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| {{Short description|American politician (born 1955)}} | |||
| {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}} | {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}} | ||
| {{BLP sources|date=April 2008}} | {{BLP sources|date=April 2008}} | ||
| {{Infobox |
{{Infobox officeholder | ||
| |name = John Baldacci | |name = John Baldacci | ||
| |image = |
|image = Governor John E. Baldacci at Kibby Mountain in Western Maine.jpg | ||
| |caption = Baldacci in 2009 | |||
| |office = |
|office = 73rd ] | ||
| |term_start = January 8, 2003 | |term_start = January 8, 2003 | ||
| |term_end = January 5, 2011 | |term_end = January 5, 2011 | ||
| Line 10: | Line 12: | ||
| |successor = ] | |successor = ] | ||
| |state1 = ] | |state1 = ] | ||
| |district1 = {{ushr| |
|district1 = {{ushr|ME|2|2nd}} | ||
| |term_start1 = January 3, 1995 | |term_start1 = January 3, 1995 | ||
| |term_end1 = January 3, 2003 | |term_end1 = January 3, 2003 | ||
| Line 19: | Line 21: | ||
| |term_start2 = December 1982 | |term_start2 = December 1982 | ||
| |term_end2 = December 1994 | |term_end2 = December 1994 | ||
| |predecessor2 = |
|predecessor2 = Constituency established | ||
| |successor2 = ] | |successor2 = ] | ||
| | |
|birth_name = John Elias Baldacci | ||
| |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|1|30}} | |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|1|30}} | ||
| |birth_place = ], |
|birth_place = ], U.S. | ||
| |death_date = | |death_date = | ||
| |death_place = | |death_place = | ||
| |party = ] | |party = ] | ||
| |spouse = Karen Baldacci | |spouse = Karen Baldacci | ||
| |children = |
|children = 1 | ||
| | |
|education = ] (]) | ||
| |religion = ] | |||
| |signature = John Baldacci signature.svg | |signature = John Baldacci signature.svg | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ⚫ | '''John Elias Baldacci''' (born January 30, 1955) is an American politician who served as the ] of ] from 2003 to 2011. A ], he also served as a member of the ] from 1995 to 2003. | ||
| ⚫ | During his tenure as governor, Baldacci initiated reforms in the areas of health care, energy development, administrative reform and efficiency, public education, and led significant efforts to expand investment in workforce training and development. During his four terms in the U.S. Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He currently serves as vice chair of the board of the non-partisan Northeast-Midwest Institute,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nemw.org|title=Northeast-Midwest Institute|website=www.nemw.org}}</ref> a Washington-based, private, nonprofit, and nonpartisan research organization dedicated to economic vitality, environmental quality, and regional equity for Northeast and Midwest states. | ||
| ⚫ | '''John Elias Baldacci''' (born January 30, 1955) is an American politician who served as the ] |
||
| ⚫ | During his tenure as governor, Baldacci initiated reforms in the areas of health care, energy development, administrative reform and efficiency, public education, and led significant efforts to expand investment in workforce training and development. During his four terms in the U.S. Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He currently serves as |
||
| ==Early life and political career== | ==Early life and political career== | ||
| Born in ], Baldacci grew up with seven siblings in |
Born in ], Baldacci grew up with seven siblings in an ]-] family. As a child, he worked in the family business, Momma Baldacci's<ref>, November 1, 2009.</ref> restaurant in Bangor. A 1973 graduate of ], he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the ] at ] in 1986.<ref name="bioguide.congress.gov">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000081|title=BALDACCI, John Elias - Biographical Information|work=congress.gov|access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> | ||
| Baldacci was first elected to public office in 1978 at the age of 23, when he served on the Bangor City Council. He continued in politics, winning election to the ] in 1982. |
Baldacci was first elected to public office in 1978 at the age of 23, when he served on the Bangor City Council. He continued in politics, winning election to the ] in 1982 from a Bangor-area district. He was reelected two times, serving a total of 12 years.<ref name="bioguide.congress.gov"/> | ||
| ==United States House of Representatives== | ==United States House of Representatives== | ||
| ], on August 12, 1995]] | ], on August 12, 1995]] | ||
| In 1994, following the retirement of his cousin, United States Senator ], Baldacci won election to the ] from Maine's Second District, replacing ], who had moved on to Mitchell's open Senate seat. He |
In 1994, following the retirement of his cousin, United States Senator ], Baldacci won election to the ] from Maine's Second District, replacing ], who had moved on to Mitchell's open Senate seat. He defeated fellow state senator ] in one of the few Democratic pickups of the 1994 cycle, taking 47 percent to Bennett's 41 percent. | ||
| Baldacci would never face another contest nearly that close, and was reelected to Congress three times with well over 70 percent of the vote. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation Committee. | |||
| ==Governor of Maine== | ==Governor of Maine== | ||
| ] | |||
| ===2002 election=== | ===2002 election=== | ||
| {{Main |
{{Main|2002 Maine gubernatorial election}} | ||
| A ], Baldacci was first elected in the ] with 47% of the vote, defeating ] nominee ], who garnered 41% of the vote, ] nominee ], who received 9%, and unenrolled former Democrat ], who received 2%. Baldacci was sworn in as Maine's governor on January 8, 2003. In 2006, Baldacci won re-election from a field of four major candidates. As governor, he was a member of the ] and the ]. | A ], Baldacci was first elected in the ] with 47% of the vote, defeating ] nominee ], who garnered 41% of the vote, ] nominee ], who received 9%, and unenrolled former Democrat ], who received 2%. Baldacci was sworn in as Maine's governor on January 8, 2003. In 2006, Baldacci won re-election from a field of four major candidates. As governor, he was a member of the ] and the ]. | ||
