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John Elias Baldacci (born January 30, 1955) is the current Governor of the U.S. State of Maine. A Democrat, he was born in Bangor, Maine, one of 8 siblings in a family of Italian-Lebanese origin.
Political career
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 State Senate in 1982. Baldacci served as a State Senator for 12 years. In 1994, following the retirement of his cousin, 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 was reelected to Congress in the elections of 1996, 1998, and 2000, serving on the House Agriculture Committee and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure..
Election as Governor
A Democrat, Baldacci was first elected in 2002, defeating Republican candidate Peter Cianchette, who garnered 41% of the vote, and Green Party nominee Jonathan Carter, who won 9%. Baldacci had previously served as the U.S. Representative from Maine's 2nd Congressional District from 1995 to 2003. Baldacci was sworn in as Maine's Governor on January 8, 2003. As Governor, he is 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 caused by the national recession. This was done through budget cuts and fee increases. Baldacci refused to raise broad based taxes, honoring a campaign pledge.
Baldacci also established a state funded health care program known as Dirigo Health. The program offers subsidized health care to individuals Maine businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Individuals in the system enjoy unlimited preventive care. The program is funded by taxes levied on health insurance companies. This tax is controversial, with critics claiming that it raises health care costs, and proponents claiming that the preventive care eventually lowers health care costs.
In 2005, Baldacci introduced legislation to expand Maine's civil rights law to include protections for gays and lesbians. The law passed, but opponents of the law held a referendum to overturn the law. Voters upheld the new law.
2006 Election
Baldacci is running for reelection in 2006, and faces opposition from Republican Chandler Woodcock (winner of the June 13 Republican Primary) as well as numerous independent candidates and Green Party Candidate Pat LaMarche.
Personal
Born in Bangor, Maine, he grew up with seven siblings, in a Lebanese-Italian family. As a youngster, he worked in the family business, Momma Baldacci's restaurant in Bangor. A graduate of Bangor High School, he received a B. S. degree in history from the University of Maine at Orono. Following his father's example, a Bangor City Councilor, he entered public service as the youngest member of that Council at the age of 23 in 1978.
He is a Roman Catholic. He lives with his wife Karen and son Jack in the Blaine House in Augusta. Baldacci is first cousin to former United States Senate majority leader George J. Mitchell.
1955 births | Governors of Maine | Living people | Roman Catholic politicians | Pro-choice politicians | Arab Americans | Lebanese Americans | Italian-Americans
"John Baldacci"