Baldacci nominates 4 directors for Dirigo

AUGUSTA – Gov. John E. Baldacci has announced his nomination of four new members to the board of directors of the Dirigo Health Agency. The nominations must be reviewed by the members of the Legislature’s Insurance and Financial Services Committee and confirmed by the Senate. A confirmation session of the Senate has been scheduled for Aug. 20.

The governor has named Sara Gagne-Holmes, Marianne Ringel, Judy Foss and Joseph Bruno to serve on the Dirigo board.

Gagne-Holmes of Augusta, nominated by Senate President Beth Edmunds, now serves as executive director of Maine Equal Justice Partners. Previously she served two years at the Office of the Governor, including providing policy and legal expertise specific to the Dirigo Health Agency. Gagne-Holmes earned her undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.

Marianne Ringel of Gardiner, nominated by House Speaker Glenn Cummings, is employed as a program specialist with Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. Previously, she served as a special assistant to the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance and as a policy director and acting deputy director of the MaineCare Program. Ringel received a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Judy Foss of Yarmouth was nominated by Senate Minority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell. She is a retired consultant, having worked for six years with Stafford Business Advisors. She served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1984 to 1994, and as chief of staff to the president of the Maine Senate from 1995 to 1996. Foss is a graduate of Wellesley College.

Joe Bruno of Raymond, nominated by House Minority Leader Joshua Tardy, serves as vice president of The Waldron Group of Falmouth. He is also the founder, president and CEO of the Augusta-based Community Pharmacies. Bruno ran Goold Health Systems Data Management from 1995 to 2004. He served five terms in the Maine House of Representatives, from 1999 to 2004 as the Republican leader. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University and a master’s from the University of Southern Maine.

The composition and structure of the Dirigo Health Agency board was amended last year by the Legislature. The legislation added four additional voting members, appointed by the governor but selected from candidates nominated for designated seats by the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House, the Senate minority leader and the House minority leader.