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| After being elected, Baldacci attempted to fill a $1.2-billion deficit. This was done through budget cuts, consolidation, and fee increases. Baldacci refused to raise broad-based taxes, honoring a campaign pledge. Baldacci won approval for major initiatives including Dirigo Health, the Maine Community College System, and Pine Tree Development Zones (PTDZ). | After being elected, Baldacci attempted to fill a $1.2-billion deficit. This was done through budget cuts, consolidation, and fee increases. Baldacci refused to raise broad-based taxes, honoring a campaign pledge. Baldacci won approval for major initiatives including Dirigo Health, the Maine Community College System, and Pine Tree Development Zones (PTDZ). | ||
| Pine Tree Development Zones were enacted in 2004 and offered eligible businesses the chance to greatly reduce or virtually eliminate state taxes for up to ten years when they create new, quality jobs in certain business sectors or move existing jobs in those sectors to Maine. However, a report released in 2014 showed that the PTDZ program was ineffective, costing state government more than it brought in. Over the first ten years of the program, it cost Maine $457 million.<ref name="Hall">{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/04/20/pine_tree_zones_tax_breaks_costing_state_more_than_they_deliver_/|title=Pine Tree Zones tax breaks costing state more than they deliver|last=Hall|first=Jessica|date=April 20, 2014|work=]| |
Pine Tree Development Zones were enacted in 2004 and offered eligible businesses the chance to greatly reduce or virtually eliminate state taxes for up to ten years when they create new, quality jobs in certain business sectors or move existing jobs in those sectors to Maine. However, a report released in 2014 showed that the PTDZ program was ineffective, costing state government more than it brought in. Over the first ten years of the program, it cost Maine $457 million.<ref name="Hall">{{cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/04/20/pine_tree_zones_tax_breaks_costing_state_more_than_they_deliver_/|title=Pine Tree Zones tax breaks costing state more than they deliver|last=Hall|first=Jessica|date=April 20, 2014|work=]|access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref> | ||
| Baldacci's overhaul of the healthcare system was established with his ] Care Act. The program offers subsidized health care to individuals and Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The program expanded wellness centers across the state. Individuals in the system enjoy ] when most other insurance policies rejected people with preexisting conditions. Proponents claim that the preventive care eventually lowers health care costs. | Baldacci's overhaul of the healthcare system was established with his ] Care Act. The program offers subsidized health care to individuals and Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The program expanded wellness centers across the state. Individuals in the system enjoy ] when most other insurance policies rejected people with preexisting conditions. Proponents claim that the preventive care eventually lowers health care costs. | ||
| With the Maine Community College System<ref>http://www.mccs.me.edu/about/gccacreport.htmltook</ref> he took technical colleges and revamped them into community colleges by adding more courses, more teachers and programs relevant to the communities in which they were established. He passed legislation that made it possible for credits and degrees from the community colleges to be transferable to the University of Maine system if student wished to pursue a four-year degree. The community college system grew exponentially adding new satellites. In their first three years, Maine's community colleges grew 42 percent.<ref>According to the Maine Community college website as of May 2013</ref> The demand is so great there are waiting lists for admission. | With the Maine Community College System<ref>http://www.mccs.me.edu/about/gccacreport.htmltook{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> he took technical colleges and revamped them into community colleges by adding more courses, more teachers and programs relevant to the communities in which they were established. He passed legislation that made it possible for credits and degrees from the community colleges to be transferable to the University of Maine system if student wished to pursue a four-year degree. The community college system grew exponentially adding new satellites. In their first three years, Maine's community colleges grew 42 percent.<ref>According to the Maine Community college website as of May 2013</ref> The demand is so great there are waiting lists for admission. | ||
| In 2005, Baldacci introduced ] to expand Maine's ] law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation in Maine had been defeated via referendum by voters two times before. The law passed, but opponents of the law initiated a ] to overturn the law. Voters upheld the new law. | In 2005, Baldacci introduced ] to expand Maine's ] law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation in Maine had been defeated via referendum by voters two times before. The law passed, but opponents of the law initiated a ] to overturn the law. Voters upheld the new law. | ||
| ⚫ | Baldacci is a supporter of ], a sometimes contentious policy of merging local-government services to save money on administrative costs.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615131726/http://www.mdf.org/mdf/speeches/interimreport.pdf|date=June 15, 2007}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | Baldacci is a supporter of ], a sometimes contentious policy of merging local-government services to save money on administrative costs.<ref></ref> | ||
