Kenneth Fredette

Kenneth Fredette
Minority Leader of the Maine House of Representatives
In office
December 2012 – present
Preceded by Emily Cain
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 25th district
Assumed office
December 2010
Personal details
Born (1964-03-03) March 3, 1964
Political party Republican Party
Residence Newport, Maine
Alma mater University of Maine at Machias, University of Maine School of Law, Harvard University
Profession Attorney

Kenneth Wade Fredette (born March 3, 1964) is a member of the Maine House of Representatives for District 25. Fredette's district represents part of Penobscot County, Maine including the towns of Corinna, Maine; Exeter, Maine; Newport, Maine; Plymouth, Maine; and part of Corinth, Maine.

Fredette is a Republican. In 2012, he was elected Minority Leader of the Maine House.[1]

Fredette announced in June 2013 that he would not enter the 2014 race for the Republican nomination for Maine's Second Congressional District, citing family concerns.[2]

Early life and eductation

Fredette was born in rural Maine on March 3, 1964, as one of five children in his family. In 1982 he graduated from East Grand High School in Danforth, Maine as class valedictorian.

Fredette earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Maine at Machias in 1987. He received a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 1994 and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2010.[1]

Non-partisan career

Fredette has been a Tribal Prosecutor for the Penobscot Indian Nation.[1] He is currently a practicing attorney, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, where he serves as a Judge Advocate General.

Political career

Prior to 2010

In 1985, Fredette was an intern for United States Senator Warren Rudman. In 1987 and 1988, he was on the campaign staff of presidential candidate Robert Dole, including being the New England Regional Youth Coordinator, In 1990 he was the field director of the campaign to re-elect Maine governor John R. McKernan.[1]

Fredette was unsuccessful in his legislative races prior to 2010: In District 125 of the Maine State House of Representatives, in 1996[3] and 1998; in District 33 of the Maine State Senate, in 2004; and in District 28 of the Maine State Senate, in 2006.[1]

2010 to present

In his freshman term, 2011–2012, Fredette served on the Maine Legislature's budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.

After being elected as House Republican Leader in November 2012,[4] Fredette introduced bills requiring Temporary Assistance for Needy Families applicants to prove that they have applied for at least three jobs and eliminating the ability of DHHS caseworkers to use discretion in applying penalties to TANF recipients.[5] He opposed the expansion of Medicaid in Maine.[6] He also sponsored a bill that allocates funds for the use of electronic monitors on defendants in domestic violence cases.[7][8]

Fredette commented in the Maine House on potential expansion of medicaid on June 12, 2013. He referenced the book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, contrasted a man's brain with women's, and questioned whether the proposed Medicaid expansion was "really free".[9][10] The Maine People's Alliance criticized Fredette, saying that it was "incredibly distasteful for him [Fredette] to use offensive, gender-based stereotypes to advance his anti-health care agenda.” Fredette apologized during the afternoon session in a speech on the House floor.[10]

Fredette endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio for President in the 2016 election on July 2, 2015, while also announcing he would appear with Rubio in a 4th of July parade in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. [11] He was also named the Rubio campaign's Maine chairman. [12]

Personal

Fredette and his wife reside in Newport, Maine.[1] They have two children, Morgan and Colby.[13]

Fredette is a past President of the Board of Directors of the Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Representative Kenneth Wade Fredette Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Stone, Matthew (2013-06-14). "Cain's in, Fredette's out of 2014 2nd District congressional race". Bangordailynews.com. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  3. ↑ "Fredette v. Secretary of State". Reporter of Decisions, Maine Supreme Judicial Court. May 20, 1997. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ John Richardson (November 15, 2012). "Newport's Fredette named House minority leader". The Kennebec Journal.
  5. ↑ Moretto, Mario (2013-10-02). "Maine House GOP leader introduces 2 welfare reform bills; Democrats say they 'vilify' poor families". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  6. ↑ Fredette, Ken (2013-05-25). "Maine Voices: Democrats' Medicaid expansion measure lacks foundation in fact". The Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  7. ↑ McCrea, Nick (2013-08-02). "State revives monitoring bracelets to protect domestic violence victims". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  8. ↑ "Maine House GOP: Rep. Fredette's campaign against domestic violence wins Governor's financial support". Maine House Republicans. July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  9. ↑ Rebekah Metzler (June 12, 2013), "Maine Republican Opposes Medicaid Expansion Because of His 'Man Brain'", U.S. News & World Report, retrieved January 5, 2014
  10. 1 2 Stone, Matthew (June 12, 2013). "GOP leader says 'man's brain' tells him Medicaid expansion isn't free". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Moretto, Mario (July 2, 2015). "Fredette to march with Marco Rubio in NH July Fourth parade". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (July 23, 2015). "Ken Fredette named Maine campaign chairman for Marco Rubio". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ Christopher Cousins (May 23, 2010). "GOP candidates running hard for District 25 seat". Bangor Daily News.
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