(DailyDig.com) – Joseph E. Brennan, Maine’s Democratic representative and former governor, died at age 89. As Maine’s governor for two terms, he had another two terms in the US House.
Frank O’Hara, who was a friend of Brennan’s for a long time, made the announcement on April 6 that he died at home with his wife beside him. His home was close to the neighborhood of tenements where his immigrant parents lived and raised a family of eight children.
O’Hara stated that growing up in a working-class area influenced his life as he began his political career running for Maine’s legislature as a 29-year-old.
Brennan was in the army, and using the GI Bill, he went to Boston College. He then attended the Law School at the University of Maine and was a district attorney for the county before he became the state’s attorney general. He then went on to become a state lawmaker and, from 1979 to 1987, was the governor of Maine. From 1987 to 1991, he served as Maine’s representative from the 1st Congressional District.
Joe Baladacci, Maine’s governor from 2003 to 2011, said that Brennan was his friend, a dedicated servant, and a mentor. Baladacci said Brennan had the greatest integrity while leading Maine.
The current governor of Maine, Janet Mills, a Democrat, said that he showed her that building relationships with people is an important part of political business. When a person works for the public, improving the lives of others is more important than advancing yourself. So, according to him, the most important and best relationship with people is with those we serve, as the news reported.
Brennan appointed George Mitchell, who was a federal judge, to replace Edmund Muskie’s senate seat in 1980, when he became Secretary of State. Mitchell then became the leader of the Senate majority, according to the news media.
Mitchell said that Brennan was a great leader, referring to the impact he had on his political career. He was a lawyer who believed in the importance of a fair justice system.
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