Steve Abbott (politician)
Encyclopedia
Steve Abbott is an American
lawyer
and politician
, most recently serving as the Chief of Staff to Senator Susan Collins
. In January, 2010, Abbott announced that he was seeking the 2010 Republican nomination
for Governor of Maine
. In the June primary, he came in fourth.
. His mother taught at a local Orono elementary school and his father Walter taught and coached at the University of Maine
. After Steve was graduated by Orono High School
in 1981, he went on to study at Harvard University
, where he majored in history. From 1988 to 1991, Abbott studied law at the University of Maine School of Law
.
Steve Abbott was recognized at both the high school and collegiate level for his athletic talent. At Orono High School, he played three sports and captained the state championship football and basketball teams. In 1981, he was named Maine's top high school scholar athlete. In addition to his personal accomplishments, his football team went undefeated during all his played seasons setting a state record for most consecutive wins. At Harvard, he played on two championship football teams before he was chosen to serve as Harvard's 111th football captain.
Abbott studied sport management at the University of Massachusetts
before joining Sen. Collins’ staff in 1997.
. He then took a position on then-Congresswoman Olympia Snowe
's Washington staff.
for Governor of Maine, eventually coming in third behind Independent Angus King
and Democrat Joseph E. Brennan. He has served as campaign manager
for all three of her senatorial campaigns, and has served as chief of staff since 1997.
, and for the 2010 Republican nomination
for Governor of Maine
.
On January 12, 2010, Abbott made his candidacy for governor official, announcing his run at a series of events in Portland, Orono, and Presque Isle.
On June 2, 2010, the Portland Press Herald
announced support of Abbott for the Republican
nomination. The Press Herald also supported Patrick K. McGowan
for the Democratic Party
. On June 14, 2010, Abbott came in fourth place in the primary and McGowan also lost.
for the University of Maine Black Bears
. University president Robert Kennedy said Abbott's lack of experience in athletic administration was not an issue because of his extensive background in law and politics, as well as his roots in the university. "[C]ontinued fund-raising for the renovation of Memorial Gym and significant improvements at Alfond Arena
" were also cited as priorities he could and would address in the job. Abbott's appointment was still subject to formal approval by University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude
and the Board of Trustees. As for the tenure of the new job, Abbott was quoted as saying, "I don’t know what I’m going to do next, but I’m looking at it as an interim position. I’m not going to apply when they start the search [for a permanent director]." Abbott’s salary was $140,000 and he started September 6.
On March 28, 2011, Abbott accepted a two-year deal to remain athletic director, starting June 1.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, most recently serving as the Chief of Staff to 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...
. In January, 2010, Abbott announced that he was seeking the 2010 Republican nomination
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...
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 primary, he came in fourth.
Early life and education
Abbott grew up in Orono, MaineOrono, 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 :...
. His mother taught at a local Orono elementary school and his father Walter taught and coached at 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...
. After Steve was graduated by Orono High School
Orono High School
Orono High School is a high school in Orono, Maine.-Academics:Orono High School has been praised on numerous occasions for its academic excellence. Orono High School students generally test very high on standardized tests.- Fall Sports :...
in 1981, he went on to study at 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...
, where he majored in history. From 1988 to 1991, Abbott studied law at the University of Maine School of Law
University of Maine School of Law
The University of Maine School of Law is located in Portland, Maine and is Maine's only law school. It is a freestanding institution within the University of Maine System. In practice, it is administered as a unit of the University of Southern Maine, which provides the law school's support staff...
.
Steve Abbott was recognized at both the high school and collegiate level for his athletic talent. At Orono High School, he played three sports and captained the state championship football and basketball teams. In 1981, he was named Maine's top high school scholar athlete. In addition to his personal accomplishments, his football team went undefeated during all his played seasons setting a state record for most consecutive wins. At Harvard, he played on two championship football teams before he was chosen to serve as Harvard's 111th football captain.
Abbott studied sport management at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
before joining Sen. Collins’ staff in 1997.
