AUGUSTA — Lawmakers gave unanimous, bipartisan approval Tuesday to Gov. Paul LePage’s pick to lead the state finance department – a post one lawmaker described as the “most important nomination a governor can make.”
H. Sawin Millett Jr., 73, of Waterford is a former Republican state representative who has worked for three governors: independents Jim Longley and Angus King and Republican John McKernan. He is a former teacher and selectman who has served as Town Meeting moderator in Waterford for 31 years.
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If the Senate approves his nomination as expected, he will take over as commissioner of the state Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, said no one understands state budgets better than Millett. Nutting served with Millett on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
He said Millett has the patience to work with others and the right temperament for the job. And, he’s always prepared.
“No matter what your question, the answer is inside his jacket pocket,” Nutting said.
As head of the state department, Millett will be primarily responsible for writing state budgets and for the structure of state government. Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, said it is the governor’s most important nomination.
Diamond, former Senate chairman of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, said he supports Millett’s nomination, as did former House Chairwoman Emily Cain, D-Orono.
Cain, now House Minority Leader, said Millett has worked well with both parties in recent years.
“We will not always agree in the coming months and years as we do the tough work ahead, but I know from experience that Sawin has the ability to work through and find common ground,” she said. “He commands respect, and gives it in return.”
Former Department of Administrative and Financial Services Commissioner Ryan Low, a Democrat, also spoke in favor of Millett, as did Charlene Kinnelly, who represents the Maine Association for Community Service Providers. No one present opposed the nomination.
Millett is poised to take over at a critical time in state government. The state faces an $850 million budget gap for the two-year period starting July 1, and Millett said he anticipates a slow recovery.
“We will not see the opportunity to make the level and types of investments until we’re able to pay for them,” he said.
LePage is expected today to announce his nominees to head the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. That will bring to nine the number of nominees announced to date. There are 15 Cabinet-level positions.
Also today, LePage is scheduled to announce his pick to lead the Workers’ Compensation Board.
MaineToday Media State House Writer Susan M. Cover can be contacted at 620-7015 or at: scover@mainetoday.com
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