Former Maine House Speaker to join executive branch as senior advisor
Photo / Jim Neuger
Ryan Fecteau will serve as a senior advisor for community development and strategic development in the Governor's Office of Policy innovation and the Future.
Ryan Fecteau, the former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and a Mainebiz 40 under 40 honoree in 2022, has been appointed to a senior advisory role in Maine's state government.
In related news, Elizabeth Gattine was appointed coordinator of the Governor's Cabinet on Aging.
Fecteau, a 30-year-old Democrat, previously represented Biddeford in Maine's House of Representatives.
Fecteau will serve as a senior advisor for community development and strategic initiatives in the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, which is led by Hannah Pingree.
“From developing landmark legislation to alleviate Maine’s housing crunch to his efforts to strengthen the child care sector that working families rely on, Ryan Fecteau has led the way on addressing the biggest challenges confronting Maine families and communities.” Gov. Janet Mills said in Tuesday's announcement. “I’m thrilled to welcome Ryan to my administration to strengthen our work to make Maine the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
In his new role, Fecteau will work on developing innovative policy solutions in areas such as housing development and land use, as well as workforce, innovation and economic opportunities.
As Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives from 2020 to 2022, Fecteau sponsored significant housing and community development legislation, including the single largest affordable housing investment in Maine’s history, the Maine Affordable Housing Tax Credit. He also sponsored comprehensive legislation enacted in 2022 to advance affordable housing and housing-friendly zoning and land use regulations.
He also spearheaded legislation that invested in career and technical education, implemented a permanent child care worker wage stipend, and expanded dental coverage to more than 200,000 Maine people.
Fecteau said he is grateful for the opportunity to build upon successes in the state Legislature "in order to secure healthy and prosperous futures for hard-working Mainers and their children.”
Noting that housing and workforce are significant issues facing Maine communities, Pingree said, "We are proud to have him join our office and contribute his skills and talent on policy solutions to address our state's housing and workforce challenges and opportunities."
Gattine appointed
Mills on Tuesday also announced Elizabeth Gattine is the new coordinator of the Cabinet on Aging, which is led by the Commissioners of Health and Human Services and Labor and housed within the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.
Gattine is a Westbrook-based expert in policy and programming for older adults at the national, state and local levels.
She previously worked as a senior policy associate specializing in disability and aging issues at the Catherine Cutler Institute, part of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.
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