Rosa Scarcelli
Encyclopedia
Rosa W. Scarcelli is an American
politician
and business executive, currently serving as the CEO of Stanford Management, a low-cost housing provider in Maine. On July 20, 2009, Scarcelli announced that she was seeking the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Maine
in the June 8, 2010, primary election
, which she lost to Libby Mitchell.
, and her mother worked for the Maine State Housing Authority and later started her own housing company. Her father and his friends started the first Democratic Party Pancake Breakfast in Farmington, Maine, one that is still held every St. Patrick's day. She was educated at Waynflete School
, where she graduated in 1988. Rosa was George J. Mitchell's
first senate page in 1987. She later worked as an intern in his office. Scarcelli went on to attend the University of Maine
at Orono
, and graduated from Bowdoin College
in 1992, where she was named a James Bowdoin scholar
.
. Though the company was operating at a loss when Scarcelli took control, her management guided it to turn a profit in the first year. In 2009 the company added 30 new properties to its portfolio, making Stanford Management one of the largest woman-owned businesses in Maine. Rosa was featured in 2008 as one of the top 50 Affordable Housing Owners in the nation by Affordable Housing Magazine.
In 2009, Scarcelli served on the New England Finance Committee for Barack Obama
. She is a member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)
. She is also a member of the Women's International Network of YPO, the International Women's Forum and the Maine Women's Forum, and has served on a number of civic and community boards. She has served also as a Board Member of Ingraham, a non-profit social service and mental health care provider, where she received the 2004 Outstanding Leadership Award.
Rosa was recently named to the Aspen Institute's 2009 Henry Crown Fellowship Program, one of 20 "emerging leaders" across the country from business, politics and the arts. Past recipients have included Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick
, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.
nomination for Governor of Maine
in the June 8, 2010, primary election
. Vying for the nomination with four other candidates, Scarcelli positioned herself as a fiscally conservative
Democrat and a political newcomer, being the only candidate who had never held public office before. She attracted support among many younger Democrats. She finished third in the primary behind State Senator Libby Mitchell and former Attorney General
G. Steven Rowe
.
. Rhoads' admission came after allegations of his involvement triggered an investigation by the Maine Ethics Commission. The commission found that Dennis Bailey, a consultant on Scarcelli's failed gubernatorial bid, collaborated with Rhoads to spread negative information about Cutler with a paid attack site titled "The Cutler Files", violating Maine campaign laws. Bailey had previously denied any association with the website. The ethics commission fined him $200 for his involvement. During the general election campaign that followed, Rhoads attempted to sell his research on Cutler to Democrat Libby Mitchell's gubernatorial campaign for $30,000. The Mitchell campaign declined the offer.
During the ethics commission's investigation, Republican attorney Daniel Billings represented the defendants, Dennis Bailey and Thom Rhoads. Billings is now legal counsel to Maine Republican governor, Paul LePage.
In December 2010, Scarcelli suggested in an interview that she was considering running against U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
in the 2012 Senate election
, or possibly launching another gubernatorial bid in 2014.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and business executive, currently serving as the CEO of Stanford Management, a low-cost housing provider in Maine. On July 20, 2009, Scarcelli announced that she was seeking the Democratic
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...
nomination for Governor of Maine
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
in the June 8, 2010, primary election
Maine gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010...
, which she lost to Libby Mitchell.
Notable roles and awards
- Henry CrownHenry CrownHenry Crown was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Among other things, he founded the Material Service Corporation, which merged with General Dynamics in 1959. At the time of his death, he was a billionaire...
Fellow, The Aspen InstituteAspen InstituteThe Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
, 2009 - Board, Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)Young Presidents' OrganizationThe Young Presidents’ Organization is a global network of young chief executives. With approximately 18,000 members in more than 100 countries, YPO and its graduate organization, WPO share a founding mission: Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange....
, New England 2008-2009 - Board, WIN, Women's Network, YPOi, 2007–2009
- Board, Waynflete SchoolWaynflete SchoolWaynflete School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school for early childhood education to twelfth grade, in Portland, Maine. Established in 1898, it is one of three independent private schools in the greater Portland area....
- Member, International Women's Forum
- Outstanding Leadership Award, Ingraham 2004
- Top 50 Affordable Housing Providers, Affordable Housing Magazine, 2006
- Top 10 Affordable Housing Production, Affordable Housing Magazine 2006
Early life and education
Rosa Scarcelli grew up in Wilton, Maine. Her father taught for 35 years nearby at the University of Maine at FarmingtonUniversity of Maine at Farmington
The University of Maine at Farmington, established in 1864 as Maine’s first public institution of higher education, is a public liberal arts college, and a founding member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges offering programs in teacher education, human services and arts and sciences as...
