Baldacci, John E. (John Elias), 1955-

John Elias Baldacci (born January 30, 1955) is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Maine's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 2003 and as the 73rd Governor of Maine from 2003 to 2011.

Born in Bangor, Maine, he worked in the family business, Mama Baldacci's restaurant, as a child. He graduated from Bangor High School and received a B.A. from the University of Maine at Orono. Baldacci was first elected to public office in 1978 at the age of 23, when he served on the Bangor City Council. He continued in politics, winning election to the Maine Senate in 1982 from a Bangor-area district. He was reelected two times, serving a total of 12 years. In 1994, following the retirement of his cousin, U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell, Baldacci won election to the U.S. House, replacing Olympia Snowe, who had moved on to Mitchell's open Senate seat. He served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation Committee and committed himself to acting in the best interest of his home state and the people who lived there.

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