Bruce Poliquin is a Maine politician and investor. Since 2010, he has been the State Treasurer of Maine.[1]
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Poliquin was born and raised in Waterville, Maine. He received a scholarship to attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and later received financial aid to attend Harvard University, where he studied economics and graduated from in 1976. After leaving Harvard, Poliquin entered private business, including a position with Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago.[1] He lives in Georgetown, Maine.
In 2010, Poliquin sought the Maine Republican Party's nomination for Governor of Maine. He spent $711,000 of his own money and over $798,000 in total, but finished sixth of the seven candidates behind winner Paul LePage. After his unsuccessful bid, Poliquin campaigned strongly for LePage, calling him a true fiscal conservative.[2] Following the election of Republican Paul LePage in November 2010, Poliquin was elected by the state legislature to serve as state Treasurer.[2]
In the fall of 2011, Poliquin criticized the Maine State Housing Authority for its plans to underwrite federal tax credits to redevelop an historic property in Portland's West End, 68 High Street. The vacant lot at 66 High Street and 68 High Street were planned to turn into Elm Terrace, a low-income facility with 38 units. Poliquin criticized the proposed unit price of $314,00, though the state housing authority never agreed to the price. Dale McCormick, the authority's director and an appointee by Democratic Governor John Baldacci, approved the proposal following a reduction in the per unit price to $265,000. McCormick noted that the average per unit cost in the West End was approximately $220,000 and the building had to be rebuilt to include elevators and other code requirements, while Poliquin argued that it was better and more cost effective to place low income housing on the outskirts of towns and cities.[3]