March 28, 2024
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Bangor official quits to take Baldacci post Holden man to be governor’s spokesman

BANGOR – The city’s intergovernmental affairs coordinator has tendered his resignation, effective Jan. 1, to take a full-time post as Gov.-elect John Baldacci’s spokesman.

Lee Umphrey, a Holden resident, has been on unpaid leave from the city since he accepted one of the top three posts on Baldacci’s transition team after the Nov. 5 gubernatorial election.

Umphrey could not be reached for comment Monday.

The city has not yet determined if or when Umphrey’s position will be refilled, City Manager Edward Barrett said Monday. State budget issues expected to adversely affect the city’s finances could be a factor in that decision, Barrett said.

“We’re very pleased with the work Lee did for us over the past three years,” Barrett said Monday.

According to Barrett, Umphrey was instrumental in improving relations with members of Maine’s congressional delegation, which among other things helped bring home federal funding for the city’s waterfront redevelopment initiative and for the runway reconstruction project at Bangor International Airport.

Barrett said Umphrey also served the community as chairman of the Region III Adult Mental Health Task Force Implementation Group, a panel charged with developing recommendations to redesign existing mental health services and reallocate existing funding in ways that maximize effectiveness.

The city created the intergovernmental affairs position in late 1999 in recognition of the need for close working relationships between the city, state and federal government.

A major portion of Umphrey’s work involved efforts to ensure that Bangor had access to both programs and financial support from other governmental agencies.

Umphrey, first to occupy the post, initially earned a salary of $51,876. Barrett said Umphrey was earning nearly $60,000 a year when he resigned last week.

Barrett said Bangor officials looked forward to continuing to work with Umphrey in his new state capacity, which also is expected to include media and constituent services and intergovernmental affairs.

Before joining the city’s staff, Umphrey was a political consultant to the Maine Newspaper Group, a consortium of Maine’s seven daily newspapers. His role involved creating statewide advocacy and advertising strategies to increase public awareness of political candidates and major public issues and opportunities.

Umphrey also was director of community and governmental relations for the Training and Development Corp.

Umphrey began his career in Washington, D.C., working first as a researcher for the Congressional Research Office and the Library of Congress, and later as office manager and legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, D-R.I.


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