AUGUSTA - Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, has been selected for the Council of State Government's 2022 Henry Toll Fellowship. She is one of just 48 chosen to participate in the fellowship, the nation's premier leadership development program for state officials.
"I am so incredibly humbled to have been selected as a member of the 2022 class of the Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellows," said Cloutier. "I am excited by the opportunity to examine and assess my own personal leadership style and assumptions, and to grow my skill set in ways that will help me best craft and shepherd successful legislation in consultation with affected stakeholders and my constituents in Lewiston."
Each year, the CSG Henry Toll Fellowship brings officials from all three branches of state government to the organization's national headquarters in Lexington, Ky., for an intensive, five-day leadership boot camp. The program's sessions are designed to stimulate personal assessment and growth while providing networking and relationship-building opportunities.
"I congratulate Rep. Cloutier on being named a 2022 Toll Fellow," said Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford. "I know her genuine passion for our work and her deep respect for our constituents and the issues that impact them. I believe her participation in the Toll Fellowship Program will have ripple effects in the state of Maine; I envision a bright future for her in the Legislature and I was proud to nominate her for this important opportunity."
"I have had the privilege of witnessing Rep. Cloutier grow as a legislator and a leader over the last four years," said House Majority Leader Michelle Dunphy, D-Old Town. "She is introspective, always willing to embrace new opportunities and holds a steadfast commitment to her community and our caucus. I am confident these qualities will aide in her success as a 2022 Toll Fellow, and I look forward to the leadership skills she will bring to our state legislature in the future."
"Rep. Cloutier will be an invaluable member of the 2022 Toll Fellowship program, and I know she will bring all she learns from this unique experience back to our work on behalf of the people of Maine," said Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland. "Our state continues to be fortunate to benefit from the Council of State Governments research and programs, including this prestigious fellowship."
The CSG Henry Toll Fellowship encourages participants to evaluate and adapt the way they interact with each other and the world around them, providing an opportunity unlike any other in the nation. Providing a variety of exercises and sessions, the content of the program is different each year.
Since the program began in 1986, more than 1,300 officials have graduated from the Toll Fellowship, including ten current members of Congress and five sitting governors.
"While the CSG Henry Toll Fellows come from every region of our nation, from both political parties and all three branches of state government, they share one thing in common - they are all people of purpose with a passion for public service," said CSG Executive Director and CEO David Adkins, a former Kansas state senator and 1993 Toll Fellowship alumnus. "Toll Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to solve problems, to work collaboratively to get things done, and their belief that state government can and must be a force for good."
Cloutier is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents part of the City of Lewiston. She is a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and serves as the House chair on the Commission to Develop a Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program.
About the Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is the nations only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. This offers unparalleled regional, national and international opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.
For more information about the Council of State Governments, visit.
Contact:
Jenna Howard [Cloutier], c. 214-3185