Mike Michaud
Michael Herman Michaud (/mɛʃuː/ me-SHOO;[1] born January 18, 1955) is an American businessman and politician from Maine. Michaud served as the U.S. representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The primarily rural district comprises nearly 80% of the state by area and includes the cities of Lewiston, Auburn, Bangor, Presque Isle, and Ellsworth. It is the largest Congressional district by area east of the Mississippi River.
Mike Michaud
Stephen Stanley
Walter Birt
Harry Bailey
Michaud was previously President of the Maine Senate. He was employed for over two decades at the Great Northern Paper Company and remains a member of the United Steelworkers. He was one of the few members of Congress during his tenure who did not attend college.[2] He did, however, attend the John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University.[2][3] He has also been awarded honorary Doctor of Public Service degrees from Maine's Unity College, Husson College, and Maine Maritime Academy.[2][3]
Michaud, who speaks a little French, is the first openly Franco-American to be elected to a U.S. federal office from Maine.[2][4][5][6] He was elected as a co-chair of the congressional French Caucus in January 2011.[5]
Michaud was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Maine in the 2014 election.[7] While initially considered a favorite by some analysts on account of the general unpopularity of incumbent Paul LePage, he lost by a margin larger than expected. He currently holds a seat on the East Millinocket Board of Selectmen.
Early life[edit]
Michaud was born in Millinocket, Maine, the son of Geneva Jean (née Morrow) and James Michaud, Sr. His parents were both of French-Canadian descent.[8] He grew up in Medway, Maine, and is a graduate of Schenck High School in East Millinocket.
Post-election activities[edit]
The United States Department of Labor announced on July 30, 2015, that President Barack Obama nominated Michaud to a department position dealing with training and employment of veterans.[33]
Michaud served as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training from December 2, 2015, to January 20, 2017. As the head of the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Michaud reported to Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. VETS serves as the focal point in the federal government for veterans' employment by preparing military service members for transition to civilian employment, providing veterans with services to assist them in getting good jobs, protecting veterans' employment rights, and promoting veterans' employment in the private sector.[34]
In 2018, he was elected to the Board of Selectmen in East Millinocket, his hometown.[35]
On March 28, 2019, Michaud was nominated by Gov. Janet Mills to serve as a trustee on both the board of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System.[36]
Michaud endorsed Michael Bloomberg as a nominee for President of the United States in the 2020 Maine Democratic primary.[37]
Personal life[edit]
Michaud came out as gay in an editorial released to the Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, and the Associated Press on November 4, 2013; however he stated that he has never had a romantic partner.[38][39] He is the first openly LGBT congressman to serve the state of Maine; he was one of seven then-current members of the United States House of Representatives to be openly LGBT, and one of eight in either house of Congress. If he had been elected Governor, he would have become the first openly gay Governor in the United States at the time of his election (Gov. Jim McGreevey of New Jersey came out after he had taken office). Michaud served as a Grand Marshal for the 2014 Portland Pride Parade on June 21.[40]