Maine House Democrats elect nation's youngest speaker.
Rep. Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford has been nominated by majority Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives to serve as the next speaker of the House.
Fecteau, 28, who will start his fourth consecutive term in December, was nominated on the first single ballot as the caucus voted in the House chamber Thursday. Also running for the post was Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham.
The House speaker’s role is a powerful one, because the speaker controls the flow of action on the floor, sets the agenda and can have sway over which bills are brought to a vote or not. The speaker also appoints members to standing committees and can play an important role in recruiting candidates or helping them with their campaigns when the Legislature is not in session. The speaker is also often a key player in state budget negotiations between the Legislature and the governor’s office and is third in the line of succession for that office behind the state Senate president.
Fecteau said he was humbled to receive the nomination from his Democratic peers, and he pledged to work to unite Republicans and Democrats if he is elected when lawmakers first meet in December. He would replace outgoing House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, who last week lost her bid for the U.S. Senate to incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/12/democrats-nominate-fecteau-as-next-house-speaker-for-maine/
