Larry Bliss
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Steven Bliss, commonly known as Larry Bliss, is an American educator and former politician
from the state of Maine
. A Democrat
, he served in the Maine House of Representatives
(2000–2008) and the Maine Senate
(2008–2011). He resigned as a senator on April 15, 2011 after accepting a position as an administrator in the California State University
system and leaving the state of Maine.
, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees, Bliss made his career as a middle school and high school teacher, before moving to university administration. He worked at California State University, Sacramento, and San Francisco State University before moving to Maine. He was formerly employed as the Director of Career Services and Professional Life Development at the University of Southern Maine
.
Bliss was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in November 2000, winning 58% of the general election vote in South Portland
's 24th district. Re-elected in 2002, his district was renumbered the 122nd in time for the 2004 election, when he secured re-election with 67% of the vote. He won by a similar margin in 2006.
Term limit
s prevented him from seeking a fifth House term in 2008. Instead, he was a candidate for the Maine Senate
in the 7th district, which includes Cape Elizabeth
, South Portland and part of Scarborough. The incumbent — Sen. Lynn Bromley
— was also forced out by term limits. In the primary election on June 10, 2008, Bliss faced former state representative Ed Kelleher and defeated him by 63% to 37%. He faced Republican John F. Ridge in the November general election and won easily. He ran for re-election in 2010, winning narrowly in a race that went to a recount. His original lead of 64 votes was widened to 75 votes in the recount: Bliss polled 9,172 to his Republican opponent's 9,097.
Bliss is openly gay
and has three children. He and his partner have been together since 1999. He has long been involved with charitable and community organizations, including the AIDS Project, the Equity Institute of Maine, the South Portland Citizens for Justice, and the Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance (now known as EqualityMaine
). He also served as Treasurer of the Cumberland County
Democratic Committee.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state of 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...
. A Democrat
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...
, he served in the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
(2000–2008) and the Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
(2008–2011). He resigned as a senator on April 15, 2011 after accepting a position as an administrator in the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
system and leaving the state of Maine.
Biography
Educated at the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees, Bliss made his career as a middle school and high school teacher, before moving to university administration. He worked at California State University, Sacramento, and San Francisco State University before moving to Maine. He was formerly employed as the Director of Career Services and Professional Life Development at the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
.
Bliss was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in November 2000, winning 58% of the general election vote in South Portland
South Portland, Maine
South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state. Founded in 1895, as of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of...
's 24th district. Re-elected in 2002, his district was renumbered the 122nd in time for the 2004 election, when he secured re-election with 67% of the vote. He won by a similar margin in 2006.
Term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s prevented him from seeking a fifth House term in 2008. Instead, he was a candidate for the Maine Senate
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than...
in the 7th district, which includes Cape Elizabeth
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The town is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area...
, South Portland and part of Scarborough. The incumbent — Sen. Lynn Bromley
Lynn Bromley
Lynn Bromley is an American politician from Maine. From 2002 to 2010, Bromley, a Democrat, represented South Portland in the Maine Senate. She was unable to run in 2010 because of term limits. In December 2010, she was appointed New England regional advocate for the federal Small Business...
— was also forced out by term limits. In the primary election on June 10, 2008, Bliss faced former state representative Ed Kelleher and defeated him by 63% to 37%. He faced Republican John F. Ridge in the November general election and won easily. He ran for re-election in 2010, winning narrowly in a race that went to a recount. His original lead of 64 votes was widened to 75 votes in the recount: Bliss polled 9,172 to his Republican opponent's 9,097.
Bliss is openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and has three children. He and his partner have been together since 1999. He has long been involved with charitable and community organizations, including the AIDS Project, the Equity Institute of Maine, the South Portland Citizens for Justice, and the Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance (now known as EqualityMaine
EqualityMaine
EqualityMaine is a political advocacy organization in Maine, United States. Founded in 1984 after the murder of Charlie Howard, it is the oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization in the state. In 2008, they were a primary opponent of an attempt to revoke an...
). He also served as Treasurer of the Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Maine
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 281,674. Its county seat is Portland, and is the most populous of the sixteen Maine counties, as well as the most affluent. Cumberland County has the deepest and second largest body of water in the...
Democratic Committee.