AUGUSTA, Maine — The 130th Maine Legislature was sworn into office Wednesday morning, not in the State House but inside the Augusta Civic Center—with spaces large enough for all to socially distance.
And as if the relocation wasn’t enough of a sign of COVID-19, the virus even took away one of the prime moments of the event. Gov. Janet Mills was scheduled to swear in the 185 lawmakers, but Tuesday night the Governor’s office announced she has gone into quarantine because of possible exposure to the virus from a member of her protective detail.
The acting Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court, Andrew Mead, administered the oath instead.
It won’t be the day Rep. Ryan Fecteau envisioned a year ago when he decided to run for Speaker of the House in the 130th. He was officially elected to the post on Wednesday, making him, at age 28, the youngest Speaker in Maine in nearly 180 years.
Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, Fecteau says he is committed to guiding lawmakers through what’s expected to be a difficult budget process, while also looking out for the poor, elderly, and unemployed in the state.
“We need to make sure when we have conversations about budget," Fecteau said. "The folks facing the most difficult circumstances now are not lost in talk about money.”
Sen. Troy Jackson was officially re-elected as Senate President Wednesday morning. In a series of tweets, Jackson said "it's an honor" to serve as Senate President and preside over the Legislature "during a difficult moment in our state's history."
"There is something deeply humbling about the people in your community entrusting you to be their voice in Augusta," Jackson said. "They have placed their faith in you to fight for what’s right and deliver results. It’s a weight that I carry on my shoulders every day."
“Serving in the Maine Legislature is about serving the people of this state. When you take away the State House with the marble floors and towering ceilings, and you take away the grand chambers, the purpose of the Legislature doesn’t change,” Jackson said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s truly an honor to have earned the trust, respect and confidence of my neighbors to represent them in Augusta, and it’s humbling to have been chosen once again by my colleagues to preside over the Senate during this difficult moment in our state’s history.”
Maine Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Marra congratulated Jackson Wednesday following the news of his re-election.
“For the last two years, Senate President Troy Jackson has provided steady leadership for the Maine Senate, and I know that he’ll continue his proven track record of ensuring that all Mainers have a seat at the table," Marra said. "Along with Majority Leader Nate Libby and Assistant Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, I’m confident Maine Senate Democrats will help us meet the challenges that lie ahead as we deal with the ongoing pandemic and economic crises that have hurt working families across the state. We’re lucky to have these passionate leaders at the helm for another term."
Republicans appear likely to push for changes in the extra authority granted to the Governor to fight the pandemic, which has generated many complaints from GOP lawmakers and conservatives, who claim the restrictions have needlessly harmed businesses and caused problems. Republican legislators say they have been cut out of the decision making since March and want that changed.
“We’ve seen a series of executive orders that have come forward without any legislative input,” House GOP leader Rep. Kathleen Dillingham said. “The legislature will be in session starting tomorrow and now we have the opportunity to make sure the Legislature has a voice which is actually the people's voice.”
Fecteau, however, says he thinks legislative leaders have had a lot of access to the Governor and the decision-making process. He says both parties are going to have to find a way to work together to resolve the budget demands and other COVID questions.
As senators took the oath of office at the Civic Center on Wednesday, anti-mask protesters rallied outside.
In the afternoon, the joint session of the House and Senate got underway at the Civic Center, with the House sitting on the floor level, and Senators in the balcony.
They are meeting to elect Constitutional officers — Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Treasurer. They will also elect the State Auditor.
Tuesday night, Democrats nominated Sen. Shenna Bellows of Manchester to be their candidate to replace Matt Dunlap as the secretary of state. Dunlap has held the position for the last eight years, but has to leave the post because of term limits. On Wednesday, Dunlap was elected as State Auditor.
Bellows was officially elected on Wednesday, becoming the first woman to serve as Maine's secretary of state.
Attorney General Aaron Frey was re-elected to a second two-year term Wednesday by the joint Legislature.
In a statement, Frey said he's "honored that the Legislature has placed their trust in me to continue serving as Maine's Attorney General."
“It has been a privilege to work with the attorneys and staff in the Office of the Attorney General who work tirelessly on behalf of the people of our state to ensure that Maine benefits from the highest caliber of legal representation," Frey said.
