Elizabeth M. Schneider was born in Lexington,
Virginia in 1962. The following year she moved with
her two older sisters, Anna and Ginny; her mother,
Carolyn Montgomery; and her father William Schneider
to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her father became
a chaplain at Harvard University. Elizabeth learned
at an early age the values of civic duty and public
service as they supported the civil rights and equal
rights movements.
During the turbulent times of the 60's and 70's, Elizabeth
and her family spent much time on the coast of Maine,
away from the hustle and bustle of academic life, noise,
city pollution, and traffic.
Later, Elizabeth moved to New York City where she
graduated from a public, all girls high school located
in lower Manhattan. In 1982, Elizabeth and her former
husband met at the University of Colorado, and ultimately
moved to Orono in 1987.
Prior to being elected to the Maine Senate, Elizabeth
worked in the ever changing travel industry and in
business development for a local multimedia company.
During that time, Elizabeth gained a deep appreciation
and understanding of the struggles of businesses
in Maine.
The threat of a local property tax increase in 1993
prompted Elizabeth to become involved in her town of
Orono’s local government. It was clear to Elizabeth
from her first experience as a citizen taking part
in town meetings that one citizen can have a significant
impact on the decisions of local government. As a result
of her involvement and knowledge of local issues, Elizabeth
was elected to serve on the Orono Town Council in 1996
and reelected the following year.
In 2004, Elizabeth was elected to serve in the Maine
State Senate representing Senate District 30 in the
122nd Maine Legislature. She has since been re-elected
to the Maine Senate twice since to serve in the 123rd
and 124th Maine Legislatures.
Senator Schneider currently serves as the Senate Chair
of the Legislature’s Joint Standing committee
on Business, Research and Economic Development and
the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural
Affairs. Additionally, Senator Schneider serves on
the Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills.
In the 123rd Legislature, Senator Schneider served
as the Senate Chair of the State and Local Government
Committee and the Community Preservation Advisory Committee.
She was also a member of the Business Research and
Economic Development Committee. In the 122nd Legislature,
Senator Schneider served on the Education and Cultural
Affairs Committee.
As
a result of her legislative leadership, Senator Schneider
was asked to serve on the National Legislative Association
on Prescription Drugs (NLA-Rx) in 2004, and continues
to serve on that board today. NLA-Rx is a national
nonpartisan nonprofit organization founded and directed
by state legislators across the country to assist
lawmakers working to make prescription drugs more affordable
and accessible to people.
In addition to her public service in the Maine Senate,
Elizabeth has given much of her time to help nonprofit
organizations and she has served on numerous committees,
such as the Orono Economic Development Corporation,
the Penobscot Downeast Cable Consortium, The Orono
Village Association and The Peace and Justice Center.
Her jobs with small business and her efforts with nonprofits
helped prepare her for the challenges in the Maine
Senate.
Below please find a more detailed timeline of some
of Senator Schneider’s accomplishments.
Elected:
NOVEMBER 2004 & NOVEMBER 2006
Maine State Senator, Senate District 30
11/96-3/00- Orono Town Council Twice Elected to the
Orono Town Council
Chair Finance Committee
Maine Legislature Senate Appointments:
2004- Present- Chair, State and Local Government Committee
2007- Present- Chair, Community Preservation Advisory
Committee
2006- Present- Second Seat Senator, Business Research
and Economic Development Committee
2004-Present-Member National Legislative Association
on Prescription Drugs, NLA-Rx
2004-06- Second Seat Senator, Education and Cultural
Affairs Committee
Orono Town Council Appointments:
01-present-Committee not active Ayers Island Task
Force
Vice-chair
00-04- Penobscot Downeast Cable Consortium, Bangor,
ME
Vice-Chair
6/00-04- Orono Cable Committee
Chair
4/00-05- Orono Economic Development Committee
Other Community Responsibilities:
2007-Present- Board of Directors, Maine Robotics
2007-Present- Board of Directors Maine Center on Aging
1995-Present- Orono Village Association ("OVA")
President
Past Executive Committee, Secretary
2/00-05- Orono Economic Development Corporation ("OEDC")
Vice President
Past Executive Committee, Secretary, Treasurer
1998-2004-Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine
- HOPE Festival Committee Member, Fundraising Committee,
Building Committee
1999-2000- Census 2000 Committee, Town of Orono
Chair
In addition to Senator Schneider’s governmental
work, she has helped to raise funds for numerous community
organizations and has served on a variety of other
community boards and committees.
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