AUGUSTA, Maine — In a four-way race Tuesday, Rep. Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, emerged as Maine’s next likely speaker of the House of Representatives.
In a single ballot, after about an hour of speeches before the incoming Democratic House majority, Eves was selected over Rep. Mike Carey of Lewiston, Rep. Terry Hayes of Buckfield and Rep. Diane Russell of Portland.
In a forceful speech to his colleagues before the vote, Eves, a family and marriage counselor by profession, said his desire to serve in government was inspired by his work of strengthening families and relationships.
“I ran for office and now I’m running for speaker of the House because I believe so strongly in work to improve people’s lives on a much larger scale,” he said.
This is his third term in the House.
The Senate Democratic caucus, also in newly won majority status, selected Sen. Justin Alfond as its nominee for Senate president during a meeting at Sweet Chilli, a Thai restaurant in Augusta.
The House speaker’s position is a powerful one in the Legislature because that person decides committee assignments and appoints committee chairs. The speaker also is responsible for the House’s daily agenda and sets the tone and the pace of floor debates while ruling on various points of order.
Like the other candidates in the running, Eves focused much of his address on jobs and the economy, a theme that was echoed around the chamber as newly elected or re-elected Democrats got their first chances to vote.
The vote Tuesday means Eves will be the Democratic Party’s nominee for the speaker of the House for the 126th legislative session. The entire House will vote again Dec. 5, but with 89 of the 151 votes in Democratic hands, it’s highly likely Eves will be the 101st speaker of the House.
“You told me you were ready for change in Augusta, ready to fight for what we as Democrats stand for and believe in; that’s jobs, health care and the economy, because they matter to our neighbors, our families and our constituents,” Eves told his colleagues before they selected him.
“Almost everything we care about as Democrats can be part of a strong plan to rebuild our economy and our middle class,” he said. “As Democrats, we understand that investing in education infrastructure and research and development will help grow our economy and strengthen our economic future.”
Eves was the only candidate for the speaker’s post who mentioned Republican Gov. Paul LePage by name.
“You told me that you were ready to take on Gov. LePage so that we could change the direction of this state,” Eves said. “You felt strongly that we need to stop the dissemination of vital programs and policies that have made this state so strong.”
Eves said the new Democratic majority likely would challenge LePage’s efforts to reduce the number of people eligible for the state’s MaineCare program, which is funded through the state and federal governments.
The LePage administration has been in an ongoing legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over a state law change made earlier this year that would remove about 24,000 people from the state’s health care program.
Questioned about that after his selection, Eves hinted that Democrats would likely stand with the federal government and not with LePage.
“We are going to follow through with what we worked on during the last few years and we are going to make sure people have access to affordable health care,” Eves said.
Democrats also elected Rep. Seth Berry of Bowdoinham to be the House majority leader over Rep. Mark Dion of Portland. Berry is in his fourth term in the House.
Rep. Jeff McCabe of Skowhegan was elected assistant majority leader.
“We have a lot to do,” new Senate President Alfond told his colleagues Tuesday. “Our work is just beginning. I want Maine to once again be a state where Mainers feel good about where they live, work and do business.”
Alfond also mentioned LePage.
“The door is open to Gov. LePage to join with us in coming up with reasonable and productive solutions to our state’s challenges,” Alfond said.
He said he had already called LePage’s office to set up a meeting with him, and suggested policies advanced by his caucus could be embraced by Republicans, as well.
“Mainers don’t care if there’s a ‘D’ or an ‘R,’” Alfond said. “They care about getting things done.”
Senate Democrats also elected Sen. Seth Goodall of Richmond as Senate majority leader and Sen. Troy Jackson of Allagash as assistant majority leader.
Outgoing Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster took a swipe at the Democrats, noting they selected no women for leadership positions Tuesday.
“It’s interesting to me that after campaigning as the party of women, Democrats didn’t elect a single woman to their six leadership posts,” Webster said in a prepared statement.
Democrats were quick to note that Republicans did not elect a single female to the state Senate in 2012.
“Eves was also the only candidate for the Speaker’s post that mentioned Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage by name.“You told me that you were ready to take on Gov. LePage so that we could change the direction of this state,” Eves said.”
… so he won by showing a understanding of the job at hand.
“udnerestanding of the job at hand?” whether you like LePage or not, not the way to start off.
LePage needs to be challenenged. We will see if LePage can grow up and act like a man instead of a child having a temper tantrum…. nah he won’t change.
Neither will the Democrats, or the rest of them.
Take back the State Senate. (Check). Take back the State House of Representatives (Check). Call out Governor Lepage and make sure everyone knows he is just “evil”. (Check)Find the funds to balance the budget without all the cuts (did someone say the check was in the mail).
I think Millinocket sent the check back lol. Balance the budget, would not matter who was in either the House or Senate or the Governor’s office, or all the same party.
