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Senator Kevin L. Raye
Senator Kevin L. Raye, of Perry, is the 114th President of the Maine Senate, having been unanimously elected to the post by his fellow senators on Dec. 1, 2010.
Senator Raye represents Senate District 29, which includes all of Washington County and eastern areas of Hancock and Penobscot Counties. He was re-elected to his fourth term on November 2, 2010, with 71.3% of the vote.
Prior to his election as President of the Senate, he served two years as Senate Republican Minority Leader. Earlier in his Senate tenure, he served as Senate Republican Lead on the Health and Human Services Committee, the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, and the Government Oversight Committee. He was also a Senate member of the Joint Select Committee on Health Care Reform, the Maine Council on Poverty and Economic Security, the Maine Ocean Energy Task Force and the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission.
He has focused much of his work in the Senate on fighting for equity for rural education and health care, responsible budgeting, and efforts to strengthen the economy of Down East Maine.
On the opening day of the 125th Legislature, President Raye made a commitment to the people of Maine to reform state government with a thoughtful balance between preserving vital services and achieving a smaller more efficient government. He called upon the Senators to work together to change the culture of state government and help create a Maine state government that is caring and responsible, efficient and affordable, transparent and effective.
Senator Raye was born February 7, 1961, in Eastport, Maine. He is one of eight sons of the late Harry Raye, an electrician and a veteran of World War II, and Frances (Morrison) Raye, a retired teacher. He graduated from Shead Memorial High School in Eastport and earned a degree in political science from Bates College in Lewiston.
Along with his wife Karen, he owns and operates the historic Raye's Mustard Mill in Eastport, the nation's last remaining traditional stone-ground mustard mill, which has been run by members of the Raye family since 1900. Previously, Senator Raye served more than 17 years as a top aide to Senator Olympia Snowe, including 6 1/2 years as her Chief of Staff in the United States Senate.
In addition to his legislative service, Sen. Raye also serves on the Boards of Eastern Maine Medical Center and Maine Rural Partners. He formerly served on the Boards of Sunrise County Economic Council and Peavey Memorial Library, and as a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maine at Machias. In 2003, he spearheaded the successful drive to re-open North Perry United Methodist Church, where he is a member, trustee and chairman of the church council.
Senator Raye lives in Perry with his wife Karen (Howard) Raye, who is a member of the Perry Board of Selectmen.
