Mike Michaud

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mike Michaud
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2003
Preceded by	John Baldacci
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Single
Residence	East Millinocket, Maine
Alma mater	Schenck High School
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Roman Catholic

Michael Herman (Mike) Michaud (born January 18, 1955 in Millinocket, Maine) has been a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003, representing Maine's 2nd congressional district. Michaud's district comprises nearly 80% the state by area and includes the cities of Lewiston, Auburn, Bangor, and Presque Isle. Also his district is the largest Congressional district by area east of the Mississippi River.

Prior to election to the U.S. House, Michaud was President of the Maine Senate. Also he was employed at the Great Northern Paper Company where he was a member of the United Steelworkers. The other three members of Maine's Congressional delegation are women.

[edit] Personal

Michaud grew up in Medway, Maine and is a graduate of Schenck High School in East Millinocket. He was a mill worker and supervisor at Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket from 1973 until his election to Congress in 2002, during which time he was a member of the United Steelworkers. Michaud's interest in politics began when he campaigned to clean up the Penobscot River in the late 1970's.

[edit] Maine Legislature

Michaud was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1980, where he served seven terms. Then in 1994 he ran for and was elected to the Maine Senate. In 1996 he was appointed chair of the Joint Appropriation Committee and in December, 2000, was unanimously elected President of the Maine Senate.

[edit] Congressional Career

Michaud was first elected in the 2002 election, narrowly defeating Republican Kevin Raye in the race to replace John Baldacci. This election garnered considerable publicity because the Democratic candidate was pro-life, while the Republican was pro-choice. Michaud then became the only freshman Democratic member of Congress to vote for 2003's ban on partial-birth abortion.

He won the 2004 election, defeating Republican Brian Hamel of Presque Isle by a large margin. In the 2006 election he defeated Republican Laurence S. D'Amboise by a 70% margin. In the 2008 election he defeated Republican and retired Professor John Frary of Farmington with a large majority.

As Chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Michaud has fought for better health care benefits for veterans and also for better rural health care for veterans. In 2007 Michaud came close to being elected Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He has also called for lowering of the cost of prescription drugs.

Michaud is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, Michaud has voted with his party's leadership 96.3% of the time^{[citation needed]}. On October 19, 2007, he endorsed former Senator John Edwards for President.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Health (Chairman)
• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
  • Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials

[edit] Election History

[edit] References

1. ^ Cooley represented the Socialist Equality Party

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Mike Michaud, U.S. House site
• Mike Michaud for U.S. Congress, Campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• John Frary Campaign site