“As Attorney General, I am sworn to defend the Constitution and to ensure that the rule of law is protected. I also will continue to work with the Legislature and the Mills administration to ensure that our state does everything in its power to address the pandemic, to combat the opioid crisis and obtain accountability for opioid manufacturers, to engage productively in the process of creating substantial reforms in the state’s relationship with Maine’s tribal nations, and to find meaningful ways to make our criminal justice system more equitable.”
“I look forward to serving this second term as Attorney General and will continue to be an active partner in addressing the work ahead.”
RELATED: AG Frey re-elected to second term
And Henry Beck was re-elected as State Treasurer.
“Henry and Aaron [Frey] have shown up time and time again for Maine people over the past two years; they’ve earned their reelection to these roles," Senate President Troy Jackson said. "Matt [Dunlap's] impressive management of the Secretary of State’s Office over the past seven years — one of the most prominent offices in state government — shows he has what it takes to keep government running efficiently and effectively. I look forward to working closely with each office over the next two years.”
Additional statements
Pres. Troy Jackson:
“All four of these individuals — Hon. Shenna Bellows, Hon. Matt Dunlap, Hon. Henry Beck and Hon. Aaron Frey — are Mainers with extraordinary character and an unwavering commitment to the people and the future of the state of Maine. I have no doubt they will continue to serve the state with integrity in these roles over the next two years.
I would like to especially congratulate Shenna for being elected as the first woman in the history of this state to serve as Secretary of State. She has earned the respect of people all across the state for her efforts to protect the rights of Maine voters and will be sorely missed in the Maine Senate.
Henry and Aaron have shown up time and time again for Maine people over the past two years; they’ve earned their reelection to these roles. Matt’s impressive management of the Secretary of State’s Office over the past seven years — one of the most prominent offices in state government — shows he has what it takes to keep government running efficiently and effectively. I look forward to working closely with each office over the next two years.”
Sen. Nate Libby:
“I’m thrilled for the people of Maine that they’ll have such great leaders serving as constitutional and statutory officers over the next two years. It has been a pleasure to work with them throughout my tenure in the State Legislature, and I know they’re committed to upholding the best interests of the state in every decision they make and action they take.”
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli:
“Congratulations to the constitutional officers and statutory officer on their election to serve in these vital roles for the next two years. I have confidence that they will approach their work with the professionalism and due diligence it takes to protect our elections, uphold the law and the rights of Maine people, and monitor the state’s finances.
I would note that this election is bittersweet because it means that the Hon. Shenna Bellows will be leaving our caucus to serve in this new capacity. However, I’m thrilled that she will be making history and serving as Maine’s first female Secretary of State. Between her background at the Maine ACLU and her track record in the Maine Legislature, Shenna is well-suited to lead the Secretary of State’s Office and inspire women of all ages for generations to come.”
Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau:
“Maine’s constitutional officers, our Attorney General, our Secretary of State, our Treasurer and our Auditor, fulfill critical roles with enormous and wide-ranging responsibilities. The people elected to hold these positions must perform these jobs with honor and decorum. I’m confident that Attorney General Frey, Treasurer Beck, Secretary-elect Bellows, and Auditor-elect Dunlap will be excellent stewards of these offices and execute their duties admirably.”
House Majority Leader Michelle Dunphy:
“I am so grateful to have Treasurer Beck and Attorney General Frey returning to their roles. In their first terms they served Maine people well and upheld our democratic principles. I know they will continue to do just that over the next two years. I congratulate our new Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, and am confident she’ll bring strong leadership of an agency I know well. To the outgoing Secretary of State and incoming State Auditor, my husband Matt Dunlap, I thank you for all your years of service to our state and look forward to this new chapter."
Assistant Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross:
“Maine’s Constitutional Officers play a vital role in our democracy. They protect our right to vote, they defend our laws, they manage our debts and they ensure that our government is accountable to the people of Maine. Having four strong Democrats in these roles helps keep our core values of equity, transparency and opportunity present throughout our government. Congratulations and thank you to our newly elected Constitutional Officers!”
