Bowen LePage's education pick
As expected, Gov. Paul LePage has nominated his senior policy adviser Stephen Bowen as commissioner of the Department of Education, a choice that some officials are questioning.
Word spread earlier this month that Bowen was under consideration for the post, but it was not confirmed. Bowen, a former middle and high school teacher, has directed the Maine Heritage Policy Center's education program since 2007, and initially turned down the job when LePage approached him in December, according to the Bangor Daily News. Since then, however, Bowen said he "[grew] more enthusiastic by the day about the opportunities for education reform we have in Maine."
However, the state Board of Education, which interviewed Bowen last week as is required under Maine law, said he has "very limited administrative experience and qualifications" and little knowledge of educational regulations. House Minority Leader Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, said she hopes Bowen would not focus on MHPC's political rhetoric, which she described as "notorious for manipulating and misrepresenting information to support a right-wing political agenda," according to the paper.
Bowen's nomination still requires legislative approval.
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