, and her mother worked for the Maine State Housing Authority and later started her own housing company. Her father and his friends started the first Democratic Party Pancake Breakfast in Farmington, Maine, one that is still held every St. Patrick's day. She was educated at Waynflete School
Waynflete School
Waynflete School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory day school for early childhood education to twelfth grade, in Portland, Maine. Established in 1898, it is one of three independent private schools in the greater Portland area....
, where she graduated in 1988. Rosa was George J. Mitchell's
George J. Mitchell
George John Mitchell, Jr., is the former U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama administration. A Democrat, Mitchell was a United States Senator who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995...
first senate page in 1987. She later worked as an intern in his office. Scarcelli went on to attend the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
at Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, and graduated from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1992, where she was named a James Bowdoin scholar
James Bowdoin
James Bowdoin II was an American political and intellectual leader from Boston, Massachusetts during the American Revolution. He served in both branches of the Massachusetts General Court in the colonial era and was president of the state's constitutional convention...
.
Career
In 1999, Scarcelli founded her own real estate management company, DE Property Management LLC. Six years later, she took over Stanford Management, a provider of affordable housingAffordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
. Though the company was operating at a loss when Scarcelli took control, her management guided it to turn a profit in the first year. In 2009 the company added 30 new properties to its portfolio, making Stanford Management one of the largest woman-owned businesses in Maine. Rosa was featured in 2008 as one of the top 50 Affordable Housing Owners in the nation by Affordable Housing Magazine.
In 2009, Scarcelli served on the New England Finance Committee for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. She is a member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)
Young Presidents' Organization
The Young Presidents’ Organization is a global network of young chief executives. With approximately 18,000 members in more than 100 countries, YPO and its graduate organization, WPO share a founding mission: Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange....
. She is also a member of the Women's International Network of YPO, the International Women's Forum and the Maine Women's Forum, and has served on a number of civic and community boards. She has served also as a Board Member of Ingraham, a non-profit social service and mental health care provider, where she received the 2004 Outstanding Leadership Award.
Rosa was recently named to the Aspen Institute's 2009 Henry Crown Fellowship Program, one of 20 "emerging leaders" across the country from business, politics and the arts. Past recipients have included Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan is an American education administrator and currently United States Secretary of Education. Duncan previously served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.-Early years and personal:...
and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.
Maine 2010 gubernatorial election
On July 20, 2009, Scarcelli announced that she would seek the DemocraticDemocratic 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...
nomination for Governor of Maine
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
in the June 8, 2010, primary election
Maine gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010...
. Vying for the nomination with four other candidates, Scarcelli positioned herself as a fiscally conservative
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
Democrat and a political newcomer, being the only candidate who had never held public office before. She attracted support among many younger Democrats. She finished third in the primary behind State Senator Libby Mitchell and former Attorney General
Maine Attorney General
This is a list of Maine Attorneys General...
G. Steven Rowe
G. Steven Rowe
G. Steven Rowe, known commonly as Steve Rowe, is a Maine politician. A Democrat, he first entered politics in 1992 as a member of the Maine House of Representatives. In 1998, he became the 94th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, serving until he was term-limited from the House in 2000...
.
Post-election
Following the November general election, Scarcelli's husband, Thom Rhoads, admitted to being involved in an anonymously authored website on Maine independent gubernatorial candidate, Eliot CutlerEliot Cutler
Eliot Cutler is an American lawyer and was an Independent candidate in Maine's 2010 gubernatorial race.Born and raised in Bangor, Maine, Cutler graduated from Harvard College and later earned a degree from Georgetown Law....
. Rhoads' admission came after allegations of his involvement triggered an investigation by the Maine Ethics Commission. The commission found that Dennis Bailey, a consultant on Scarcelli's failed gubernatorial bid, collaborated with Rhoads to spread negative information about Cutler with a paid attack site titled "The Cutler Files", violating Maine campaign laws. Bailey had previously denied any association with the website. The ethics commission fined him $200 for his involvement. During the general election campaign that followed, Rhoads attempted to sell his research on Cutler to Democrat Libby Mitchell's gubernatorial campaign for $30,000. The Mitchell campaign declined the offer.
During the ethics commission's investigation, Republican attorney Daniel Billings represented the defendants, Dennis Bailey and Thom Rhoads. Billings is now legal counsel to Maine Republican governor, Paul LePage.
In December 2010, Scarcelli suggested in an interview that she was considering running against U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
Olympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
in the 2012 Senate election
United States Senate election in Maine, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in Maine will be held on November 6, 2012 alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent...
, or possibly launching another gubernatorial bid in 2014.
External links
- Personal website
- What’s next for Rosa Scarcelli? Maine Observer, July 4, 2010
- Political operative, husband of former gubernatorial candidate named as editors of Cutler Files Sun Journal