AUGUSTA – State Rep. Philip Cressey Jr. didn’t vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980 when he first was allowed to cast a ballot.

Now, the Cumberland County lawmaker wants to rename the Maine Turnpike in honor of the former president.

The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to refer Cressey’s bill, LD 278, to the Transportation Committee. It would rename the 100-mile Maine Turnpike the Ronald Reagan Highway.

Cressey of Baldwin said he doesn’t know of anything else in Maine named for the former president, and that it’s appropriate to honor Reagan by renaming the toll highway in his honor.

Cressey was a Democrat when he was first allowed to vote for a president in 1980, so Reagan didn’t get his support. But, like Reagan, he turned from Democrat to Republican.

Cressey said he doesn’t expect his bill to get very far, but wanted the satisfaction of introducing it.

Maine Turnpike spokesman Dan Paradee said the York-to-Augusta route already has an honorary name: The Gold Star Memorial Highway. The name refers to the stars given to mothers of soldiers who died in World War II.

The honorary name is visible on signs at the north and south ends of the turnpike.

“I’m sure the Legislature has the ability to change it,” said Paradee.