Career
After passing the bar, Abbott practiced law at Pierce Atwood, Maine's largest commercial law firm, starting in 1991.Early political career
Abbott got his start in politics in the 1980s, as a campaign volunteer for future governor John R. McKernan, Jr.John R. McKernan, Jr.
John Rettie "Jock" McKernan, Jr. is an American politician who served two terms as the 71st Governor of Maine, from 1987 to 1995....
. He then took a position on then-Congresswoman 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,...
's Washington staff.
Chief of Staff to Senator Susan Collins
Abbott has worked for Collins since 1994, when she made an unsuccessful bidMaine gubernatorial election, 1994
The 1994 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1994. Independent candidate Angus King defeated Democratic Party challenger Joseph Brennan, a former Governor of Maine, Republican Party challenger Susan Collins, a regional coordinator of the Small Business Administration, and...
for Governor of Maine, eventually coming in third behind Independent Angus King
Angus King
Angus S. King, Jr. served two terms as the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003. Since 2004, King has been a distinguished lecturer at Bowdoin College teaching a course called "Leaders and Leadership"; in the fall of 2009, he also taught a similar course at Bates College...
and Democrat Joseph E. Brennan. He has served as campaign manager
Campaign manager
A campaign manager is a paid or volunteer individual, whose role is to coordinate the campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote , and other activities supporting the effort, directly.Apart from the candidate, they are often a campaign's most visible leader...
for all three of her senatorial campaigns, and has served as chief of staff since 1997.
2010 campaign for Governor of Maine
Abbott's name was widely speculated on in 2009 as a potential candidate, both for a challenge to 1st District Congresswoman Chellie PingreeChellie Pingree
Rochelle 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...
, and for the 2010 Republican nomination
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...
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....
.
On January 12, 2010, Abbott made his candidacy for governor official, announcing his run at a series of events in Portland, Orono, and Presque Isle.
On June 2, 2010, the Portland Press Herald
Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald publish daily newspapers in Portland, Maine, USA...
announced support of Abbott for the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination. The Press Herald also supported Patrick K. McGowan
Patrick K. McGowan
Patrick K McGowan, known commonly as Pat McGowan, is a Maine politician. A member of the Democratic Party, McGowan was candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary for Governor of Maine....
for the Democratic Party
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...
. On June 14, 2010, Abbott came in fourth place in the primary and McGowan also lost.
Interim Athletic Director, University of Maine
On August 20, 2010, Abbott was named interim athletic directorAthletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
for the University of Maine Black Bears
Maine Black Bears
The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams which represent the University of Maine. They compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with the majority of the teams playing in the America East Conference...
. University president Robert Kennedy said Abbott's lack of experience in athletic administration was not an issue because of his extensive background in law and politics, as well as his roots in the university. "[C]ontinued fund-raising for the renovation of Memorial Gym and significant improvements at Alfond Arena
Alfond Arena
Alfond Arena is a 5,712-seat multi-purpose arena in Orono, Maine, USA. The arena opened in 1977. It is home to the University of Maine Black Bears ice hockey and basketball teams. It is recognizable for its distinctive multi-angular roof design, which was also used in the Pavilion at Villanova...
" were also cited as priorities he could and would address in the job. Abbott's appointment was still subject to formal approval by University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude
Richard Pattenaude
Richard Pattenaude is currently Chancellor of the University of Maine System, and assumed that post on July 1, 2007. For the sixteen years prior, he was president of the University of Southern Maine....
and the Board of Trustees. As for the tenure of the new job, Abbott was quoted as saying, "I don’t know what I’m going to do next, but I’m looking at it as an interim position. I’m not going to apply when they start the search [for a permanent director]." Abbott’s salary was $140,000 and he started September 6.
On March 28, 2011, Abbott accepted a two-year deal to remain athletic director, starting June 1.
Personal life and family
Abbott divides his time between Washington and Portland, where he lives with his wife, Amy, a former finance executive at Unum, and their daughter and son,.External links
- Abbott For Governor - Official 2010 Gubernatorial Campaign Site