About Steve Rowe

Why would Steve Rowe be a great Governor?

Steve Rowe has a reputation for hard work and honesty and a proven record of proactive leadership. With almost three decades of experience in both the private and public sectors in Maine, Steve understands business development and how government can foster that development. Creating quality jobs will be Steve's highest priority.

Steve knows that the key to success is strategic planning and execution. As Governor, Steve will put an economic plan in place and will marshal forces to implement it.

Steve also knows that problems such as substance abuse, mental illness and domestic abuse are devastating to Maine people and to our state's economy. Steve will work to eliminate these problems so that the true potential of Maine people and the state's economy can be realized.

What were Steve's accomplishments as Attorney General?

As Attorney General, Steve brought Maine people together to tackle major issues such as lowering prescription drug costs, domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse and elder financial exploitation. He led his fellow state attorneys general in national efforts to reduce prescription drug prices and youth alcohol use. He helped reform mortgage lending practices by taking on predatory lenders and by advocating for tougher consumer protection laws. He led efforts to clean Maine's air and water by successfully enforcing state and federal environmental laws, arguing and winning a Clean Water Act case in the U.S. Supreme Court. Steve also used his position as Attorney General to highlight the need for additional civil rights education, quality early care and education and stronger protections for Maine's elderly citizens.

What is Steve's military experience?

After graduating from West Point, Steve served as an active duty Army officer for more than six years. He served in leadership positions in Infantry units, as well as in logistical and financial management units. Steve's duty stations included Wiesbaden, Germany, Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After leaving active military service, Steve continued to serve for several years as an Army Reserve officer in Maine.

What is Steve's private sector business experience?

After earning a Master of Business Administration degree by attending night and weekend classes and after completing his active military service, Steve worked for more than 16 years in the semiconductor and insurance industries in Maine. He worked at both Fairchild and Unum, holding management positions in finance and marketing and, following graduation from law school - serving as a corporate, employee benefits and litigation attorney.

What were Steve's accomplishments as a Legislator?

Steve served in a number of leadership positions in the Legislature, including chairing committees on Economic Development, Research & Development and Natural Resources, and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the House in his final term. As a legislator, Steve fought to improve higher education by leading the passage of a $26 million capital improvement bond to construct high-tech labs, modernize libraries and upgrade technology at Maine's Community Colleges. He fought to improve public health by leading the creation of the Fund for a Healthy Maine and the dedication of Maine's share of the master tobacco settlement to health related programs. He led the passage of a $50 million Land for Maine's Future bond issue to protect Maine's vital natural areas and quality of life. Steve also helped lead the enactment of the Maine Rx program to reduce prescription drug prices.

What was Steve's early life like?

Steve grew up in a town of 400 people in rural eastern Oklahoma. In addition to raising cattle and other farm animals, Steve's father held jobs as a railroad brakeman, welder, carpenter and park ranger. Steve's mother was a homemaker who helped with farm work. In addition to chores at home, Steve worked throughout high school in jobs such as trash collection, wheat harvesting and construction. Steve's parents instilled in him and his four sisters and brothers the values of honesty, hard work and helping others. His parents also emphasized the importance of education. After all her children had graduated from high school, Steve's mother (who had left school after the eighth grade to care for her younger sister and brothers) earned a GED degree and entered college. She graduated four years later and, at age 52, started her career as a teacher and school librarian.

What is Steve's formal education?

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and mathematics from the United States Military Academy (West Point), a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law.

What first brought Steve to Maine?

The love of a woman. Really. At the age of 26 and while stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Steve became a single parent with three young children. Steve took his children to the pediatric clinic at the Army hospital at Fort Bragg. They were treated by a wonderful pediatric nurse practitioner named Amanda. She was an Army Lieutenant Colonel from Maine. Steve and Amanda fell in love and were married. They settled in Maine after finishing their active military service and have been here ever since.

What about Steve's family and where does he live?

Steve is the father of four grown children, Angela, Chris, Robert and Lindsay. Steve and his wife Amanda live in Portland. Amanda is a school nurse and a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.

Besides running for Governor, what is Steve doing now?

Steve currently is serving as counsel to the law firm of Verrill Dana.