| ===2006 election=== | ===2006 election=== | ||
| {{Main |
{{Main|2006 Maine gubernatorial election}} | ||
| Baldacci ran for reelection in 2006, facing opposition from Republican ], Independents ] and Phillip Napier, and Green Independent Party candidate ]. | Baldacci ran for reelection in 2006, facing opposition from Republican ], Independents ] and Phillip Napier, and Green Independent Party candidate ]. | ||
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| ===Second term=== | ===Second term=== | ||
| ] | ] (left) and ] (right)]] | ||
| Baldacci was inaugurated on January 3, 2007, in Augusta. Baldacci, in his second term, built on the foundation he created in his first four years in office. He increased Maine's competitiveness in the global economy; streamlined government services; attracted good jobs; and ensured that all Mainers have access to quality education, workforce training, and health care. In 2008 the recession hit forcing more consolidation efforts and Baldacci never increased state income taxes. He left office with a surplus and a rainy day fund. | Baldacci was inaugurated on January 3, 2007, in Augusta. Baldacci, in his second term, built on the foundation he created in his first four years in office. He increased Maine's competitiveness in the global economy; streamlined government services; attracted good jobs; and ensured that all Mainers have access to quality education, workforce training, and health care. In 2008 the recession hit forcing more consolidation efforts and Baldacci never increased state income taxes. He left office with a surplus and a rainy day fund. | ||
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| During his inaugural speech, Baldacci reaffirmed his goal for school administration consolidation. Shortly after he began his second term, his biennial budget proposal included consolidating Maine's 152 school districts into 26 ]. Maine has four forms of government: state, county, local towns and school administration districts. Consolidation of the school administration districts led to cutting back jobs that were duplicated and the savings were then put back into the classrooms. | During his inaugural speech, Baldacci reaffirmed his goal for school administration consolidation. Shortly after he began his second term, his biennial budget proposal included consolidating Maine's 152 school districts into 26 ]. Maine has four forms of government: state, county, local towns and school administration districts. Consolidation of the school administration districts led to cutting back jobs that were duplicated and the savings were then put back into the classrooms. | ||
| In 2007, Baldacci announced a plan to send 125 Maine prisoners to the private ] called ] in ], to ease crowding at the ] in ]. Critics, such as the ] called for supervised release of non-violent prisoners and sentence commutation for model inmates to ease overcrowding instead. The proposal was killed by the ]. However, in 2009, Baldacci's administration again suggested that the state could relocate prisoners to Oklahoma. The owner and operator of the Oklahoma prison, Corrections Corporation of America, indirectly contributed to Baldacci's re-election campaign and hired Baldacci's cousin and advisor, Jim Mitchell, as a lobbyist.<ref name=Tapley2007>{{cite news|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/News/38746-Prisoners-as-commodities/|title=Prisoners as commodities|last=Tapley|first=Lance|date=April 25, 2007|work=]| |
In 2007, Baldacci announced a plan to send 125 Maine prisoners to the private ] called ] in ], to ease crowding at the ] in ]. Critics, such as the ] called for supervised release of non-violent prisoners and sentence commutation for model inmates to ease overcrowding instead. The proposal was killed by the ]. However, in 2009, Baldacci's administration again suggested that the state could relocate prisoners to Oklahoma. The owner and operator of the Oklahoma prison, Corrections Corporation of America, indirectly contributed to Baldacci's re-election campaign and hired Baldacci's cousin and advisor, Jim Mitchell, as a lobbyist.<ref name=Tapley2007>{{cite news|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/News/38746-Prisoners-as-commodities/|title=Prisoners as commodities|last=Tapley|first=Lance|date=April 25, 2007|work=]|access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Tapley2009">{{cite news|url=http://portland.thephoenix.com/news/75605-baldacci-rejects-reform-embraces-corporate-prison/|title=Baldacci rejects reform, embraces corporate prisons again|last=Tapley|first=Lance|date=January 21, 2009|work=]|access-date=November 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102203918/http://portland.thephoenix.com/news/75605-baldacci-rejects-reform-embraces-corporate-prison/|archive-date=November 2, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> | ||
| Baldacci continued a major effort to promote alternative energies and energy independence for the state. Maine homes and businesses were heated 86 percent with oil. As of 2011, that declined to 76 percent. Baldacci's programs promoted wood pellets, which were manufactured in the state using Maine's vast forest lands, as well as wind, solar, biofuels and wave technologies.<ref>According to the Bangor Daily News Article, Energy bills smarten up state policy by Kevin Miller on May 11, 2010.</ref> He also started the Energy Efficiency Trust. He successfully created new standards and goals for the states Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). These RPS standards encouraged alternative energy suppliers to invest in Maine using the state's natural resources sustainably. Offshore wind technologies for floating wind turbines developed at the University of Maine brought Energy Sec. Steven Chu to visit the University and the Department of Energy has given the university various grants to continue the research.