Succeeded by Ethan Strimling Succeeded by Redistricted Party Democratic Party Preceded by Joel Abromson Spouse Joan Martay | Succeeded by Joseph Brannigan Role Mayor of Portland Preceded by Redistricted Name Michael Brennan | |
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Preceded by Nicholas Mavodones, Jr. Office Mayor of Portland since 2011 Education University of Southern Maine, University of New England, Florida State University Children Ryan Brennan, Travis Brennan | ||
Michael F. Brennan (born 1953) is a Maine politician and professor who formerly served as the 87th Mayor of Portland, Maine. Brennan, a Democrat, served as State Senator from 2002-2006 and Senate Majority Leader and a 2008 Democratic candidate for Maine's 1st congressional district. On May 15, 2011 Brennan announced his candidacy in the Portland, Maine mayoral election. On November 9, Brennan won the 15-candidate contest and became the first directly-elected mayor of Portland since 1923.
Contents
- Early life education and academic career
- Elections
- Committee assignments
- Mayor of Portland
- Personal life
- Electoral history
- References
Early life, education, and academic career
Brennan earned his BS in Education from Florida State University, his MA in Public Policy from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, his MSW from the University of New England and has completed the Senior Executive Program in State and Local Government at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Michael is a licensed clinical social worker and worked as a policy associate at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine where he directed projects related to child welfare, substance abuse, mental health and public policy. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New England and served as Co-Chair on the National Board of Advisors of Casey Family Services. Brennan has also worked as an affordable housing developer and, in the 1970s was an anti-nuclear activist with the Clamshell Alliance.
Elections
Brennan represented part of Portland in the Maine House of Representatives from 1992 to 2000 and in the Maine Senate from 2002 to 2006.
In 1992, he was elected to Maine's 37th House District. In 1994, he won re-election to a second term with 70%. In 1996, he won re-election to a third term with 75%. In 1998, he won re-election to a fourth term unopposed.
In January 2002, incumbent State Senator Joel Abromson died. A special election was held in March 2002, and he ran in the vacant 27th District and won with a plurality of 41%, defeating Republican Sally Vamvakias by just 10 votes. In the November 2002 election, he defeated her in a rematch 53%-40%. After redistricting, he decided to run in the newly redrawn Maine's 9th Senate District and won unopposed.
Committee assignments
He served as chair of the Education Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Health Care Reform. He served as Senate Majority Leader.
Mayor of Portland
As the Portland's top elected official, Brennan has implemented several initiatives designed to encourage economic development and job creation as well as support and strengthen the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Brennan represents the City of Portland's interests at both the State House in Augusta, Maine and in U.S. Congress where he advocates for the city, its residents and businesses.
On December 8, 2011, Brennan led his first city council meeting as mayor. The meeting featured a 4+ hour discussion on whether to allow OccupyMaine, which was part of the Occupy movement, to obtain a 6 month permit to use two-thirds of nearby Lincoln Park. Brennan and 7 other councilors voted against the permit, while West End City Councilor David Marshall was the lone supporter of the permit.
Upon the passage of Maine's same-sex marriage law, Mayor Brennan stated that he would look into the possibility of opening Portland City Hall at 12:01 AM on December 29, 2012, the day the law takes effect, to issue marriage licenses in order to have the first legal same-sex wedding in Maine occur in Portland. He also stated that he wanted to attend the first same-sex wedding in the City, whenever that might be.
Mayor Brennan announced on June 3, 2015 that he would seek reelection.
Personal life
Brennan lives in Portland with his wife, Joan Martay. They have two grown children, Travis and Ryan.