Susan A. Deschambault (born November 25, 1947) is an American politician and retired law enforcement officer from Maine. She represents Maine Senate District 32, which comprises the towns of Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman. Deschambault, a Democrat from Biddeford, was first elected in a special election in March 2016. Prior to the Senate, she served two terms as a city councilor in Biddeford and was president of the Maine Association of Police for 21 years.[1][2]

Susan Deschambault
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 32nd district
In office
December 2016 – December 7, 2022
Preceded byDavid Dutremble
Succeeded byHenry Ingwersen
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
ResidenceBiddeford, Maine
EducationBA in sociology
Alma materSt. Francis College (Maine)

Early life and education

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Deschambault was born in 1974[3] and received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from St. Francis College.[4] She is a licensed social worker.[2] Deschambault served as a Biddeford city councilor for two terms and was the chairman of the Biddeford Planning Board.[3]

Maine Department of Corrections

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Deschambault began her career in corrections at the Stevens School for Girls in Hallowell, Maine following the enactment of the 1976 Code of Juvenile Justice.[5] She continued working as a social worker and correctional caseworker for the Maine Department of Corrections for 43 years until her retirement.[6][3][4]

She spent more than 40 years in the Maine Department of Corrections as a social worker and served on the Biddeford police commission for 12 years,[3] eventually becoming Biddeford's first female police commissioner.[6][7]

Maine Senate

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On January 28, 2016, Senator David Dutremble of Maine Senate District 28 resigned his position to focus on recovering from alcoholism. On March 29, a special election was held to fill his vacant seat,[8] and Deschambault defeated Republican Stephen Martin 57%-41%.[9][3]

On Friday, April 2, when Deschambault and her family arrived at Governor Paul LePage's office for her swearing-in ceremony, they were informed that the ceremony had been canceled by the governor. According to a spokesperson for LePage, the governor canceled the ceremony as a response to state Democrats' lack of support for his nominee to the Maine Unemployment Insurance Commission.[1][10] LePage eventually swore in Deschambault on April 5, the last day he was legally obligated to do so.[11] Senate President Michael Thibodeau postponed roll-call votes in the Senate until after Deschambault was sworn in.[12]

In June 2016, Deschambault won the Democratic primary for the November 8 general election with 85% of the vote[3] and defeated Republican Matthew Stone 59%-41% in the general election.[3]

Deschambault and a delegation of other New England state legislators traveled to Taiwan to meet with other elected officials and discuss forms of democratic government.[13]

Personal life

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Deschambault is a lifelong Biddeford resident.[7] She has one adult son.[2]

Electoral history

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2016 Maine House District 32 Special Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 85%
Republican Stephen Martin
Total votes 100.0%
2016 Maine Senate District 32 Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 1,926 85.4%
Democratic Joanne Twomey 330 14.6%
Total votes 2,256 100.0%
2016 Maine House District 32 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 11,880 59.0%
Republican Matthew Stone 8,249 40.1%
Total votes 20,129 100.0%
2018 Maine Senate District 32 Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 3,424 100.0%%
Total votes 3,424 100.0%
2018 Maine Senate District 32 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 10,620 62.6%
Republican Scott Normandeau 6,338 37.4%%
Total votes 16,958 100.0%
2020 Maine Senate District 32 Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 4,617 85.4%
Total votes 4,617 100.0%
2020 Maine House District 32 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan Deschambault 12,838 57.2%
Republican Robert Daigle 9,612 42.8%
Total votes 20,129 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ a b Miller, Kevin (1 April 2016). "LePage refuses to swear in senator-elect over nomination spat with Democrats". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Graham, Gillian (7 June 2016). "Senate District 32 Democratic Primary: Biddeford politicians focus on economy, providing health care". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Graham, Gillian (14 June 2016). "Incumbent Deschambault wins Senate District 32 Democratic primary". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Sun Journal (5 October 2020). "Susan Deschambault, Maine Senate 32". Portland Press Herald/Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021.
  5. ^ Rooks, Douglas (12 February 2020). "Statehouse Report: Legislators eye changes in juvenile corrections". Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Deschambault to serve on Commission to Improve Sentencing, Management and Prisoner Incarceration". Portland Press Herald. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Senate District 32: Susan Deschambault". Maine Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Susan Deschambault". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Democrat Deschambault named winner of Senate 32". Bangor Daily News. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. ^ Siemaszko, Corky (1 April 2016). "Maine Gov. LePage Cancels Senator's Swearing-In Over Spat With Democrats". NBC News. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  11. ^ Miller, Kevin (5 April 2016). "LePage swears in Biddeford senator caught up in larger political tussle". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Maine Senate delays roll-call votes until senator-elect sworn in". WMTW. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  13. ^ Portsmouth Herald (11 October 2020). "In their own words: Deschambault, Daigle face off in Maine Senate District 32". Seacoast Online. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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