Abbott hopes to be strong leader for Maine

By Kathy McCarty  
Staff Writer
    Surrounded by family, friends and supporters, Steve Abbott announced his candidacy for governor on Jan. 12, during a series of campaign events across the state. Abbott, a Maine native who was raised in Orono, launched his campaign in Portland, followed by appearances in Orono and Presque Isle.
    During each session, Abbott was upbeat and optimistic about Maine’s future, while also direct and realistic about the challenges facing the state, including the current business climate. Abbott pledged to focus on long-term solutions and announced his “Maine Vision 2020” initiative.
    “If we’re really going to put Maine on a track to prosperity, we need our government to look beyond a two-year election cycle,” said Abbott. “We need to be willing to take steps that might not pay off right away but that will restructure our economy for the future.”
    Abbott has assembled a high-powered team to help highlight his campaign’s focus on structurally shifting and growing the Maine economy. Joining Abbott’s team are two of the state’s leading figures in business, Maine Bank and Trust CEO Sam Ladd, who will serve as campaign treasurer, and Cianbro Vice President Peter Cianchette, who will serve as campaign chairman.
    “We need a strong leader with vision and fresh ideas,” Cianchette said. “Steve is that leader. He understands that Maine’s future is in the hands of Mainers and that we’re ready to achieve great things. He’ll be a governor for all of Maine.”
    Abbott also rolled out a plan he calls Maine Vision 2020 — an effort to shape and direct long-term initiatives to put the state on a solid, growth-oriented footing by the time it celebrates its bicentennial in 2020.
    “We need to make sure that when we celebrate that bicentennial, we’re well on the way to ensuring that our state’s best days are always ahead of us, not behind us,” Abbott said.
    Abbott has recruited Cianbro Chairman Pete Vigue to chair that effort.
    “Pete already has been deeply involved with the kind of ideas that I believe will make Maine prosper —big ideas that are based on Maine ingenuity and common sense,” said the Republican candidate for governor.
    Vigue expressed great enthusiasm for Abbott’s campaign and his record of working for Maine people.
    “Anyone who knows Steve or has worked with him comes away with a positive impression. In the 12 years that he has worked with Sen. Susan Collins, he has gained invaluable experience and has developed many relationships at the federal level. He has a tremendous work ethic, superior intelligence and integrity,” said Vigue.
      Those qualities, according to Vigue, coupled with his knowledge of Maine and his proven commitment to the state’s people, will make him an excellent governor.
 For the past 12 years, Abbott has served as chief of staff to Collins. While supervising a congressional staff and managing teams in Washington and Maine, he has helped thousands of Maine businesses and people.
    Also on the Abbott for Governor team are Mert Henry, who will serve as honorary campaign chair, and Maine House Minority Leader Josh Tardy.
    Joining Abbott for the announcement in all three cities were his wife, Amy Allen Abbott, and their two children, Hannah and Henry.
     In Presque Isle, supporters packed the Northeastland Hotel banquet room to welcome him back to Aroostook, where he was introduced by Pat Collins, mother of Sen. Collins, a Caribou native.
    Abbott comes from a Maine family with roots that date back to the 1700s. He grew up in Orono and now resides in Portland with his wife and children, where he has coached many of his daughter’s sports teams. A 1981 graduate of Orono High School, Abbott went on to Harvard College where he majored in history. After graduating from Harvard, he graduated from the University of Maine School of Law in 1991.
    Prior to working with Sen. Collins, Abbott worked with Sen. Olympia Snowe and, after law school, practiced at Pierce Atwood, Maine’s largest law firm. He served as campaign manager for both of Collins’ successful re-election campaigns in 2002 and ‘08. He has been active in Maine Republican politics for more than 25 years.
    The Abbotts enjoy the woods and water and can frequently be found at the family hunting camp in Rumford or his wife’s family’s cottage in Surry. When not working, he enjoys hunting, fishing and camping in the Maine outdoors with his family and friends.
    “I love Maine — all its beauty and all its quirks. I love our diners, like Becky’s and Al’s (a Mars Hill landmark) and Dysart’s. I love our traditions like high school basketball tournaments. And complaining about mud season,” said Abbott.
    For more information on Abbott, visit: http://abbottforgovernor.com.