Senate Democrats Make History: Mitchell Nominated to be Senate President

November 10, 2008

Bartlett and Marraché selected as majority and assistant majority leaders of Senate

AUGUSTA—Maine Senate Democrats Monday made history Monday night as they unanimously nominated Senator Libby Mitchell, D-Kennebec County, to be President of the Maine Senate in the 124th Maine Legislature. The nomination is historic because Mitchell will be the first woman to have served as both Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and President of the Maine Senate. In 1996, Mitchell made history by being elected the first woman as House Speaker.

The Maine Senate will officially vote to confirm the presidential nomination Wednesday, December 3rd when the 124th Maine Legislature convenes.

In 1980, Mitchell also made history when she was elected the first woman in Maine’s history to be House Majority Leader. Mitchell is currently serving as Senate Majority Leader in the 123rd Maine Legislature, and is a practicing attorney with her husband Jim and daughter Emily.

Dems Pick Senate Majority and Assistant Majority Leaders

Senate Democrats also selected the rest of their leadership team Monday night by choosing Senator Phil Bartlett, D-Cumberland County, to be Senate Majority Leader and Senator Lisa Marraché, D-Kennebec County, as Assistant Senate Majority Leader in the 124th Legislature.

As Senate Majority Leader, Bartlett will help lead Senate Democrats through what is expected to be a challenging legislative session. Bartlett was re-elected to a third term representing Senate District 6 November 4th, and previously served as the chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee in the 123rd and 122nd Legislatures. He has also served on the Natural Resources and Government Oversight Committees. One of his top accomplishment’s in the 123rd Legislature was co-sponsoring the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Bartlett is a practicing attorney, and lives with this wife Susan and daughter Abigail in Gorham.

As Assistant Senate Majority Leader, Marraché will bring with her eight years of legislative experience, which began in the Maine House of Representatives. In the 123rd Legislature, Senator Marraché served as the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee and as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. Since 2002, Marraché and her husband Ronnie have been family physicians in their practice at Elm City Medical Associates, P.A. in Waterville, where they live with their two children.

Senate Democrats will have a five vote majority over Republicans in the new 124th Legislature.