Janet Mills

Janet Mills
Rebecca Hammel/U.S. Senate · Public domain · source
Name	Janet Mills
Birth date	September 30, 1947
Birth place	Farmington, Maine
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Office	75th Governor of Maine
Term start	January 2, 2019
Predecessor	Paul LePage
Party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Bates College; University of Maine School of Law

Janet Mills is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 75th Governor of Maine since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the Attorney General of Maine and as a district attorney in Cumberland County, Maine. Known for work on public safety, criminal justice, and healthcare, she has been a prominent figure in Maine politics and regional legal circles.

Early life and education

Born in Farmington, Maine, she is the daughter of a schoolteacher and a parent who worked in local business; her upbringing included time in Winthrop, Maine and Oakland, Maine. She attended Cony High School in Augusta, Maine before earning an undergraduate degree from Bates College, where she studied in a liberal arts curriculum and participated in campus civic activities linked to state public affairs. She later graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine, receiving a Juris Doctor and completing legal training that prepared her for prosecutorial and public-law roles in the state judiciary.

Legal career

She began her legal career as a law clerk and then entered public prosecution, serving as an assistant prosecutor in the office of the district attorney for Cumberland County, Maine. She was elected District Attorney of Cumberland County, Maine, overseeing criminal prosecutions and coordinating with municipal law enforcement including the Portland Police Department and county sheriffs. Later, she served in the office of the Attorney General of Maine, eventually being elected to that statewide office; in that capacity she engaged with issues involving the United States Department of Justice, state regulatory agencies, and regional legal associations. Her legal work involved coordination with federal prosecutors from the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maine and participation in task forces addressing issues such as drug enforcement, consumer protection, and child welfare.

Political career

Her entry into elected statewide office began with campaigns for Attorney General of Maine, where she won competitive elections and developed a statewide profile. As Attorney General she litigated cases before state courts and interfaced with the Maine Legislature on statutory implementation and legal opinions. She ran for governor in statewide primaries and general elections, competing against figures from Maine Republican Party leadership and independent candidates with whom she negotiated ballot and policy disputes. Her political network included relationships with leaders of the Democratic National Committee and advocacy organizations engaged in public-health and environmental policy debates in New England. She also participated in regional gubernatorial associations and advisory forums that included governors from neighboring states such as New Hampshire and Vermont.

Governorship of Maine

Upon inauguration in January 2019 she became the first woman elected Governor of Maine and the first woman to serve as governor of the state; her tenure followed the administration of Paul LePage. As governor she has worked with the Maine Legislature on biennial budgeting, tax policy, and state program administration. Her administration confronted crises including public-health emergencies that required coordination with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and federal entities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has issued executive actions concerning state staffing and procurement, and engaged with the judiciary on appointments to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and lower courts. Re-election efforts and campaign activity have involved the Maine Democratic Party and independent political groups active in the state's electoral politics.

Political positions and initiatives

Her policy agenda has emphasized expansion of access to healthcare through state-level measures that coordinate with the Affordable Care Act marketplace and Maine-specific healthcare providers. She has pursued initiatives aimed at addressing the opioid crisis by supporting treatment programs tied to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and state public-health networks. On climate and environmental issues she has supported proposals intersecting with the policies of the Environmental Protection Agency and regional climate compacts involving Northeastern United States states. Criminal-justice proposals during her administration have included reforms affecting prosecutorial practices and collaboration with law-enforcement organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and local police unions in Maine. Economic proposals have sought to influence state fiscal policy and workforce development in partnership with institutions like University of Maine System campuses and regional labor groups.

Personal life and honors

She resides in Augusta, Maine and is a member of local civic and professional organizations, having received honors from statewide associations recognizing public service and legal achievement. Awards and recognitions have come from bar associations such as the Maine State Bar Association and civic groups active in public safety and health. Her personal affiliations include membership in alumni networks of Bates College and the University of Maine School of Law, and participation in statewide charitable initiatives affiliated with healthcare providers and nonprofit organizations in New England.

Category:1947 births Category:Governors of Maine Category:People from Farmington, Maine Category:Living people