law firms, client companies, insurance companies, bankruptcy courts and trustees.
The Governor led the organization from a handful of stores to 15 Maine-based locations that became a favorite of bargain hunters and shopping adventurists alike. He resigned his position at Marden's upon taking office as Governor. Governor LePage and his wife Ann raised their family in Waterville.
It is there he began his career in public service, bringing his business management skills to city government, first as a two-term member of the city council and then as Mayor of Waterville in As a Republican in a solidly Democrat town, the Governor worked across party lines to reduce taxes each year, improve the City's credit rating, increase the rainy day fund and maintain strong support for local education — all without cutting services.
An attention to detail, focus on the big picture and a zeal for efficiency are business attributes that Governor LePage brings to public service.
A business leader who served his community as mayor, Paul LePage decided to run for Governor believing the approach that had succeeded throughout his business career and in Waterville could work for all of Maine.
0コメント