Citizen Legislature takes on a new shape

The newly elected Maine legislators who were sworn into office Wednesday come from a variety of backgrounds, with educators and lawyers among the most common.

Also in the mix are farmers and social workers, health care and paper workers, business owners, consultants, a banker and a librarian. Among the retirees in the legislative ranks are several former police officers.

Maine has a part-time, citizen legislature, so only a few members consider themselves to be full-time politicians. Both the House and Senate are controlled by Democratic majorities.

Of the 186 new legislators, 120 were born in Maine, and 44 of those in communities they are now representing.

The two longest-serving lawmakers are, in the House, Kennebunk Republican Rep. Thomas Murphy, who’s beginning his eighth term. In the Senate, Eagle Lake Democratic Sen. John Martin has the longest record of service, 18 terms in both chambers.

Maine’s term limits law restricts legislators to four consecutive terms in either chamber, but not the total number of terms they can serve. Murphy’s and Martin’s legislative service predates enactment of the term limits law.

Among the House members are 22 active or retired educators and school administrators, while the Senate total from that field is five.

The House has 10 lawyers among its ranks; the Senate has three.