With 24 years in the House and Senate behind him, incumbent Democrat Joe Brannigan thinks his leadership experience makes him worthy of keeping the Senate District 9 seat.

Brannigan, 77, has chaired both the Appropriations and Health and Human Services committees. If re-elected, he said, “I will serve where I’m needed or put.”

Originally from Topsham, Brannigan has lived in Portland since 1970 with his wife, Claire, and they have a grown son, Luke. With a master’s degree in counseling education from the University of Southern Maine, Brannigan has been executive director of the nonprofit Shalom House for 34 years.

“I believe I have the experience that a lot of people in the Legislature don’t have any more because of term limits,” he said.

In light of the country’s current economic crisis, he believes he’s experience will be particularly valuable.

“I’ve been through this before,” he said.

In terms of some of the more recent legislation, Brannigan believes there is work to done with the school consolidation law.

“I think 200 school districts was a lot,” he said, but passing the law was “a big move” that’s going to need some attention paid to it next term.

The beverage tax, implemented to help fund Dirigo Health, “wasn’t my favorite,” but he voted for it and will support it, said Brannigan. He had orignally supported raising the cigarette tax.

He said he’s glad Maine came forward with its own health care plan.

“I think it was a good move. It just hasn’t been able to find its footing financially,” he said.

Brannigan does not support the particular proposal for an Oxford County casino, because he believes “the exclusivity of (the proposal) is out of line” and is “insulting” to Maine Indian tribes, who unsuccessfully sought a casino in Washington County. He said, however, he is not opposed to racinos in general, and would support slot machines at Scarborough Downs.

In the next few years, Brannigan said, funding for health and human services is a concern for him.

“We had a pretty tough time, and it can only get worse,” he said as the committee’s chairman.

He said elderly people and those with mental illnesses and disabilities are all dependent on the state’s budget.

“I fear for them,” he said.

Joe Brannigan