RICHMOND — State Sen. Seth Goodall, DRichmond, is one of two local men recommended for appointment as the New England regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
U.S Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, both Democrats from Maine, forwarded the names of Goodall and Steve Minkowsky of Harpswell to President Barack Obama on Tuesday for his consideration for the position.
In a joint letter, Pingree and Michaud write that, “Since 1992, and subsequently over the course of four administrations, a Mainer has been nominated to serve in this position, and it is our belief that both these candidates would make the administration and the people of New England proud. We strongly believe small businesses are critical to our nation’s economic recovery and to the overall health of our economy, especially in rural states like Maine. After lengthy discussions with both of them, we believe they each would bring a wealth of knowledge, talent and breadth of experience to the position.”
Goodall, an attorney, served on the Richmond Board of Selectmen from 2007 to 2009 and was elected to the Maine Senate in 2008 and 2010. Since 2009 he has served on the Maine Economic Growth Council, which he co-chaired until 2011.
“I am truly honored to be considered for the position and have my name forwarded to the president for his administration’s consideration,” Goodall said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
When the current New England administrator was promoted and the position opened, Goodall submitted his name for consideration and scored an interview. He believes the position would allow him to continue work with the SBA, whether it is with small municipalities such as Bath, which is in his district, or local businesses such as Kennebec River Bio- sciences in Richmond, which has received an SBA award in the past.
“If you look at the last major recession about 10 years ago, small business actually led us out of that recession and if you look at our region and the ( initiatives) I work on regularly with colleagues, especially Brunswick Landing, here’s a model where we’re creating new jobs and putting new tools in place that are going to serve as an economic engine in the future,” Goodall told The Times Record.
Goodall pointed to regional collaboration related to the redevelopment of Brunswick Landing as an example of an approach he would promote if selected for the SBA position.
“We can take the experience of Brunswick Landing as well as other economic clusters we’re building here in Maine to other parts of New England and see further economic opportunities the SBA can play a role in,” he said. “The core mission of the SBA is working with small businesses, providing community partners and access to capital through small loan programs and other opportunities.”
He and his brother launched Goodall Landscaping in 1992. In 1998, they bought an existing company and had employees and a four-season landscaping business overnight. The company encountered financial troubles, specifically with accessing capital through financing to purchase equipment. Goodall described the landscaping business’ travails as “ a life experience that has served me well in my role both as a policy maker and an attorney, and I hope to build on those experiences.”
Goodall said that he would leave his position as a state senator if selected for the SBA position.
Steven Minkowsky
Minkowsky, a member of the Maine Democratic State Party since 1978, has worked for the state for 31 years, according to his résumé.
From 1980 to 1988, he worked as an income specialist for the Maine Department of Human Services; from 1988 to 1989 as an employee assistant; and from 1989 to 1993 as a manager of benefits administrator and regional office administrator, both for the Maine Worker’s Compensation Board where he worked from 1993 to 2011 as the deputy director of Benefits Administration.
He served as treasurer of the Maine Democratic State Party from 1999 to 2002, and is a volunteer firefighter for the Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.
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