Senate President Beth Edmonds

Senator Beth Edmonds is the second female President of the Maine Senate, and first serving two consecutive terms. In December 2006 members of the Senate unanimously voted her in as President for a second term. Senator Edmonds was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and has served on Legislative committees on Labor, Marine Resources and Natural Resources. She was re-elected as state Senator in 2002, 2004 and 2006. Senator Edmonds represents District 10, which comprises Freeport, Brunswick, Harpswell and Pownal.

In her current office, she has set the tone for collaboration in the State House.
As Senate President, Edmonds pledges to continue fostering a spirit of bi partisan cooperation. She places the needs of Maine people before any partisan interest. Her goals include expanding access to health care, crafting a sustainable and equitable tax structure, developing Maine’s innovation economy through expanded research and development initiatives, and investing in quality education.

In the 122nd Legislature, Senator Edmonds shaped consensus for a balanced state budget and for a significant bond package. As Senator representing Brunswick, she was involved with the establishment and selection of the Local Redevelopment Authority that is developing a comprehensive plan for the reuse of the Brunswick Naval Air Station property.

Her prior legislative accomplishments include the successful negotiation of a bi partisan compromise to resolve the long standing deadlock at the Workers' Compensation Board. She was instrumental in efforts to successfully raise Maine's minimum wage and to provide unemployment insurance for part time workers. She was also influential in the State's electronic waste recycling initiative, and had a significant role in positively affecting the Baxter School for the Deaf Compensation Fund. Additionally, Edmonds has a long standing working relationship with Maine's fishing industry.

Senator Edmonds has served as a member of the Maine Advisory Council on Deafness and the Council on Children and Families, and as a member of the State Court Library Committee. She is the former State Coordinator for the Maine Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), and was a Board member for National NOW. Before joining the Senate, Edmonds was chair of the Freeport Housing Trust and the Maine Choice Coalition, and co chair of the Dirigo Alliance.

Edmonds is the recipient of the “Hero for Democracy” award from FairVote, The Center for Voting and Democracy. She is a graduate of Clark University and earned an M.A. from Goddard College.

Senator Edmonds is the Library Director at the Freeport Community Library, where she has worked for 27 years. She lives in Freeport with her husband, Dan Nickerson.