David F. Emery

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David F. "Dave" Emery, born in Rockland, Maine, September 1, 1948, is a former Republican U.S. Representative from Maine.

Emery was first elected to office in 1970 at the age of 22 as a State Representative from his hometown of Rockland. He would serve in the Maine House of Representatives from 1970–1974. During that time, he was both a delegate to the 1972 Maine State Republican Convention and the 1972 Republican National Convention.

In 1974 Emery defeated incumbent Congressman Peter Kyros in Maine's 1st Congressional District. He was one of a very few Republicans to defeat an incumbent in that year, with U.S. politics dominated by the Watergate investigation. During his time in Congress he served as Chief Deputy Republican Whip.

In 1982, he chose not to run for reelection to the House but instead ran for the U.S. Senate against appointed first-term Democrat George Mitchell. Emery was unsuccessful as Mitchell won election to a full term.

The following year Emery was appointed Deputy Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency by President Reagan. Emery served in this capacity until 1988, when he returned to Maine and began working as a political consultant. In 1990 he again ran for Congress, but lost to Democrat Tom Andrews.

In 2005 he declared his candidacy for Governor in the 2006 election. He withdrew from the race upon the entrance of 2002 nominee Peter Cianchette, but following Cianchette's withdraw reentered. In the Republican primary he came in third, losing to State Senator Chandler E. Woodcock of Farmington and State Senator Peter Mills of Skowhegan. Woodcock, the nominee, lost to incumbent Democrat John Baldacci in the November 7, 2006 general election. Emery was endorsed by U.S. Senator John McCain for Governor, who urged voters to vote for Emery in the primary.

Preceded by Pete Kyros

Congressperson Maine's 1st District 1975–1983

Succeeded by John McKernan