AUGUSTA - Maine House Democrats on Thursday elected Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, to serve as House Majority Leader and Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, as Assistant Majority Leader.
Terry replaces termed-out Rep. Michelle Dunphy as House Majority Leader, while Cloutier replaces current Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, who earned the House Democratic nomination to serve as Speaker of the House. A final vote on that position will be taken by the entire House of Representatives on Dec. 7 when the Legislature convenes for swearing-in day.
"I am honored that my fellow House Democrats have elected me to serve as their leader," said Terry. "In the last legislature, we made significant progress on property tax relief, public education, healthcare, housing, climate change and more. However, so many Mainers are continuing to struggle to make ends meet. I look forward to uniting the members of our caucus to fight for policies that will provide relief for Maine families and benefit every corner of our state."
Rep. Terry is entering her fourth term in the Maine House representing part of Gorham. She has served for her first three terms on the Legislature's Taxation Committee, most recently as House chair. As a retired chef and small food producer with more than 30 years of experience in the food service industry, ending food insecurity in Maine has been one of her top legislative priorities. Terry serves on the executive board of the Gorham and Scarborough Farmers Markets and executive board of the Gorham Village Alliance. She has also volunteered for many local community organizations. She lives in Gorham with her husband and three daughters.
"I am thrilled for the opportunity to get to serve as one of the leaders of a caucus with such deep experience and diverse perspectives," said Cloutier. "From keeping people warm through the upcoming winter to supporting our friends and neighbors who are caring for their family members, there is so much work to be done. I am excited to work to keep our caucus united and to deliver results for Mainers from every walk of life. I can't wait to hit the ground running."
Rep. Cloutier is entering her third term in the Maine House representing part of Lewiston. In the Legislature, she has served on both the Taxation Committee and the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee. Previously, Cloutier served as the Mayor and City Council President of Lewiston. She is an alumnae of Emerge Maine, and in 2017 was awarded their Rising Star Award for her mentorship and support of other women running for elected office. That same year, she was also recognized as a Woman of Excellence by the National Foundation of Women Legislators for her work on the Lewiston City Council. She lives in Lewiston with her husband, daughter and two rescue dogs.
The leadership team was selected by the incoming Maine House Democratic Caucus, which includes 82 representatives. Additional details regarding swearing-in day will be available in the coming weeks.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Terry, Cloutier], 305-965-2744
PHOTO: Rep. Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, stand in the House chamber following their elections as House Majority Leader and Assistant House Majority Leader, respectively.