John Baldacci
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Infobox_Governor |name= Governor John Elias Baldacci |image= Baldacci.jpg |caption= |order=72nd |office= Governor of Maine |term_start= January, 2003 |term_end=present |lieutenant= |predecessor= Angus King |successor=incumbent |birth_date= January 30, 1955 |birth_place= Bangor, Maine |death_date= |death_place= |spouse= Karen Baldacci |profession=Politician |party= Democrat |footnotes= }} John Elias Baldacci (born January 30, 1955) is the current Governor of Maine. He was born in Bangor, Maine.
Election and first term
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.
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 Agriculture and Transportation Committees.
Personal
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.
Template:Start box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:End box
Template:MEGovernors Template:Current U.S. governorsTemplate:US-bio-stub