Governor of Maine

Governor of Maine
Seal of the Governor
Incumbent Paul LePage since January 5, 2011
Style	The Honorable
Residence	The Blaine House
Term length	4 years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	William King
Formation	March 15, 1820
Salary	$70,000 [1]
Website	maine.gov/governor

The Governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the Governor of Massachusetts was chief executive.

The current Governor of Maine is Paul LePage, a Republican, elected in the 2010 elections, and was re-elected in 2014. The next election is in 2018.

The governor of Maine receives a salary of $70,000, which as of 2013 is the lowest of the 50 state governors.^[2]

Eligibility

Under Article V, Section 4, a person must as of the commencement of the term in office, be 30 years old, for 15 years a citizen of the United States, and for five years a resident of Maine. A governor must retain residency in Maine throughout his or her term. Section 5 provides that a person shall not assume the office of Governor ^[3]while holding any other office under the United States, Maine, or "any other power".

Elections and terms of office

Governors are elected directly for four-years terms, with a limit of two consecutive elected terms. Thus, a governor can serve an unlimited number of terms, as long as they serve no more than two in a row.^[4] Elections are by popular vote, but if two people tie for first place, the Legislature meets in joint session to choose between them.^[5]

Executive powers

The governor is commander-in-chief of "the army and navy of the State, and of the militia" (the Maine National Guard) except when under federal control.^[6] The governor generally has the power appoint civil, military, and judicial officers (aside from probate judges and justices of the peace) subject to confirmation by the Legislature unless the Maine Constitution or a statute has provided another means of appointment.^[7] He or she also has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations except in cases of impeachment. This clemency power also includes juvenile offenses.^[8]

Cabinet

The Governor oversees the executive branch, which includes Maine's state agencies. His cabinet is often considered to be the state's commissioners, which are generally nominated by the governor but legally chosen by the Maine Legislature.

Current Cabinet

As of April 2014, the current cabinet is as follows:^[9]

Education commissioner Jim Rier was on medical leave. The Governor's office initially said he may return in 2015, ^[14] but later said that Rier officially retired on April 17, 2015. LePage has six months to nominate a permanent replacement. ^[15] LePage nominated Acting Commissioner William Beardsley as permanent commissioner, but pulled the nomination in the face of Democratic opposition and announced on January 11, 2016 that he would leave Beardsley in place as Deputy Commissioner once his Acting role expires(which does not require confirmation) and be the Commissioner himself. LePage said he did so out of a desire to not put Beardsley through being rejected by the Legislature and to keep him running the Department of Education.^[16]

Succession

Maine is one of six states that does not have an office of lieutenant governor. Under current law, if there is a vacancy in the office of governor, the president of the Maine Senate becomes governor. The current Senate president is Republican Michael Thibodeau as of December 3, 2014. ^[17]

Official residence

The Blaine House in Augusta is the official governor’s mansion, and is located across the street from the Maine State House. It became the official residence in 1919, and is named for James G. Blaine, who once owned the mansion. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and it was built by Captain James Hall in 1833.^[18]

References

See also

• List of Governors of Maine

State of Maine Augusta (capital) Topics Index Geography Government Governors History Islands Images People Visitor attractions Congressional districts Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Party strength Regions Down East Highlands Kennebec Valley Lake Country Mid Coast North Woods Penobscot Bay Southern Coast Western Mountains Counties Androscoggin Aroostook Cumberland Franklin Hancock Kennebec Knox Lincoln Oxford Penobscot Piscataquis Sagadahoc Somerset Waldo Washington York Cities Auburn Augusta Bangor Bath Belfast Biddeford Brewer Calais Caribou Eastport Ellsworth Gardiner Hallowell Lewiston Old Town Portland Presque Isle Rockland Saco Sanford South Portland Waterville Westbrook Largest towns Bridgton Brunswick Cape Elizabeth Falmouth Gorham Kennebunk Kittery Lisbon Old Orchard Beach Orono Sanford Scarborough Skowhegan Standish Topsham Wells Windham Winslow York

Governors of Maine W. King Williamson Ames Rose Parris Lincoln Cutler Hall Hunton Smith Dunlap Kent Fairfield Vose Kent Fairfield Kavanagh Dunn Anderson Dana Hubbard Crosby A. Morrill Wells Hamlin Williams L. Morrill Washburn Coburn Cony Chamberlain Perham Dingley Connor Garcelon Davis Plaisted Robie Bodwell Marble Burleigh Cleaves Powers Hill Cobb Fernald F. Plaisted Haines O. Curtis Milliken Parkhurst Baxter Brewster Gardiner Brann Barrows Sewall Hildreth Payne Cross N. Haskell Cross Muskie R. Haskell Clauson Reed K. Curtis Longley Brennan McKernan A. King Baldacci LePage