Raise the taxes, 15% State income taxes, $2 a gallon gas tax, increase the State Sales tax to 12 cents. Raise the Death tax to 95% starting at zero.. Tax!!! baby Tax!!!..
Isn’t Mark a white hetrosexual male.. Liberal diversity.
Just a bit snarky are we?
Just do it. total control of the population through taxes and mandates. How many liberal un or under funded mandates were push down to the town/cities.. from the state.
“Eves hinted Democrats likely would stand with the federal government and not with LePage.”
screw the state, this guy is all about forcing it down your throat from the federal level…
The red button doesn’t seem to be working too well.
When questioned about that after his election, Eves hinted Democrats would likely stand with the federal government and not with LePage.“We are going to follow through with what we worked on during the last few years and we are going to make sure people have access to affordable health care,” Eves said.
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Thank you.
affordable? good luck with that. I feel sorry for those on medicare/medicaid. They federal government madates with the threat of funding cuts.. Well wbt30 The federal Government is about to go broke, which means mandate yes money no.. People have been asleep a long time, I don’t know if they will every wake up. Be prepared because it’s comming soon. Obamas plan to bankrupt america is a comming reality
Exactly…we’re about to see just how compassionate the supposed ‘compassionate’ among us actually are, as the people they have made dependent on government wind up destitute and homeless
But at least our Liberal/Democtratic/Socialist Government gets to stay in power, as planned. While their mouthpiece the mainstream media spouts the Socialist mantra to their followers.
Jindal say the Republicans are the stupid party. Democrats think they are the delusional party. Maybe they are both the stupidly delusional party.
Where will Robert Nutting be hiding?
Behind his wife and bankruptcy laws – as usual.
Yessah
Let’s hope the Democratic house leaders aren’t as crotchety as what we’ve been treated to for the past two years. Considering what we can do rather than what we can’t do might be refreshing. It’ll trigger better brain direction for sure – more reason, less reptile.
I’ll bet there won’t be any not calling the legislature into session to take up a veto now! That’s an example as to why the Republicans got booted. They didn’t call a special session to take up his veto’s because they knew that one of them could have been possibly overturned. Not calling them in to take up a veto…….that still upsets me…..who did they think they were!
“I ran for office and now I’m running for speaker of the House because I believe so strongly in work to improve people’s lives on a much larger scale,” Eves said.
He’s going to improve your life, by his definitions, whether you want him to or not. I’m glad I’m not one of the sheep that needs fools like this to look after them.
Better that than looking after corporate interests that do not benefit Main Street in Maine.
Are you a small business owner? I am, I don’t agree with your statement at all. Maine Small Business has been carrying our welfare folks around on our backs for years. We are one of the highest taxed states in the nation and OUR STATE GOVERNMENT got us there. The last 2 years we were making progress for the hard working small business owners and trying to attract more good paying jobs: small business and corporate jobs. It appears Maine voters just couldn’t handle the change for people who wanted to succeed in business, while we were just starting to dig ourselves out of the economic hole the Democrats dug for us the last 40 years. Yes, 40 years of Democrats controlling our State Government is the problem; due to their generous welfare policies that surpassed Federal Welfare policies and excessive business regulations that also surpassed Federal business regulations that is how they crushed job creators in our State. I want my kids to be able to get a good paying job in Maine and not have to leave to other States where State Government welcomes job creators (Small Business and Corporate) and it’s ok to make a profit and succeed!
As a small business owner, if you are paying your employees a living wage then you are part of the answer, but you are griping at the wrong people. It is the other small and large business owners who are forcing people on to the rolls. 40 hours a week at minimum wage doesn’t even cover child care for people to be able to go to their minimum wage jobs. You want people off the welfare rolls? Then pay a living wage and work to get other businesses to pay it too.
You do realize that the taxpayers subsidize many businesses that do not pay a living wage don’t you? The top employers in Maine according to a 2005 report on ‘welfare’ recipients lists Walmart and Hannaford. So even if a ‘welfare’ worker cobbles together 40 hours per week they still qualify for public assistance. What regulations would you like to see changed that would not impact workers negatively? Make your case. If it holds up to scrutiny I will support you.
Too bad I like Terry Hayes but I am okay with NE1 but a proven swindler…….. he who should be in jail Nutting.
This is awesome. Now we can get back to being the welfare state we once was. Freebies for everyone! yay!
What an nonfactual statement to make. More lies and distortions. You are limited to 60 months of assistance in your lifetime. Most of us never use it. There is more corporate welfare than social welfare. This lays it out pretty nicely: http://thinkbynumbers.org/government-spending/corporate-welfare/corporate-welfare-statistics-vs-social-welfare-statistics/
Thanks for the info!
Bye Bye Charlie Summers and Brucie Poliquin.
Yessah
The Democrats will destroy this State!!
Will destroy? sadly they have.
Dysfunctional people voting the safe status quo dependent on government way of life, while voting down independence, self reliance way of life. My ancestors left Europe, for a chance to get out from under the dictates of the King and have a chance to succeed in a free world.