Ethan Strimling
Encyclopedia
Ethan King Strimling is a former Democratic
State Senator
from Maine
's 8th District. He served in the Maine State Senate from 2002 to 2009. He was replaced by Justin Alfond
. In July 2011, Strimling announced his candidacy for Mayor of Portland, Maine. He is Executive Director of LearningWorks, a West End
non-profit organization.
, and attended the Juilliard School
for Theater from 1985 to 1987. Later, he attended the University of Maine, Orono and received his B.A.
in History
. He then pursued a Masters in Education degree from Harvard University
, and received it in 1994.
After school, he went to Washington, D.C.
to work as a legislative aide for then-First District
Congressman
Tom Andrews
. He then came back to Maine to serve as State Senator Dale McCormick
's Campaign Manager for her 1996 Congressional race.
Strimling began serving as the Executive Director of Portland West http://www.portlandwest.org/, a non-profit social-service agency that works with at-risk kids and low-income families in Portland's West End
, in 1997. Strimling has also served on the boards of several political and non-profit committees, including Maine Won't Discriminate, Casinos NO!, and the Maine NAACP.
In 2002, Strimling ran his first campaign for the Maine State Senate to succeed Anne M. Rand. He was elected in his first race with 74% of the vote, and again in 2004 with 76%. He was elected for a third term in 2006. In the State Senate, Strimling was the Chair of the Labor
Committee and also a member of the Taxation Committee. He has also served as Chair of the Criminal Justice
and Public Safety
Committee, and in 2006, was Co-Chair of Maine's Homeland Security
Task Force.
In 2008, when Democratic Congressman Tom Allen
announced that he would challenge U.S. Senator Susan Collins
, Strimling declared that he would run for Maine's 1st congressional district
. In the June 10 Democratic primary, Strimling finished fourth with 5,833 votes (out of 55,382 votes cast). He was succeeded in the Maine Senate by fellow Democrat Justin Alfond
.
In February 2010, Strimling was appointed to the New England board of the Anti-Defamation League
. By doing so, he became the first Maine resident to be appointed to the position.
On July 26, 2011, Strimling formally announced he was running for Mayor of Portland. Following the first fundraising and expenditure report of the mayoral election, it was announced that Strimling had raised more than $88,000 dollars for the mayor's campaign. $88,000 was almost twice as much as the next closest fundraiser and more than $1 for each resident of the city of Portland.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
's 8th District. He served in the Maine State Senate from 2002 to 2009. He was replaced by Justin Alfond
Justin Alfond
Justin Loring Alfond is a Democratic State Senator from Maine's 8th District. He was first elected to the Maine State Senate in 2008. He attended schools in Waterville and Dexter prior to moving to Boston, Massachusetts to complete high school. He then attended Tulane University in New Orleans,...
. In July 2011, Strimling announced his candidacy for Mayor of Portland, Maine. He is Executive Director of LearningWorks, a West End
West End (Portland, Maine)
The West End is a downtown neighborhood in Portland, Maine. It is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula primarily on Bramhall Hill and is noted for its architecture and history. The neighborhood is home to a large number of historic homes and parks and, in 2010, it was called "one of...
non-profit organization.
Early life
Ethan Strimling was born and raised in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and attended the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
for Theater from 1985 to 1987. Later, he attended the University of Maine, Orono and received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He then pursued a Masters in Education degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and received it in 1994.
After school, he went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to work as a legislative aide for then-First District
Maine's 1st congressional district
Maine's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. The geographically smaller of the two congressional districts in the state, the district covers the southern coastal area of the state. The district consists of all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc,...
Congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Tom Andrews
Thomas Andrews (politician)
Thomas Hiram Andrews , was a politician from Maine and a Democrat.A 1976 graduate of Bowdoin College, Andrews served in the Maine House of Representatives and Maine State Senate before being elected to two terms in the U.S...
. He then came back to Maine to serve as State Senator Dale McCormick
Dale McCormick
Dale McCormick is an American politician from the state of Maine, who was elected in 1990 as the first openly gay member of the Maine State Legislature...
's Campaign Manager for her 1996 Congressional race.
