Maine State Treasurer Explained

Post:Maine State Treasurer
Incumbent:Henry Beck
Incumbentsince:January 2, 2019
Preceded By:Neria Douglass
Termlength:Two years, renewable four times
Formation:March 15, 1820
Inaugural:Joseph C. Boyd
Website:Maine State Treasurer website

The Maine State Treasurer is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of Maine.

The office is authorized by Article V, Part Third of the Maine Constitution. The Treasurer is chosen by the Maine Legislature in joint session for a two-year term; the officeholder can serve no more than four consecutive terms. Responsibilities of the Treasurer's Office include providing financial services for all state agencies, issuing bonds and managing the State's debt, as well as holding unclaimed property and working to return it to its rightful owners. The Treasurer is also an ex officio member of several state boards and agencies.

Governor Paul LePage proposed in 2015 to change the selection process to a gubernatorial appointment that would be confirmed by the Legislature.[1] In 2023, state Republicans called for the State Treasurer to be elected by popular vote.[2] Neither change passed and the State Treasurer continues to be selected by the Legislature.

List of State Treasurers

TenureImageState TreasurerPartyHometownNotes
1820–1822Joseph C. BoydPortland
1823–1827Elias ThomasPortland
1828Mark HarrisDemocratic-RepublicanPortlandU.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district (1822–1823)
1829–1830Elias ThomasPortland
1831A. B. ThompsonBrunswick
1832–1834Mark HarrisDemocratic-RepublicanPortlandU.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district (1822–1823)
1835–1837Asa Redington, Jr.Augusta
1838James B. CahoonWhig (later Democratic)Portland
1839Jeremiah GoodwinDemocraticAlfred
1840Daniel WilliamsAugusta
1841Sanford KingsburyKingsbury Plantation
1842–1846James WhiteDemocraticBelfast
1847–1849Moses MacdonaldDemocraticLimerick
1850–1854Samuel ConyRepublicanAugusta
1855Woodbury DavisRepublicanBelfast
1856Isaac ReedDemocraticWaldoboro
1857–1859Benjamin D. PeckPortland
1860–1864Nathan DameAlfred
1865–1868N.G. HitchbornStockton Springs
1869–1873William CaldwellAugusta
1874–1876Silas C. HatchBangor
1877–1878Esreff H. BanksRepublicanBiddeford
1879Charles WhiteDemocraticGardiner
1880–1884Samual A. HolbrookRepublicanAugusta
1885–1887Edwin C. BurleighRepublicanBangor42nd Governor of Maine (1889–1893)
U.S. Representative for Maine's 3rd congressional district (1897–1911)
U.S. Senator from Maine (1913–1916)
1888–1894George L. BealRepublicanNorwayUnion Army General
1895–1900F. Marion SimpsonRepublicanCarmel
1901–1906Ormandal SmithRepublicanLitchfield
1907–1910Pascal P. GilmoreRepublicanBucksport
1911–1912James F. SingletonBangor
1913–1914Joseph W. SimpsonRepublicanYork
1915–1916Elmer E. NewbertDemocraticAugusta
1917–1920Joseph W. SimpsonRepublicanYork
1921–1926William L. BonneyRepublicanBowdoinham
1927–1932William S. OwenRepublicanMilo
1933–1936George S. FosterEllsworth
1937–1942Belmont SmithRepublicanBangor
1943–1946Joseph H. McGillicuddyRepublicanHoulton
1947–1964Frank S. CarpenterRepublicanAugusta
1965–1966Eben L. ElwellDemocraticAugusta
1967–1968Michael A. NapolitanoRepublicanAugusta
1969–1974Norman K. FergusonRepublicanHanover
1975Rodney L. ScribnerDemocraticAugusta
1976–1978H. Leighton Cooney, Jr.DemocraticAugusta
1979–1980Jerrold SpeersRepublicanWinthrop
1981–1996Samuel ShapiroDemocraticWaterville
1997–2004Dale McCormickDemocraticMonmouth
2005–2010David LemoineDemocraticSaco
2011–2012Bruce PoliquinRepublicanGeorgetownU.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district (2015–2019)
2013–2015Neria DouglassDemocraticAuburn
2015–2019Terry HayesIndependentBuckfield
2019–presentHenry BeckDemocraticWatervile

References and external links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LePage sheds light on plan to strip Legislature of power to elect attorney general, treasurer. Bangor Daily News. 2015-01-23 . 2015-02-07.
  2. Web site: GOP pushes to have Mainers elect the attorney general, other top posts . 2024-02-19 . spectrumlocalnews.com . en.