MAINE SENATE DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW LEADERS
AUGUSTA—Newly elected Maine Senate Democrats convened for the first time today to elect their leadership for the 126th Maine Legislature.
Each of the three leadership positions was unchallenged. The 19-member Democratic caucus unanimously supported and elected the following three leaders:
Sen. Justin Alfond (D-Portland)
Maine Senate President: Senator Justin Alfond of Portland who is beginning his third term and previously served as Assistant Democratic Leader. Alfond also served on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and the Regulatory Reform Committee.
During his speech to his colleagues, Alfond said, “We have a lot to do. Our work is just beginning. I want Maine to once again be a state where Mainers feel good about where they live, work and do business. The door is open to Governor LePage to join with us in coming up with reasonable and productive solutions to our state’s challenges.”
Majority Leader: Senator Seth Goodall of Richmond who is beginning his third term and served and formerly chaired the Environmental and Natural Resources Committee as well as the Regulatory Reform Committee.
Sen. Seth Goodall (D-Richmond)
“It is time for action, by both parties and the Governor, to work together toward common ground to move Maine forward. It’s not about who is right or wrong, or who wins or loses, it’s about what is best for Maine,” said Goodall. “Lawmakers need to get to work immediately to find solutions that will rebuild and grow our economy for our smallest towns to our cities. We need to be focused on growing our economy and restoring economic security.”
Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Troy Jackson of Allagash who is beginning his third term and served on the Labor Commerce Research and Economic Development Committee. Jackson also previously served three terms in the House before his service in the Maine Senate.
“Democrats knocked on more than 600,000 doors across this state from my hometown of Allagash on down to Kittery. We listened to their concerns and frustrations,” said Jackson. “And today, we’re here to say, we’ve got your back. We will get up each day and focus on the job that needs to be done—getting Mainers back to work and strengthening the middle class.”
Sen. Troy Jackson (D-Allagash)
The Maine Senate is comprised of 19 Democrats, one unenrolled, and 14 Republicans. There remains one seat, Senate District 17 (Colleen Quint-D and Garret Mason-R), that is being recounted on Friday, November 16.
Tonight’s caucus also selected Darek Grant of Augusta as Secretary of the Senate. Grant is beginning his second term as City Counselor for the City of Augusta and has worked as a legislative aid for six years in the Senate Democratic Office. Joy O’Brien was selected as Assistant Secretary of the Senate. O’Brien formerly served as Secretary of the Senate for 27 years and one year as Assistant Secretary.