| Barry Hobbins | |
| Office: | Public Advocate of Maine |
| Term Start: | May 2017[1] |
| Predecessor: | Timothy Schnieder[2] [3] |
| Appointer: | Paul R. LePage |
| State House1: | Maine |
| District1: | 133rd |
| Term Start1: | December 5, 2012 |
| Term End1: | December 3, 2016 |
| Preceded1: | Donald Pilon |
| Successor1: | Ralph Chapman |
| State Senate2: | Maine |
| District2: | 5th |
| Term Start2: | December 1, 2004 |
| Term End2: | December 5, 2012 |
| Preceded2: | Dennis Damon |
| Succeeded2: | Linda Valentino |
| State Senate3: | Maine |
| District3: | 31st |
| Term Start3: | December 7, 1988 |
| Term End3: | December 5, 1990 |
| Predecessor3: | John M. Kerry[4] |
| Successor3: | Charles E. Summers[5] |
| State House4: | Maine |
| District4: | 119th |
| Term Start4: | 1972 |
| Term End4: | December 5, 1984 |
| Successor4: | John N. Diamond[6] |
| Birth Date: | 17 May 1951 |
| Birth Place: | Biddeford, Maine, U.S.[7] |
| Residence: | Saco, Maine, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Occupation: | lawyer |
| Education: | University of Maine (BA) University of New Hampshire (JD) |
| Spouse: | Donna Hobbins |
| Website: | Barry Hobbins |
Barry J. Hobbins (born May 17, 1951) is an American lawyer, politician and is the current Public Advocate of Maine. A Democrat, he served in the Maine House of Representatives, representing part of Saco. As a State Senator, he represented several towns in York County, including Buxton, Dayton, Old Orchard Beach as well as Saco.
His election to the Maine House in 2012 came after serving for 8 consecutive years in the Maine Senate (2004-2012). From 2010 to 2012, Hobbins served as the Minority Leader of the Maine Senate.[8]
Hobbins is a practicing attorney and law-firm partner in Saco. From 1988 to 2007, Hobbins served on the University of New England Board of Trustees.
Hobbins was first elected to the 106th legislature in 1972 at the age of 21. In 1973, he earned a BA from the University of Maine and, in 1977, a JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center. Hobbins was elected as a State Senator in 2004 and began his third term in 2010.[9]
As an attorney, Hobbins served as chair of the Judiciary Committee in the State Senate and a member of the Utility and Energy Committee.[10]
In April 2017, Hobbins was nominated by Gov. Paul LePage to serve as the State of Maine's next utility ratepayer advocate.[11]