Geoffrey Gratwick Explained

Geoffrey Gratwick
State Senate:Maine
State:Maine
District:9th
Term Start:December 5, 2012
Term End:December 2, 2020
Preceded:Nichi Farnham
Succeeded:Joe Baldacci
Birth Date:16 July 1943
Birth Place:White Plains, New York
Spouse:Lucy
Children:2
Residence:Bangor, Maine
Profession:Retired Physician
Party:Democratic

Geoffrey Gratwick (born July 16, 1943) is an American politician and physician from Maine. Gratwick is a Democratic State Senator from Maine's 9th District, representing part of Penobscot County, including the City of Bangor and the neighboring town of Hermon. Prior to being elected to the Maine Senate, Gratwick served 9 years on the Bangor City Council.[1]

Biography

Geoff was born into a family of educators. His father was a high school principal, his mother a school librarian and all of his four brothers and sisters at one time or another have been teachers. He followed a different track and went to Harvard College, Cambridge University in England, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, and then New York Hospital/Cornell University for postgraduate medical training in rheumatology.[2] He practiced medicine in Bangor 1979-2015 and ran arthritis clinics from Waterville to Machias to Presque Isle and other places in between.

Geoff and his wife Lucy, a clinical psychologist and president of the Bangor Land Trust, have lived in Bangor since 1978. They have two adopted children and six grandchildren. Plus a number of chickens, sheep, geese, goats and other animals have joined them at one time or another on their small farm in Bangor. Geoff has continued to be active in athletics; he won national and European rowing championships while in college and a recent gold medal at the European championships (2016). He has been a board member of the Maine Humanities council and is a longtime member of the Bangor Rotary Club.

Legislative Accomplishments

In 2012, Geoff won a hotly contested race and beat an incumbent Republican to become State Senator. In the Legislature he has served on the Insurance and Financial Services Committee[3] (chair:[4] 2012- 2014), the Environmental and the Natural Resources Committee,[5] and Government Oversight Committee.[6] In 2017, he was appointed to the Opioid Task Force.[7] In late 2017, he was the driving force behind the formation of the Health Care Task Force[8] which has been charged with determining how to make health care in Maine universal, affordable, accessible and of high quality.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senator Geoffrey Gratwick Biography - Project Vote Smart. Project Vote Smart. 9 February 2013.
  2. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Vote Smart. en-US. 2018-04-30.
  3. Web site: Committee Information - Maine Legislature. legislature.maine.gov. 2018-04-30.
  4. News: Turns out there IS a doctor in the House. 2013-01-05. Press Herald. 2018-04-30. en-US.
  5. Web site: Committee Information - Maine Legislature. legislature.maine.gov. 2018-04-30.
  6. Web site: Committee Information - Maine Legislature. legislature.maine.gov. 2018-04-30.
  7. Web site: Opioid Task Force. www.maine.gov. 2018-04-30.
  8. Web site: Task Force on Health Care Coverage Maine State Legislature. legislature.maine.gov. en. 2018-04-30.