Catherine "Cathy" Breen
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 25th district
In office
December 2014 – December 7, 2022
Preceded byRichard Woodbury
Succeeded byTeresa Pierce
Personal details
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJay Geller
Websitewww.mainesenate.org

Catherine Breen (born 1965) is an American Democratic politician from Maine. Breen, a Falmouth resident, is currently serving her fourth term representing Senate District 25, which includes the towns of Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Gray, Long Island, Chebeague Island and part of Westbrook.

Early life and education

Breen earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Tufts University[1] and a Master of Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.[2] She has worked as a middle school teacher[3] and has lived in the greater Portland, Maine area since 2000.[4]

Breen has served on the Board of Directors of Community Counseling Center and has served on the Spurwink Board of Directors since 2013. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership’s collaborative leadership training program.[4]

Political career

Breen was the Falmouth representative to the Greater Portland Council of Governments, a group of town leaders from 30 municipalities in the Portland area, for six years.[5] She served on the Falmouth Town Council from 2005 until she termed out in 2011,[2][6] including two years as chairwoman.[7]

Maine State Senate

In 2014, Breen ran for the seat being vacated by independent Richard Woodbury, who did not seek re-election.[8][5] In the general election, Breen was declared the narrow winner on election night. Her opponent, Republican Cathleen Manchester, requested a recount, after which Manchester was declared the narrow winner. On December 3, Manchester was provisionally seated by the Senate. On December 9, a Senate committee inspection invalidated 21 "phantom ballots" that had been discovered on election night for Manchester. Manchester immediately resigned and Breen was certified the winner.[9][10]

In 2015, Breen was named Legislator of the Year by the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.[11]

Breen ran unopposed in the Democratic primary races in 2016, 2018 and 2020.[12] In the 2016 general election, she defeated Republican Charles “Bart” Ladd 58%-42%.[3] In 2018, she won over Republican Cathy Nichols 62%-38%,[13] and in 2020 she defeated Republican Jennifer White[2] 62%-38%.[7][12]

Breen has served on the Legislature's Environment and Natural Resources Committee.[14] and as the Senate chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee in the 129th and 130th legislatures.[14][15] She has been a member of the bipartisan Land Conservation Task Force.[16][17]

Personal life

Breen lives in Falmouth with her husband, Jay Geller.[1] She has two adult children, Emma and Aaron.[15][8]

Electoral history

Maine State Senate

2014 Maine Senate District 25 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 2,164 67.8%
Democratic Stephen Woods 1,028 32.2%
Total votes 3,192 100.0%
2014 Maine Senate District 25 General Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Catherine Breen 10,930 48.1%
Republican Cathy Manchester 10,898 48.0%
Total votes 21,828 100.0%
Democratic gain from Independent
2016 Maine Senate District 25 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen
Total votes 100.0%
2016 Maine Senate District 25 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 15,546 58.0%
Republican Barton Ladd 11,247 42.0%
Total votes 26,793 100.0%
Democratic hold
2018 Maine Senate District 25 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 5,627 100.0%
Total votes 5,627 100.0%
2018 Maine Senate District 25 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 15,348 61.9%
Republican Cathleen Nichols 9,448 38.1%
Total votes 24,796 100.0%
Democratic hold
2020 Maine Senate District 25 Democratic Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 7,997 100.0%
Total votes 7,997 100.0%
2020 Maine Senate District 25 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Catherine Breen 18,587 62.0%
Republican Jennifer White 11,404 38.0%
Total votes 29,991 100.0%
Democratic hold

[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Meet the candidates - District 25 - Cathy Breen and Cathy Manchester". The Windham Eagle. 5 October 2014. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Viles, Chance (29 September 2020). "Challenger looks to unseat Breen, a three-term incumbent, in Senate District 25". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 Ellis, Colin (9 November 2016). "State Senate: Breen wins re-election, Carson defeats Coffin". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Board of Directors". Spurwink. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 Lear, Alex (8 October 2014). "House, Senate candidates debate health care, tax breaks". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Orestis announces Falmouth candidacy". Portland Press Herald. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  7. 1 2 Bader, Emily (4 November 2020). "Breen easily wins fourth term in state Senate 25". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Cathy Breen's Biography". Votesmart.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Moretto, Mario (9 December 2014). "Democrat wins Senate election after investigation reveals 'phantom ballots' for GOP opponent did not exist". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Senate District 25 recount will go to the Senate". Department of the Secretary of State, State of Maine. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 20 November 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sen. Breen named Legislator of the Year by MAAP". Maine Senate Democrats. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. 1 2 3 "Catherine Breen". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Breen handily wins re-election to Senate District 25". Portland Press Herald. 7 November 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Cathy Breen". Maine Senate Democrats. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  15. 1 2 "Senate District 25 Cathy Breen". Maine Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Sen. Breen joins Conservation Task Force". Maine Senate Democrats. 1 June 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "About the Task Force". Maine Conservation Task Force. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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