About Pat
Patrick K. McGowan has the background to succeed as Maine's next governor. He is not afraid of work and he is honest. His record in public service is one of high achievement – from his years as a legislator from Somerset County in the 1980s, to his position as regional administrator for the US Small Business Administration in New England, to his most recent post as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation.
Pat's continuing theme has been “from an idea, develop a plan, take the action, achieve the results.”
As a State Representative, he introduced and sponsored the Land for Maine's Future bill. Since its inception, it has helped conserve nearly 600,000 acres, including projects in each of Maine's 16 counties. He also has an impressive record with Maine's outdoor sports enthusiasts – ensuring their access to water and their ability to boat, hike, hunt, fish, and snowmobile. His legislative experience also included serving on the state budget and utility committees.
In his role as Small Business Administrator, under President Bill Clinton, Pat set record-breaking numbers for loans to small businesses in New England. At the same time, during the Administration's effort to reduce the size of government, Pat downsized his New England office by 80 percent.
When Pat stepped into the SBA position, he was armed with personal experience – experience in operating successful family businesses in central Maine. Those small businesses included Barney's of West Pittsfield, a combination restaurant, motel, and country store as well as McGowan's Market and the Canaan Motel in Canaan.
Like many Mainers, accustomed to having more than one job, Pat has seen the ups and downs of the Maine economy from more than one view.
In the course of his recent tenure as Maine's Conservation Commissioner, 1 million acres of land has been placed in public trust. In addition, he successfully led the effort to complete Percival Baxter's dream for Baxter State Park by purchasing and securing Katahdin Lake. He was also part of the governor's team in assisting and re-opening paper mills in Northern and Eastern Maine.
Pat McGowan also has experience in campaigning for national office, having been the Democratic nominee for US Congress in Maine's 2nd District in 1990 and 1992. Up against a well-known and long-time incumbent, Pat came within one percentage point of garnering the votes to win the 1990 election. His campaign attracted strong support from Democrats and independent voters.
He was born in Bangor and grew up in central Maine. He is a graduate of Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield and the University of Maine at Farmington. Pat is a pilot, an outdoor sportsman, and amateur guitarist. He has three grown children – Brady, Kate, and Chelsea, and a 16-month-old toddler, Amelia. He lives in Hallowell with his wife, Kirsten, and Amelia.
Pat is a recipient of the Nature Conservancy Presidential Award for land conservation, the New England Wildlife Award for endangered species protection, and the New England Environmental Network Award for environmental legislation success.
