Paul LePage
| Paul LePage | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 74th Governor of Maine | |
|
Assumed office January 5, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | John Baldacci |
| 50th Mayor of Waterville | |
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In office 2003–2011 |
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| Preceded by | Nelson Madore |
| Succeeded by | Dana Sennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paul Richard LePage October 9, 1948 Lewiston, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sharon Crabbe (1971–1980) Ann DeRosby (1984–present) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Blaine House |
| Education |
Husson University (BS) University of Maine, Orono (MBA) |
| Website | Government website |
Paul Richard LePage /ləˈpeɪdʒ/ (born October 9, 1948) is an American businessman and Republican Party politician who is currently the 74th Governor of Maine. Born in Lewiston, LePage grew up with seventeen siblings. After some initial difficulty entering college due to speaking French as his first language, he succeeded in obtaining a Bachelor of Science in business administration in finance and accounting from Husson College, later earning a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maine. LePage worked for a lumber company in New Brunswick, Canada, from 1972 to 1979 and then for Scott Paper in Winslow, Maine. He later founded the business consulting firm LePage & Kasevich Inc and in 1996, he became general manager of Marden's Surplus and Salvage, a Maine-based discount store chain.
LePage's political career began when he served two terms as a city councilor in Waterville, Maine, before being elected Mayor of Waterville in 2003, serving until 2011. During his eight year tenure as mayor LePage reorganized city hall, lowered taxes, and increased the city's rainy day fund balance from $1 million to $10 million. In 2009, while still mayor, LePage announced that he would run for Governor of Maine in the 2010 election. LePage defeated six other Republicans to win the party's nomination with 37.4% of the vote. He won the general election with another plurality, 37.6%, in a five-candidate race. He was re-elected with a stronger plurality, 48.2% of the vote, in a three-candidate election in 2014. During his tenure as the Governor of Maine, he has made extensive use of his veto power issuing 182 as of 2016, the record for any governor. He instituted the largest tax cut in the history of Maine, reformed the state's pension system, financed welfare debts for the medical community, and reduced state regulations on corporations. As governor he has made controversial remarks regarding abortion, the LGBTQ community, racial minorities, the death penalty, voting rights, campaign financing, the government and the environment that has sparked wide-spread national criticism including calls for impeachment.
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