- Maine Senate
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Maine State Senate Maine State Legislature Type Type Upper house Term limits 4 Terms (8 years) New session started December 1, 2010 Leadership President of the Senate Kevin Raye, (R)
since December 1, 2010Majority Leader Jonathan Courtney, (R)
since December 1, 2010Minority Leader Barry Hobbins, (D)
since December 1, 2010Structure Members 35 Political groups Republican Party (20)
Democratic Party (14)
Independent (1)Length of term 2 years Authority Article IV, Part Second, Maine Constitution Salary Session 1: $13,526/year
Session 2: $9,661/year + per diemElections Last election November 2, 2010
(35 seats)Next election November 6, 2012
(35 seats)Redistricting Legislative Control Meeting place State Senate Chamber
Maine State House
Augusta, MaineWebsite Maine State Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35".[1] Unlike the lower House, the Senate does not set aside nonvoting seats for Native tribes. Because it is a part-time position, members of the Maine Senate usually have outside employment as well.The Senate meets at the Maine State House in Augusta. Members are limited to four consecutive terms with each term being two years but may run again after a two year wait.
Contents
Leadership
Unlike many U.S. states, the Senate's leader is not the lieutenant governor, as Maine, unlike most states, does not have lieutenant governor. Instead, the Senate chooses its own president, who is also the first in the line of gubernatorial succession.
Composition of the Senate
- 125th Legislature, 2010-2012
Affiliation Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)Total Republican Democratic Independent Vacant End of previous legislature 15 20 0 35 0 Begin 20 14 1 35 0 April 15, 2011[2] 13 34 1 May 10, 2011[3] 14 35 0 Latest voting share 57.1% 40.0% 2.9% Officers
Position Name Party President of the Senate Kevin Raye Rep Majority Leader Jonathan Courtney Rep Majority Whip Debra Plowman Rep Minority Leader Barry Hobbins Dem Minority Whip Justin Alfond Dem Secretary of the Senate Joseph G. Carleton, Jr. Non-Partisan Assistant Secretary of the Senate David R. Madore Non-Partisan Members of the Maine Senate
District Senator Party Residence 1 Dawn Hill Dem Cape Neddick 2 Ronald Collins Rep Wells 3 Jonathan Courtney Rep Sanford 4 Nancy Sullivan Dem Biddeford 5 Barry Hobbins Dem Saco 6 Philip Bartlett Dem Gorham 7 Cynthia Dill Dem Cape Elizabeth 8 Justin Alfond Dem Portland 9 Joseph Brannigan Dem Portland 10 Stanley Gerzofsky Dem Brunswick 11 Richard Woodbury Ind Yarmouth 12 G. William Diamond Dem Windham 13 David Hastings Rep Fryeburg 14 John Patrick Dem Rumford 15 Lois Snowe-Mello Rep Poland 16 Margaret Craven Dem Lewiston 17 Garrett Mason Rep Lisbon Falls 18 Thomas Saviello Rep Wilton 19 Seth Goodall Dem Richmond 20 David Trahan* Rep Waldoboro 21 Earle McCormick Rep West Gardiner 22 Christopher Rector Rep Thomaston 23 Michael Thibodeau Rep Winterport 24 Roger Katz Rep Augusta 25 Thomas Martin, Jr. Rep Benton 26 Rodney Whittemore Rep Skowhegan 27 Douglas Thomas Rep Ripley 28 Brian Langley Rep Ellsworth 29 Kevin Raye Rep Perry 30 Elizabeth Schneider Dem Orono 31 Richard Rosen Rep Bucksport 32 Nichi Farnham Rep Bangor 33 Debra Plowman Rep Hampden 34 Roger Sherman Rep Hodgdon 35 Troy Dale Jackson Dem Allagash - It was announced Sen. David Trahan is stepping down to become head of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine a special election will be held in November for the remainder of his term. Trahan announced he will stay on till December and stay on the taxation committee till he steps down.
References
- ^ Maine Constitution Article IV. -- Part Second.Senate.
- ^ Democrat Larry Bliss (District 7) resigned.
- ^ Democrat Cynthia Dill elected to succeed Bliss.
External links
- The Maine Senate official government website
- State Senate of Maine at Project Vote Smart
- Maine Senate at Ballotpedia
- Dawn Hill (D)
- Ronald Collins (R)
- Jonathan Courtney (R)
- Nancy Sullivan (D)
- Barry Hobbins (D)
- Phil Bartlett (D)
- Cynthia Dill (D)
- Justin Alfond (D)
- Joseph Brannigan (D)
- Stanley Gerzofksy (D)
- Richard Woodbury (I)
- William Diamond (D)
- David Hastings (R)
- John Patrick (D)
- Lois Snowe-Mello (R)
- Margaret Craven (D)
- Garrett Mason (R)
- Tom Saviello (R)
- Seth Goodall (D)
- David Trahan (R)
- Earle McCormick (R)
- Chris Rector (R)
- Michael Thibodeau (R)
- Roger Katz (R)
- Thomas Martin, Jr. (R)
- Rodney Whittemore (R)
- Douglas Thomas (R)
- Brian Langley (R)
- Kevin Raye (R)
- Elizabeth Schneider (D)
- Richard Rosen (R)
- Nichi Farnham (R)
- Debra Plowman (R)
- Roger Sherman (R)
- Troy Dale Jackson (D)
Republican (20) • Democratic (14) • Independent (1) • Maine Legislature • Maine House of Representatives • Maine State Senate Categories:- Maine Legislature
- State upper houses in the United States
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