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| Shawn Moody | |
|---|---|
| Name | Shawn Moody |
| Office | Commissioner of Economic and Community Development of Maine |
| Term start | 2021 |
| Term end | 2024 |
| Predecessor | Heather Johnson |
| Birth place | Orono, Maine |
| Party | Republican Party |
| Occupation | Businessman, politician, attorney |
Shawn Moody Shawn Moody is an American businessperson and politician from Maine who served as Commissioner of Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and was the Republican nominee in the 2018 Maine gubernatorial election. A native of Orono, Maine, he gained prominence as the founder of a regional home improvement and retail chain before entering statewide politics and serving in the administration of Governor Paul LePage's successors. Moody's career spans law, retail industry entrepreneurship, and state-level economic policy.
Born and raised in Orono, Maine, Moody attended public schools in the Penobscot County area and later matriculated at University of Maine. He earned a degree in business-related studies before attending University of Maine School of Law, where he completed his Juris Doctor and became a member of the Maine Bar Association. During his formative years he was influenced by regional small business networks and local civic institutions in Bangor, Maine and surrounding communities.
Moody founded and expanded a chain of home improvement and retail stores based in Patten, Maine that became a recognizable regional brand across Northern Maine and parts of New England. His company engaged with suppliers, contractors, and logistics partners tied to markets in Portland, Maine, Augusta, Maine, and Lewiston, Maine while competing with national chains such as The Home Depot and Lowe's Companies, Inc.. Moody's business operations involved franchise-style management, local hiring practices, and participation in trade associations active in Bangor and statewide chambers like the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. As an employer he navigated state regulatory environments and engaged with Small Business Administration programs and development initiatives.
Moody entered partisan politics as a member of the Republican Party and emerged as a conservative voice on fiscal and regulatory issues in Maine. He campaigned on platforms emphasizing tax relief, deregulation, and support for small business development while interacting with statewide political actors including Paul LePage, Susan Collins, and Angus King. His political network extended to state legislators in the Maine Legislature, local mayors in municipalities like Bangor and Presque Isle, and policy groups active in the region. Moody's candidacy and appointments drew commentary from media outlets in Portland, Maine and statewide political analysts.
In the 2018 Maine gubernatorial election, Moody secured the Republican nomination and faced a competitive general election featuring prominent figures such as Janet Mills and independent candidates with established profiles. His 2018 platform emphasized workforce development, lowering taxes, and streamlining permitting processes, positioning him against policy proposals from the Maine Democratic Party and the incumbent policy environment shaped under Paul LePage. Moody again pursued the governorship in 2022, participating in primary activities, campaign events in cities like Portland, Maine and Bangor, and debates against rivals within the Republican field. Both campaigns mobilized volunteers, local party committees, and interest groups active in statewide politics.
Appointed to lead the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Moody oversaw initiatives tied to business attraction, workforce training, and community revitalization, coordinating with entities such as the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Development Foundation, and regional economic development organizations in Aroostook County, Maine and Cumberland County, Maine. His tenure involved negotiating incentives for manufacturing projects, engaging with utility providers and transportation stakeholders including Maine Department of Transportation, and promoting sectors like tourism tied to destinations such as Acadia National Park and coastal communities. Moody's administration worked on federal-state partnerships involving agencies like the United States Department of Commerce and leveraged programs from the Economic Development Administration to support rural and urban development projects.
Moody resides in Maine and has been involved with civic and charitable organizations, regional business coalitions, and alumni networks associated with the University of Maine and University of Maine School of Law. He has participated in events hosted by local service clubs and trade associations in communities such as Bangor and Houlton. Politically, he remains associated with the Republican Party and maintains relationships with elected officials across the state.
Category:People from Orono, Maine Category:Businesspeople from Maine Category:Maine Republicans Category:University of Maine alumni Category:Living people