<ref>According to the UMaine composite center</ref> | Baldacci continued a major effort to promote alternative energies and energy independence for the state. Maine homes and businesses were heated 86 percent with oil. As of 2011, that declined to 76 percent. Baldacci's programs promoted wood pellets, which were manufactured in the state using Maine's vast forest lands, as well as wind, solar, biofuels and wave technologies.<ref>According to the Bangor Daily News Article, Energy bills smarten up state policy by Kevin Miller on May 11, 2010.</ref> He also started the Energy Efficiency Trust. He successfully created new standards and goals for the states Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). These RPS standards encouraged alternative energy suppliers to invest in Maine using the state's natural resources sustainably. Offshore wind technologies for floating wind turbines developed at the University of Maine brought Energy Sec. Steven Chu to visit the University and the Department of Energy has given the university various grants to continue the research.<ref>According to the UMaine composite center</ref> | ||
| Baldacci also brought the region's leaders together for a special conference to coordinate and |
Baldacci also brought the region's leaders together for a special conference to coordinate and cooperate on regional energy efforts such as the infrastructure needed to carry the electricity to markets. In addition Baldacci led the effort for Maine to become part of the first cap and trade state consortium for East coast states called the ],{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} which has brought in $83 million to the state for weatherization programs. | ||
| Throughout Baldacci's eight years he promoted a number of bond efforts that were passed by the people of Maine to increase research and development in the state focusing on sectors of growth and innovation. These bonds helped to transform research and development in biomedicine, composites and forest products at Maine's leading educational institutions. | Throughout Baldacci's eight years he promoted a number of bond efforts that were passed by the people of Maine to increase research and development in the state focusing on sectors of growth and innovation. These bonds helped to transform research and development in biomedicine, composites and forest products at Maine's leading educational institutions. | ||
| In February 2008, Baldacci hosted an official visit to Maine by ], ], which was the first official visit to Maine by an incumbent head of a ]. In his visit, Graham addressed a joint session of the ] in which he proposed increasing cross-border trade, tourism, transportation as well as additional co-operation on energy and education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=160142|title=Maine news, sports, politics and obituaries — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine|work=bangornews.com| |
In February 2008, Baldacci hosted an official visit to Maine by ], ], which was the first official visit to Maine by an incumbent head of a ]. In his visit, Graham addressed a joint session of the ] in which he proposed increasing cross-border trade, tourism, transportation as well as additional co-operation on energy and education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=160142|title=Maine news, sports, politics and obituaries — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine|work=bangornews.com|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307055223/http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=160142|archive-date=March 7, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
| In the ] Baldacci, as a ], pledged his support for ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4726|title=HillaryClinton.com – Media Release<!--Bot |
In the ] Baldacci, as a ], pledged his support for ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4726|title=HillaryClinton.com – Media Release<!-- Bot generated title -->|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213224811/http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4726|archive-date=February 13, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> despite ] winning the state's Democratic Presidential Primary. By June 2008, it was clear that Obama would be the nominee and he announced his support for Obama. | ||
| On May 6, 2009, Baldacci signed legislation legalizing ].<ref name="politico.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/On_to_Baldacci.html|title=Maine governor signs marriage bill |author=Ben Smith|work=politico.com| |
On May 6, 2009, Baldacci signed legislation legalizing ].<ref name="politico.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/On_to_Baldacci.html|title=Maine governor signs marriage bill |author=Ben Smith|work=politico.com|date=May 6, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> This made him the first governor ever in the U.S. to sign a same-sex marriage bill into law where it was not previously court-ordered. (The ], ], had been the first to sign a bill codifying same-sex marriage into law on April 23, 2009.) Maine's legalization of same-sex marriage was narrowly overturned by a ] vote on November 3, 2009, but brought back on a ] on November 6, 2012, and became law. | ||
| Baldacci left office in 2011, and was succeeded by ] ]. | |||
| ==Personal life and family== | ==Personal life and family== | ||
| Baldacci |
Baldacci lived with his wife Karen and son Jack in the ] in ], while governor. | ||
| Baldacci's brother, Joe, is a member of the Bangor City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/29/brother-of-former-gov-baldacci-announces-run-for-congress/|title=Joe Baldacci, brother of former Maine governor, files papers to run for Congress|work=The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram| |
