In an effort to “attract a stronger array of candidates” for Maine’s gubernatorial elections, State Rep. Gary Moore (R-Standish) has introduced legislation to increase the salary of future governors.
Since 1987, Maine’s governors have been paid $70,000 a year. Although Moore admits the governor’s position carries some “pretty good perks,” such as the Blaine House and a private helicopter, he believes a greater number of qualified people would run if the salary were commensurate with the job.
“At least in the world I live in, the salary attached to a position is at least one consideration of whether or not people are interested in applying for it,” Moore said. “It’s at least one factor to induce people with proven track records of solid accomplishments.”
The bill would provide the governor with an annual salary 10 percent greater than that of any other Maine state government official. These officials would include employees of the executive, legislative and judicial branches; departments of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Audit; University of Maine and the Maine Community College Systems; the Maine Maritime Academy; or any other state or independent agency.
Moore said one newspaper’s report of his proposed legislation created some confusion in its headline, causing some to question why he was proposing a raise for present governor, John Baldacci.
“My answer was, ‘I didn’t and I wouldn’t,'” Moore said, adding that it would only pertain to future governors.
He added that he submitted the legislation before anyone had announced his or her candidacy.
In fact, if passed, the bill would not take effect until January, 2007, and would not apply to the governor in office at the time of the legislation or during the remainder of the time that governor is in office.
Moore believes he has bipartisan support for this bill. And when Speaker of the House John Richardson, D-Brunswick, visited the Lakes Region Suburban Weekly office last Friday, he voiced his approval.
“I think it’s abysmal,” Richardson said. “There are members of (the governor’s) cabinet who make far greater than he does. We have a $5.8 billion biennium budget and the governor makes $70,000 a year.”
Richardson went on to say that the position of governor is easily an 18-hour-a-day job, for which one is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“If you’re doing (the job) right, and you’re meeting the needs and obligations of Maine people, you could take a minimum wage worker and they might make $70,000 a year if they were working the hours that this governor works,” he said.
Moore laughed and shook his head when questioned if he were proposing the salary increase because he planned to run for governor.
“I believe that the position of governor is the most pivotal position in the state government,” he said. “We have a very serious leadership vacuum in this state. The salary is at least a factor.”
Governors’ Salaries in the Northeast
Source: Council of State Governments, published in The Book of the States, Vol 36, 2004 edition.
Connecticut $150,000
Delaware $114,000
Maine $70,000
Massachusetts $135,000
New Hampshire $100,690
New Jersey $157,000
New York $179,000
Pennsylvania $144,416
Rhode Island $105,194
Vermont $127,456
Regional Average: $128,276
Annual Salaries of Selected Maine Administrative Officials
Source: The Council of State Governments.
Governor $70,000
Attorney general $78,062
Treasurer $71,032
Adjurant general $91,208
Administration $91,208
Agriculture $87,692
Auditor $84,302
Banking $85,758
Rep. Gary Moore is proposing a bill that would increase future Maine governors’ salaries, to ensure they are the highest paid government official.Send questions/comments to the editors.
