Augusta, MAINE – Governor-elect Janet Mills announced today a series of staff appointments to her office. The Governor-elect has hired Elise Baldacci and Bethany Beausang to serve as policy advisors, Dorian Cole and Martha Currier to work on constituent services, Michael Perry to serve as Special Assistant in charge of scheduling, and Melissa A. O’Neal to serve as Director of Boards and Commissions.
“I am excited to welcome such talented and dedicated people to my office,” said Governor-elect Mills. “The people of Maine will be well-served by their vast experiences, their depth of knowledge, and their commitment to service. I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”
Martha Currier, Director of Constituent Casework: Currier, 40, most recently served as the Complaint Examiner for the Consumer Information and Mediation Service in the Consumer Protection Division of the Maine Office of the Attorney General, a position in which she helped Maine people resolve their problems. She also previously served as the Legislative Liaison for the Office of Attorney General; was a Legislative Aide in the Maine State Senate; was self-employed as a non-attorney representative for Social Security Disability claimants; and worked as a communications assistant at a non-profit in Washington, D.C. Currier received a B.A. from the University of Southern Maine. She resides in Jefferson with her fiancé, Max Ross, and her three children. As Director of Constituent Casework, Currier will be responsible for helping ensure that state government is responsive to the needs of Maine people by acting as a liaison with them and state government and helping to answer questions, find resources, or resolve problems.
Dorian Cole, Director of Constituent Correspondence: Cole, 39, worked for Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) from 2012 to 2018 as a Legislative Correspondent managing her constituent services program and, most recently, she worked as an Account Executive at Mach3Media. Dorian earned a B.A. from the University of Maine at Orono and lives in South Portland with her husband, Nick Morrill. As Director of Constituent Correspondence, Cole will be responsible for responding to correspondence sent to Governor Mills by Maine people on policy issues.
Michael Perry, Special Assistant to the Governor and Chief of Staff: Perry, 32, currently serves as the Scheduler for Governor-elect Mills’ transition. Prior to that, he served on the Finance Team on her gubernatorial election campaign and worked on Lucas St. Clair’s Congressional campaign. He has also served as an instructor at the University of Maine at Orono, Eastern Maine Community College, and Husson University teaching courses on history, communications, and Maine Studies. He earned a B.A. from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and an M.A. from the University of Maine at Orono. He lives in Bangor with his two daughters, Lucy and Clara. As Special Assistant to the Governor and Chief of Staff, Perry will be responsible for scheduling and other related duties.
Melissa A. O’Neal, Director of Boards and Commissions: O’Neal, 46, has served as the Executive Assistant to Attorney General Janet Mills for the past two years. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Development and Outreach for the Land Conservation Assistance Network in Falmouth and was a Special Projects Coordinator for the Energy and Telecommunications Department at the law firm of Preti Flaherty. She was also an Office Coordinator and Legal Assistant at Pierce Atwood. O’Neal attended the University of Southern Maine Paralegal Studies Degree Program and holds a Certificate in Project Management from the University of New Hampshire. She lives in Manchester with her three children, Max, Maggie, and Cora. As Director of Boards and Commissions, O’Neal will be responsible for the oversight of Governor Mills’ appointments to boards and commissions throughout the state.
Elise Baldacci, Senior Policy Advisor: Baldacci, 31, served as the Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Maine Credit Union League where she serves as the face for Maine credit unions in Augusta and Washington. Previous to her work at the League, Baldacci worked for Maine Street Solutions and advocated for state and national clients in Augusta. She earned a B.A. from the University of Maine at Orono and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. She lives in South Portland with her husband, Devin Deane, two sons, Tate and Otis, and dog, Nola.
Bethany Beausang, Senior Policy Advisor: Beausang, 47, served as a District Representative and Counsel to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) from 2011 through 2018 focused on issues related economic development, small business, budget, taxes, and health care. Prior to that, she practiced law in the Health Care and Legislative Practice Groups at Preti Flaherty. She began her career working in the Washington office of U.S. Senator William Cohen (R-Maine) and then spent a number of years working on the staff of Congressman Tom Allen (D-Maine), including as Senior Legislative Assistant for health care issues. She earned a B.A. from the University of Maine at Orono and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. She lives in South Portland with her husband, John Gosselin and their daughter, Lily.
As Senior Policy Advisors, Baldacci and Beausang will be responsible for overseeing a portfolio of legislative issues, advising Governor Mills on those issues, and serving as liaisons to the Legislature.
Additional staff will be named in the coming week. Baldacci, Beausang, Cole, Currier, Perry, and O’Neal will all report to Chief of Staff Jeremy Kennedy and join Kennedy, Communications Director Scott Ogden, and Press Secretary Lindsay Crete on staff.