Baldacci's brother, Joe, is a member of the Bangor City Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2015/07/29/brother-of-former-gov-baldacci-announces-run-for-congress/|title=Joe Baldacci, brother of former Maine governor, files papers to run for Congress|work=The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram|date=July 29, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> He is a first cousin once removed of former Maine senator and ] ] and a second cousin of author ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/magazine/01fob-q4-t.html|title=The Wedding March|last=Solomon|first=Deborah|date=October 29, 2009|work=New York Times Magazine|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> In addition, he is also related to State Representative ], who like Baldacci and Mitchell, is half-Lebanese. His wife Karen was the head of Maine Reads, a nonprofit umbrella organization for ''Read With ME'', privately funded by ]. Karen now works as a registered dietitian (RD) at the Supplemental Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) in Portland. | ||
| Baldacci |
Baldacci held a technician class ] with ] KB1NXP, which expired in 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=2841908 | title=ULS License - Amateur License - KB1NXP - Baldacci, John E }}</ref> | ||
| ==Electoral history== | ==Electoral history== | ||
| {|class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" | {|class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" | ||
| |+{{ushr|Maine|2|}}: Results 1994–2000<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics | |
|+{{ushr|Maine|2|}}: Results 1994–2000<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=January 10, 2008 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730201058/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 30, 2008 }}</ref> | ||
| !|Year | !|Year | ||
| ! | ! | ||
| Line 137: | Line 135: | ||
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |46% | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |46% | ||
| | | | | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|]}} | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|]}} | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |97,754 | |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |97,754 | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} |41% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |41% | ||
| Line 158: | Line 156: | ||
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |72% | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |72% | ||
| | | | | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} | |
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Paul R. Young | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |70,856 | |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |70,856 | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} |25% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |25% | ||
| Line 179: | Line 177: | ||
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |76% | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |76% | ||
| | | | | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} | |
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Jonathan Reisman | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |45,674 | |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |45,674 | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} |24% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |24% | ||
| Line 200: | Line 198: | ||
| |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |73% | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |73% | ||
| | | | | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} | |
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Richard H. Campbell | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |79,522 | |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |79,522 | ||
| |{{Party shading/Republican}} |27% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |27% | ||
| Line 220: | Line 218: | ||
| {{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
| {{Election box begin |title=Maine |
{{Election box begin |title=]}} | ||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | {{Election box winning candidate with party link | ||
| | |party = Democratic Party (US) | | |party = Democratic Party (US) | ||
| |candidate = John Baldacci | |candidate = John Baldacci | ||
| Line 244: | Line 242: | ||
| {{Election box end}} | {{Election box end}} | ||
| {{Election box begin |title=Maine |
{{Election box begin |title=]}} | ||
| {{Election box candidate with party link | {{Election box winning candidate with party link | ||
| |party = Democratic Party (US) | |party = Democratic Party (US) | ||
| |candidate = John Baldacci (Incumbent) | |candidate = John Baldacci (Incumbent) | ||
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| }} | }} | ||
| {{Election box end}} | {{Election box end}} | ||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| {{CongBio|B000081}} | {{CongBio|B000081}} | ||
| *{{C-SPAN| |
*{{C-SPAN|36617}} | ||
| {{s-start}} | {{s-start}} | ||
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| {{s-ppo}} | {{s-ppo}} | ||
| {{s-bef|before=]}} | {{s-bef|before=]}} | ||
| {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ]|years=], ]}} | {{s-ttl|title=] nominee for ]|years=], ]}} | ||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | {{s-aft|after=]}} | ||
| |- | |- | ||
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| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=2003–2011}} | {{s-ttl|title=]|years=2003–2011}} | ||
| {{s-aft|after=]}} | {{s-aft|after=]}} | ||
| |- | |||
| {{s-prec|usa}} | |||
| {{s-bef|before=]|as=Former Governor}} | |||
| {{s-ttl|title=]|years=}} | |||
| {{s-aft|after=]|as=Former Governor}} | |||
| {{s-end}} | {{s-end}} | ||
| {{Governors of Maine}} | {{Governors of Maine}} | ||