Strimling began serving as the Executive Director of Portland West http://www.portlandwest.org/, a non-profit social-service agency that works with at-risk kids and low-income families in Portland's West End
West End (Portland, Maine)
The West End is a downtown neighborhood in Portland, Maine. It is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula primarily on Bramhall Hill and is noted for its architecture and history. The neighborhood is home to a large number of historic homes and parks and, in 2010, it was called "one of...
, in 1997. Strimling has also served on the boards of several political and non-profit committees, including Maine Won't Discriminate, Casinos NO!, and the Maine NAACP.
Career in politics
Strimling's first run for public office was for the Portland City Council in 1999. He was defeated by incumbent Jack Dawson by just 24 votes. During a recount, the City Council awarded 35 disputed ballots to Strimling after his campaign argued that voters who filled in a blank line below his name had intended to vote for him. When Dawson appealed the decision to Maine Superior Court, Strimling announced that he would step aside and give Dawson the council seat. Strimling stated that the decision of the City Council in awarding him the disputed ballots had created the perception among some that the election had been stolen .In 2002, Strimling ran his first campaign for the Maine State Senate to succeed Anne M. Rand. He was elected in his first race with 74% of the vote, and again in 2004 with 76%. He was elected for a third term in 2006. In the State Senate, Strimling was the Chair of the Labor
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
Committee and also a member of the Taxation Committee. He has also served as Chair of the Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
and Public Safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
Committee, and in 2006, was Co-Chair of Maine's Homeland Security
Homeland security
Homeland security is an umbrella term for security efforts to protect states against terrorist activity. Specifically, is a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do...
Task Force.
In 2008, when Democratic Congressman Tom Allen
Tom Allen
Thomas Hodge "Tom" Allen is a former member of the United States House of Representatives representing , and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008 against Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Allen lost to Collins .Allen was first elected in 1996, defeating Republican...
announced that he would challenge U.S. Senator Susan Collins
Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
, Strimling declared that he would run for Maine's 1st congressional district
Maine's 1st congressional district
Maine's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. The geographically smaller of the two congressional districts in the state, the district covers the southern coastal area of the state. The district consists of all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc,...
. In the June 10 Democratic primary, Strimling finished fourth with 5,833 votes (out of 55,382 votes cast). He was succeeded in the Maine Senate by fellow Democrat Justin Alfond
Justin Alfond
Justin Loring Alfond is a Democratic State Senator from Maine's 8th District. He was first elected to the Maine State Senate in 2008. He attended schools in Waterville and Dexter prior to moving to Boston, Massachusetts to complete high school. He then attended Tulane University in New Orleans,...
.
In February 2010, Strimling was appointed to the New England board of the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
. By doing so, he became the first Maine resident to be appointed to the position.
On July 26, 2011, Strimling formally announced he was running for Mayor of Portland. Following the first fundraising and expenditure report of the mayoral election, it was announced that Strimling had raised more than $88,000 dollars for the mayor's campaign. $88,000 was almost twice as much as the next closest fundraiser and more than $1 for each resident of the city of Portland.
Electoral results
- 2008 Democratic Primary for Congress - 1st District
- Chellie PingreeChellie PingreeRochelle M. "Chellie" Pingree is an American politician. She is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing since 2009. The district includes most of the southern part of the state, including Portland and Augusta.Pingree was a member of the Maine Senate from...
44% - Adam Cote 28%
- Michael BrennanMichael F. BrennanMichael F. Brennan is a Maine politician. Brennan, a Democrat, served as State Senator from 2002-2006 and Senate Majority Leader and a 2008 Democratic candidate for Maine's 1st congressional district. On May 15, 2011 Brennan announced his candidacy in the Portland, Maine mayoral election...
11% - Ethan Strimling 11%
- Mark LawrenceMark Lawrence (politician)Mark W. Lawrence is a Maine lawyer and former politician. A Democrat, Lawrence served in the Maine State Legislature from 1988-2000. He served as Senate President from 1997-2000. He challenged Republican incumbent Olympia Snowe in the 2000 U.S. Senate election and lost. He lost in the Democratic...
5% - Stephen Meister 1%
- Chellie Pingree
External links
- Maine Legislature - Senator Ethan Strimling official government site
- Maine Senate Democrats - Senator Ethan Strimling
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Ethan King Strimling (ME) profile
- Follow the Money - Ethan King Strimling
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Ethan Strimling profile