BIO AT A GLANCE
State Board of Education2008-2009
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State Representative2012-2016
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State
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County Commissioner2023-Present
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About Justin Chenette
Justin Chenette is the County Commissioner for Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Hollis, & Buxton. He was elected in 2022 with 83% of the vote becoming the first Millennial and only openly LGBTQ individual ever elected to the commission. He is formerly the Vice Chair and currently serves as the county rep on the Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission.
Justin has worked at every level of government with roles in municipal, county, state, and federal institutions and is no stranger to making history. Just before his 17th birthday, Governor Baldacci appointed him to serve on the Maine State Board of Education as the first student board member. There he helped evaluate and approve new school construction projects.
At 21, Justin became the youngest openly gay lawmaker in the entire country and the youngest legislator in Maine. He was sworn into office just a week before graduating from college. Justin went on to become the youngest state senator at age 25 and the only LGBTQ senator at the time. In total, he has served 8 years in the legislature with 2 terms each in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In 2020, Justin was a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State.
At 21, Justin became the youngest openly gay lawmaker in the entire country and the youngest legislator in Maine. He was sworn into office just a week before graduating from college. Justin went on to become the youngest state senator at age 25 and the only LGBTQ senator at the time. In total, he has served 8 years in the legislature with 2 terms each in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In 2020, Justin was a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State.
Chairing Government Oversight
In the Legislature, he chaired the bipartisan Government Oversight Committee, taking a leadership role holding agencies and department heads accountable to ensure effectiveness of programs and to safeguard taxpayer dollars. He served on a number of other committees including Senate Ethics, Environment & Natural Resources, Criminal Justice & Public Safety, Taxation, and the Maine Climate Council’s Coastal & Marine Working Group. He also served as a Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commissioner, advising on the legal and economic impacts of trade agreements on existing laws, working conditions and businesses in Maine.
Governor signing automatic voter registration bill co-sponsored by Justin
Justin championed successful legislation that reformed campaign finance laws to reduce money in politics, limited lobbyist influence, strengthened ethics rules around political action committees, and expanded Ranked Choice Voting. Justin currently works to increase public access and transparency in government as a member of the Maine Right to Know Advisory Committee, after being appointed by Senate President Troy Jackson in 2021. He chairs the Remote Participation Sub Committee, making recommendations to improve the state’s Freedom of Access Laws. He was also appointed to serve as a Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commissioner.
Civics presentation at Burns School
Each year, Justin awards college scholarships to graduating high school students through his nonprofit foundation, investing in Maine’s next generation of leaders. Justin is a Thornton Academy Class Agent, member of the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce & Buxton-Hollis Historical Society, and is the past President of Saco Main Street and former Age Friendly Saco board member. As founder of the Maine Democracy Project, Justin authored the children’s book The Great Whoopie Pie Debate: A Kids’ Guide to the Maine Legislature and frequently visits classrooms to promote civics education.
Justin's children's book
While in college, he was selected to be a national delegate for President Obama to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, worked as a congressional intern for U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe, and interned at Saco City Hall and Equality Maine. He re-established Maine Young Democrats, serving as its president for two years, and currently serves on the Maine Democratic State Committee.
Justin got his start in journalism at an early age, hosting a statewide public affairs TV show while in high school and working in TV news during his college years, including hosting his own statewide public affairs show on WPXT/WPME.He also served on the Society of Professional Journalists National Diversity Committee. He later worked in digital advertising, marketing, and media relations for various entities and as the owner of a strategic communications consulting firm. Justin has also been a newspaper columnist for well over a decade.
Currently, Justin works as Sweetser's Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement. He develops and implements external communication strategies to advance the nonprofit’s reputation and to broaden the impact of programs through multimedia storytelling, advertising, branding, and messaging across all platforms. Justin leads a team responsible for meeting the long-term development needs of the organization including donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, grants, and event planning. Justin also oversees all internal communications to the over 500+ staff across the state, serves as the primary contact for all media requests, and helps coordinate government affairs and community engagement initiatives.
Justin got his start in journalism at an early age, hosting a statewide public affairs TV show while in high school and working in TV news during his college years, including hosting his own statewide public affairs show on WPXT/WPME.He also served on the Society of Professional Journalists National Diversity Committee. He later worked in digital advertising, marketing, and media relations for various entities and as the owner of a strategic communications consulting firm. Justin has also been a newspaper columnist for well over a decade.
Currently, Justin works as Sweetser's Senior Director of Public Relations & Advancement. He develops and implements external communication strategies to advance the nonprofit’s reputation and to broaden the impact of programs through multimedia storytelling, advertising, branding, and messaging across all platforms. Justin leads a team responsible for meeting the long-term development needs of the organization including donor engagement, corporate sponsorships, grants, and event planning. Justin also oversees all internal communications to the over 500+ staff across the state, serves as the primary contact for all media requests, and helps coordinate government affairs and community engagement initiatives.
Interviewing Congressman Tom Allen on TATV Channel 3
Justin has been recognized nationally by The Advocate magazine on their list of the 40 Under 40 most accomplished leaders and recognized within the state making Mainebiz's list of 40 Under 40 next generation of state leaders. Two sitting U.S. Presidents have honored his volunteer work as the recipient of the Volunteer Service Award; in 2008, by President Bush, and in 2016, by President Obama. He also received both the Governor’s Exemplary Service Award in 2009 and a Mayoral Certificate of Service for his leadership in the community in 2020.
Justin is a proud product of Saco schools and graduated high school from Thornton Academy, while taking night classes through the University of Southern Maine. He earned a degree in Broadcast News from Vermont State University (formerly Lyndon State College) and was named their Outstanding Young Alumni in 2019. Justin went on to earn a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
Justin is a proud product of Saco schools and graduated high school from Thornton Academy, while taking night classes through the University of Southern Maine. He earned a degree in Broadcast News from Vermont State University (formerly Lyndon State College) and was named their Outstanding Young Alumni in 2019. Justin went on to earn a Post-Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine at Augusta and an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
He lives in Saco with his husband Eduard and their two cats Precious & Mr. Biscuits.