| {{USCongRep-start|congresses= 104th–107th ]es |state=]}} | {{USCongRep-start|congresses= 104th–107th ]es |state=]}} | ||
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| {{USCongRep/ME/107}} | {{USCongRep/ME/107}} | ||
| {{USCongRep-end}} | {{USCongRep-end}} | ||
| {{authority control}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldacci, John}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldacci, John}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 02:58, 9 December 2024
American politician (born 1955)
 | This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "John Baldacci" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| John Baldacci | |
|---|---|
 Baldacci in 2009 | |
| 73rd Governor of Maine | |
| In office January 8, 2003 – January 5, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Angus King |
| Succeeded by | Paul LePage |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Olympia Snowe |
| Succeeded by | Mike Michaud |
| Member of the Maine Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office December 1982 – December 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Sean Faircloth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Elias Baldacci (1955-01-30) January 30, 1955 (age 69) Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Karen Baldacci |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Maine (BA) |
| Signature |  |
John Elias Baldacci (born January 30, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 73rd Governor of Maine from 2003 to 2011. A Democrat, he also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
During his tenure as governor, Baldacci initiated reforms in the areas of health care, energy development, administrative reform and efficiency, public education, and led significant efforts to expand investment in workforce training and development. During his four terms in the U.S. Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He currently serves as vice chair of the board of the non-partisan Northeast-Midwest Institute, a Washington-based, private, nonprofit, and nonpartisan research organization dedicated to economic vitality, environmental quality, and regional equity for Northeast and Midwest states.
Early life and political career
Born in Bangor, Maine, Baldacci grew up with seven siblings in an Italian-Lebanese family. As a child, he worked in the family business, Momma Baldacci's restaurant in Bangor. A 1973 graduate of Bangor High School, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Maine at Orono in 1986.
Baldacci was first elected to public office in 1978 at the age of 23, when he served on the Bangor City Council. He continued in politics, winning election to the Maine Senate in 1982 from a Bangor-area district. He was reelected two times, serving a total of 12 years.
United States House of Representatives
In 1994, following the retirement of his cousin, United States Senator George J. Mitchell, Baldacci won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's Second District, replacing Olympia Snowe, who had moved on to Mitchell's open Senate seat. He defeated fellow state senator Rick Bennett in one of the few Democratic pickups of the 1994 cycle, taking 47 percent to Bennett's 41 percent.
Baldacci would never face another contest nearly that close, and was reelected to Congress three times with well over 70 percent of the vote. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation Committee.
Governor of Maine
2002 election
Main article: 2002 Maine gubernatorial electionA Democrat, Baldacci was first elected in the 2002 Maine gubernatorial election with 47% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Peter Cianchette, who garnered 41% of the vote, Green Independent nominee Jonathan Carter, who received 9%, and unenrolled former Democrat John Michael, who received 2%. Baldacci was sworn in as Maine's governor on January 8, 2003. In 2006, Baldacci won re-election from a field of four major candidates. As governor, he was a member of the National Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.
First term
After being elected, Baldacci attempted to fill a $1.2-billion deficit. This was done through budget cuts, consolidation, and fee increases. Baldacci refused to raise broad-based taxes, honoring a campaign pledge. Baldacci won approval for major initiatives including Dirigo Health, the Maine Community College System, and Pine Tree Development Zones (PTDZ).
Pine Tree Development Zones were enacted in 2004 and offered eligible businesses the chance to greatly reduce or virtually eliminate state taxes for up to ten years when they create new, quality jobs in certain business sectors or move existing jobs in those sectors to Maine. However, a report released in 2014 showed that the PTDZ program was ineffective, costing state government more than it brought in. Over the first ten years of the program, it cost Maine $457 million.
Baldacci's overhaul of the healthcare system was established with his Dirigo Health Care Act. The program offers subsidized health care to individuals and Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The program expanded wellness centers across the state. Individuals in the system enjoy preventive care when most other insurance policies rejected people with preexisting conditions. Proponents claim that the preventive care eventually lowers health care costs.
With the Maine Community College System he took technical colleges and revamped them into community colleges by adding more courses, more teachers and programs relevant to the communities in which they were established. He passed legislation that made it possible for credits and degrees from the community colleges to be transferable to the University of Maine system if student wished to pursue a four-year degree. The community college system grew exponentially adding new satellites. In their first three years, Maine's community colleges grew 42 percent. The demand is so great there are waiting lists for admission.
