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| Carol McElwee |
AUGUSTA — State Representative Carol McElwee, R-Caribou, was present for 100 percent of 456 roll call votes taken on bills in the Maine House of Representatives during her first session in Augusta, according to data released by the House Clerk’s Office. The first regular session of the 126th Legislature lasted from Dec. 5, 2012 through July 5, 2013.
“Being asked to serve in Augusta was a great honor,” said McElwee, who was one of 10 state representatives to achieve a perfect voting record. The state House of Representatives consists of 151 members total.
Only three of McElwee’s House colleagues live farther away in terms of mileage from the State Capitol.
“I found myself looking forward to getting in my car for the long drive south to represent The County,” McElwee admitted.
Maine House District 4 is comprised of McElwee’s hometown of Caribou. A lifelong resident, McElwee taught English for 35 years, including 27 years at Caribou High School. She currently works at an adult education center in Caribou. A superior athlete, McElwee has run six marathons, including New York and Boston.
McElwee was appointed to serve on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee for her freshman term. Her committee is responsible for the oversight of, and bills related to, the Department of Health and Human Services, the state welfare agency that compromises almost half of the state budget.
“It was a busy session and I’m glad to have been at the forefront of debates concerning the health of Maine people,” McElwee said. “I tried to look at each issue on its own merit regardless of where each party stood on it.”
McElwee is featured in a Maine Public Broadcasting Network two-part series on the experiences of first-time lawmakers.
“I have two booklets, just from Health and Human Services, of acronyms. So I have some studying to do also this summer,” McElwee joked in the series.
