Rep. Cleary assigned to legislative committees

    AUGUSTA – Rep. Richard Cleary, D-Houlton, has been appointed to two legislative committees for the 124th Legislature. He will continue serving on the Business Research and Economic Development Committee (BRED) and will also be a member of the Judiciary Committee.
     “I am very pleased to see Rep. Cleary re-assigned to BRED for his second term,” said House Chairwoman Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth. “Richard will continue to play a vital role on the committee.  Our work has benefited from his intelligence and good humor, his background as an attorney, and his commitment to the people in his district.”
     As lead House Democrat on the committee, Cleary will serve as House Chair when Smith is unable to be present.  Cleary said that he is pleased to be serving on BRED again and looks forward to the opportunities it provides to assist the people of his district. 
     “I was approached by a number of individuals interested in economic development in the southern Aroostook area as well as representatives from Maine State Housing, FAME and the Department of Economic and Community Development, and they all encouraged me to remain on the committee,” said Cleary.
     Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree recently appointed members of the Maine House of Representatives to joint standing committees based on their personal areas of expertise. Cleary is an attorney in Houlton, and has been a member of the Maine bar since 1993, a member of the federal bar since 1994 and one of only five U.S. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees in Maine.
     “I am pleased to be appointed to the Judiciary Committee,” said Cleary. “With so many House members, it is difficult to obtain assignment to two committees and I appreciate the confidence Speaker Pingree has shown in me. I’m looking forward to working with Chairman Priest and my fellow committee members to assist the Judicial branch navigate the budget crisis and continue our work with other legislation relating to the justice system in our state.”
     Last year Cleary wrote two pieces of legislation which are now law, including a bill that aids distressed limited liability companies as well as legislation that allows judges to order community service in lieu of fines when defendants are unable to pay.  Both pieces of legislation represent cost savings to the taxpayer.
     Cleary is serving his second term in the House, representing Amity, Hodgdon, Houlton, Orient and Cary Plantation.