In 2005, Baldacci introduced legislation to expand Maine's civil rights law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This legislation in Maine had been defeated via referendum by voters two times before. The law passed, but opponents of the law initiated a referendum to overturn the law. Voters upheld the new law.
Baldacci is a supporter of regionalization, a sometimes contentious policy of merging local-government services to save money on administrative costs.
2006 election
Main article: 2006 Maine gubernatorial electionBaldacci ran for reelection in 2006, facing opposition from Republican Chandler Woodcock, Independents Barbara Merrill and Phillip Napier, and Green Independent Party candidate Pat LaMarche.
Democratic-leaning voters had a wide array of choices. Merrill, who was elected to her state house seat as a Democrat, Woodcock, and LaMarche received money from Maine's Clean Elections law. Merrill and LaMarche were generally seen as taking votes from Baldacci, while Woodcock's socially conservative position prompted many longtime Republicans to throw their votes to Baldacci, Merrill, or LaMarche.
Baldacci won the election with 38% of the vote. Woodcock placed second with 30%. Merrill received a surprising 21%, narrowly defeating Baldacci among unenrolled voters. LaMarche finished with 10%, enough to maintain ballot access for the Green Party.
Second term
Baldacci was inaugurated on January 3, 2007, in Augusta. Baldacci, in his second term, built on the foundation he created in his first four years in office. He increased Maine's competitiveness in the global economy; streamlined government services; attracted good jobs; and ensured that all Mainers have access to quality education, workforce training, and health care. In 2008 the recession hit forcing more consolidation efforts and Baldacci never increased state income taxes. He left office with a surplus and a rainy day fund.
During his inaugural speech, Baldacci reaffirmed his goal for school administration consolidation. Shortly after he began his second term, his biennial budget proposal included consolidating Maine's 152 school districts into 26 Regional School Units. Maine has four forms of government: state, county, local towns and school administration districts. Consolidation of the school administration districts led to cutting back jobs that were duplicated and the savings were then put back into the classrooms.
In 2007, Baldacci announced a plan to send 125 Maine prisoners to the private Corrections Corporation of America called North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Oklahoma, to ease crowding at the Maine State Prison in Warren. Critics, such as the Maine Civil Liberties Union called for supervised release of non-violent prisoners and sentence commutation for model inmates to ease overcrowding instead. The proposal was killed by the Maine Legislature. However, in 2009, Baldacci's administration again suggested that the state could relocate prisoners to Oklahoma. The owner and operator of the Oklahoma prison, Corrections Corporation of America, indirectly contributed to Baldacci's re-election campaign and hired Baldacci's cousin and advisor, Jim Mitchell, as a lobbyist.
Baldacci continued a major effort to promote alternative energies and energy independence for the state. Maine homes and businesses were heated 86 percent with oil. As of 2011, that declined to 76 percent. Baldacci's programs promoted wood pellets, which were manufactured in the state using Maine's vast forest lands, as well as wind, solar, biofuels and wave technologies. He also started the Energy Efficiency Trust. He successfully created new standards and goals for the states Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). These RPS standards encouraged alternative energy suppliers to invest in Maine using the state's natural resources sustainably. Offshore wind technologies for floating wind turbines developed at the University of Maine brought Energy Sec. Steven Chu to visit the University and the Department of Energy has given the university various grants to continue the research.
Baldacci also brought the region's leaders together for a special conference to coordinate and cooperate on regional energy efforts such as the infrastructure needed to carry the electricity to markets. In addition Baldacci led the effort for Maine to become part of the first cap and trade state consortium for East coast states called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which has brought in $83 million to the state for weatherization programs.
Throughout Baldacci's eight years he promoted a number of bond efforts that were passed by the people of Maine to increase research and development in the state focusing on sectors of growth and innovation. These bonds helped to transform research and development in biomedicine, composites and forest products at Maine's leading educational institutions.
In February 2008, Baldacci hosted an official visit to Maine by Premier of New Brunswick, Shawn Graham, which was the first official visit to Maine by an incumbent head of a Canadian province. In his visit, Graham addressed a joint session of the Maine Legislature in which he proposed increasing cross-border trade, tourism, transportation as well as additional co-operation on energy and education.
In the 2008 Democratic Presidential primary Baldacci, as a superdelegate, pledged his support for Hillary Clinton despite Barack Obama winning the state's Democratic Presidential Primary. By June 2008, it was clear that Obama would be the nominee and he announced his support for Obama.
