Kevin O'Connell
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
  • 128th district (2020–2022)
  • 20th district (2023–present)
Assumed office
March 3, 2020
Preceded byArthur Verow
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic

Kevin J. M. O'Connell is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives since 2020. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Career

O'Connell has been an Emera Maine lineworker for over thirty years. He was also a member of the Maine Air National Guard for twenty-four years, and his service included time in Iraq.[1] O'Connell is a member of IBEW Local #1837.[2]

Politics

O'Connell served as mayor of Brewer, Maine in 2013 and 2017. He also served on the Brewer city council and school board at various times.[1]

O'Connell ran in a special election for the 128th district in the Maine House of Representatives to fill the remainder of Democrat Arthur Verow's term,[3] who had died on December 19, 2019, of a heart attack.[4] He won the election, held on March 3, 2020, against Republican Garrel Craig, a former member of the House who had previously held that seat from 2016–2018.[3][1] O'Connell defeated Craig in a rematch for the regularly-scheduled 2020 election.[5]

In 2022, O'Connell ran in the redrawn 20th district, narrowly winning another term against Republican Jennifer Morin.[5]

In the legislature, O'Connell has advocated for restricting the practice of child marriage in Maine. He first introduced a bill to restrict child marriage in 2021, though it failed to pass the Maine Senate. In 2023, he again introduced legislation to raise the marriage age to 18, but the bill was modified to only raise the age to 17 before being passed by both chambers.[6] O'Connell has stated that he would like to eventually see the age raised to 18.[7]

Personal life

O'Connell is a lifelong resident of Brewer, Maine.[2]

Electoral history

2020 Maine's 128th House of Representatives district special election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin O'Connell 1,404 57.99
Republican Garrel Craig 1,017 42.01
Total votes 2,421 100.0
2020 Maine's 128th House of Representatives district Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin O'Connell (incumbent) 728 100.0
Total votes 728 100.0
2020 Maine's 128th House of Representatives district election[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin O'Connell (incumbent) 2,598 54.89
Republican Garrel Craig 2,135 45.11
Total votes 4,733 100.0
2022 Maine's 20th House of Representatives district Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin O'Connell (incumbent) 205 100.0
Total votes 205 100.0
2022 Maine's 20th House of Representatives district election[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin O'Connell (incumbent) 2,057 50.65
Republican Jennifer Morin 2,004 49.35
Total votes 4,061 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pendharkar, Eesha (February 14, 2020). "A former legislator and former mayor compete to represent Brewer in Augusta". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "IBEW 1837 Member Poised to Serve in Maine Legislature". IBEW 1837. January 23, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Pendharkar, Eesha (March 4, 2020). "Brewer voters choose Democrat Kevin O'Connell to fill vacant House seat". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ↑ Pendharkar, Eesha (December 19, 2019). "Brewer legislator Arthur Verow dies at 77". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Kevin O'Connell (Maine)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (May 18, 2023). "Under-17 marriage ban set to pass in Maine despite lingering opposition". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bill raises child marriage age minimum to 17 in Maine". News Center Maine. June 5, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Special Election State Representative District 128". Secretary of State of Maine. March 3, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Representative to the Legislature". Secretary of State of Maine. November 3, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Representative to the Legislature". Secretary of State of Maine. November 8, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
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