Republican lawmaker to step down today

AUGUSTA – Republican state Rep. Philip Cressey, who has been under pressure to resign because of questions about his poor attendance record and residence, told leaders he will step down effective Tuesday.

Facing a possible ethics investigation, Cressey informed House Speaker Glenn Cummings of his decision in a letter Monday.

Cressey, of Cornish, has been serving as interim pastor in a Rowley, Mass., church, and legislative records show he was present for only about 16 percent of the roll-call votes during this year’s session.

While Cressey maintains a home in Maine, he acknowledged to Cummings that he lives for part of the week out of state.

Nonetheless, he hadn’t planned on leaving early. “I had hoped to continue in the Legislature through my eighth and final year of service,” he wrote.

Cummings, D-Portland, expressed disapproval of Cressey’s residency and attendance and said he was prepared to ask the House Ethics Committee to look into the matter.