Governor of Maine
| Governor of Maine |
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|---|---|
 Seal of the Governor |
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| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | The Blaine House |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | William King |
| Formation | March 15, 1820 |
| Salary | $70,000 |
| 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.
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Eligibility[edit]
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 6 provides that a person cannot be take office while holding any other office under the United States, Maine, or "any other power".
Elections and terms of office[edit]
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.[1] Elections are by popular vote, but if two people tie for first place, the Legislature meets in joint session to choose between them.[2]
Executive powers[edit]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
Cabinet[edit]
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[edit]
As of September 2011, the current cabinet is as follows:[citation needed]
| The LePage Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Name | Since |
| Governor | Paul LePage | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Administrative & Financial Services | H. Sawin Millett Jr. | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture | Walter E. Whitcomb | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Conservation | William Beardsley | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Corrections | Joseph Ponte | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management | John W. "Bill" Libby | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development | George Gervais | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Education | Stephen Bowen | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection | Patricia Aho | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Health & Human Services | Mary Mayhew | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife | Chandler Woodcock | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources | Patrick C. Keliher | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety | John Morris | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Transportation | David Bernhardt | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Labor | Robert J. Wingaass | 2011 |
| Commissioner of the Department of Professional & Financial Regulation | Anne Head | 2011 |
| Director of the State Planning Office | Darryl Brown | 2011 |
Succession[edit]
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 Democrat Justin Alfond. [6]
Official residence[edit]
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.[7]
References[edit]
See also[edit]
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