On May 6, 2009, Baldacci signed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine. This made him the first governor ever in the U.S. to sign a same-sex marriage bill into law where it was not previously court-ordered. (The Governor of Connecticut, Mary Jodi Rell, had been the first to sign a bill codifying same-sex marriage into law on April 23, 2009.) Maine's legalization of same-sex marriage was narrowly overturned by a statewide referendum vote on November 3, 2009, but brought back on a pro-same-sex marriage referendum on November 6, 2012, and became law.
Baldacci left office in 2011, and was succeeded by Republican Paul LePage.
Personal life and family
Baldacci lived with his wife Karen and son Jack in the Blaine House in Augusta, while governor.
Baldacci's brother, Joe, is a member of the Bangor City Council. He is a first cousin once removed of former Maine senator and majority leader George J. Mitchell and a second cousin of author David Baldacci. In addition, he is also related to State Representative Chris Greeley, who like Baldacci and Mitchell, is half-Lebanese. His wife Karen was the head of Maine Reads, a nonprofit umbrella organization for Read With ME, privately funded by Verizon. Karen now works as a registered dietitian (RD) at the Supplemental Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) in Portland.
Baldacci held a technician class amateur radio license with call sign KB1NXP, which expired in 2018.
Electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | John Baldacci | 109,615 | 46% | Rick Bennett | 97,754 | 41% | John M. Michael | Independent | 21,117 | 9% | Charles Fitzgerald | Maine Green Independent | 11,353 | 5% | * | ||||
| 1996 | John Baldacci | 205,439 | 72% | Paul R. Young | 70,856 | 25% | Aldric Saucier | Independent | 9,294 | 3% | * | ||||||||
| 1998 | John Baldacci | 146,202 | 76% | Jonathan Reisman | 45,674 | 24% | |||||||||||||
| 2000 | John Baldacci | 219,783 | 73% | Richard H. Campbell | 79,522 | 27% |
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1994, write-ins received 55 votes. In 1996, write-ins received 47 votes.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Baldacci | 233,543 | 47.2 | ||
| Republican | Peter Cianchette | 205,335 | 41.5 | ||
| Green | Jonathan Carter | 46,903 | 9.28 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Baldacci (Incumbent) | 206,991 | 38.0 | −9.2 | |
| Republican | Chandler Woodcock | 164,861 | 30.3 | ||
| Independent | Barbara Merrill | 117,111 | 21.5 | ||
| Green | Pat LaMarche | 52,150 | 9.6 | ||
See also
References
- "Northeast-Midwest Institute". www.nemw.org.
- New York Times interview with John Baldacci, November 1, 2009.
- ^ "BALDACCI, John Elias - Biographical Information". congress.gov. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- Hall, Jessica (April 20, 2014). "Pine Tree Zones tax breaks costing state more than they deliver". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- http://www.mccs.me.edu/about/gccacreport.htmltook
- According to the Maine Community college website as of May 2013
- Microsoft Word – Interim Report CoverSept.doc Archived June 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Tapley, Lance (April 25, 2007). "Prisoners as commodities". The Phoenix. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- Tapley, Lance (January 21, 2009). "Baldacci rejects reform, embraces corporate prisons again". The Phoenix. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- According to the Bangor Daily News Article, Energy bills smarten up state policy by Kevin Miller on May 11, 2010.
- According to the UMaine composite center
- "Maine news, sports, politics and obituaries — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine". bangornews.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- "HillaryClinton.com – Media Release". Archived from the original on February 13, 2008.
- Ben Smith (May 6, 2009). "Maine governor signs marriage bill [UPDATED]". politico.com. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- "Joe Baldacci, brother of former Maine governor, files papers to run for Congress". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. July 29, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- Solomon, Deborah (October 29, 2009). "The Wedding March". New York Times Magazine. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- "ULS License - Amateur License - KB1NXP - Baldacci, John E".
- "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
External links
- United States Congress. "John Baldacci (id: B000081)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byOlympia Snowe | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 2nd congressional district 1995–2003 |
Succeeded byMike Michaud |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byThomas Connolly | Democratic nominee for Governor of Maine 2002, 2006 |
Succeeded byLibby Mitchell |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byAngus King | Governor of Maine 2003–2011 |
Succeeded byPaul LePage |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byJohn R. McKernan Jr.as Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byPaul LePageas Former Governor |
| Maine's delegation(s) to the 104th–107th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||
- 1955 births
- American people of Italian descent
- American politicians of Lebanese descent
- Bangor City Council members
- Bangor High School (Maine) alumni
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maine
- Democratic Party governors of Maine
- Living people
- Democratic Party Maine state senators
- University of Maine alumni
- 21st-century Maine politicians
- 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century members of the Maine Legislature