For the second time in less than a week, a sitting Maine lawmaker has died.
Rep. Donna Doore of Augusta
Rep. Donna Doore, 70, a Democrat from Augusta serving her fourth term, lost her battle with cancer, House Speaker Ryan Fecteau announced in a statement Monday.
“Donna had been battling cancer while serving her fourth term in the Maine House. Yet, each day she brought laughter and levity to her work in the Legislature,” Fecteau said in a statement. “Donna represented the town where she was born, Augusta. She grew up nearby in South China, where her family owned and operated Farrington Clothing Outlet. Donna deeply understood her community, having worked as a waitress, a bartender, a computer operator, a store clerk at Farrington’s, a silversmith, an administrative assistant, and little league coach.”
“Everyone who knew Donna knew she lit up rooms with her joy. Donna’s passing is an immense loss to the Maine Legislature, the City of Augusta, and all of us who were touched by her zest for life and humor.”
We lost a cherished member of our caucus this morning, the Honorable Donna Doore.
Donna led from the heart, and she leaves behind a legacy of kindness. She will be dearly missed by her colleagues and staff.
Our hearts are with her family as we grieve our friend. pic.twitter.com/iLbSI3Wkrf
— Maine House Dems (@MaineHouseDems) January 31, 2022
Democratic House leaders Michelle Dunphy of Old Town and Rachel Talbot Ross of Portland said in a joint statement that Doore “led from the heart,” and fought for workers’ rights, fair wages, affordable education and accessible housing during her time as a lawmaker.
Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, called Doore “probably the hardest working legislator in Augusta.”
“Even before running for office, Donna earned a reputation for speaking out against injustice, standing up for the rights and dignity of workers, and never backing down,” he said. “Yet, she had this great sense of humor and the ability to make folks feel at ease whenever they were in her presence. None of this changed with her diagnosis or declining health. In fact, it was often hard to tell she was sick at all.”
Gov. Janet Mills offered condolences to Doore’s family – her husband, Tom, who is a retired Augusta firefighter, and their two children.
“Her unfailing optimism and belief in the power of hope was surpassed only by her passion for making life better for the working men and women of Maine,” Mills said in a statement. “Donna’s dedication inspired every lawmaker to be a better public servant.”
Last week, longtime lawmaker John Tuttle of Sanford died as well, at age 70. Tuttle, also a Democrat, had been serving his 12th non-consecutive term in the Maine House. He also served three terms in the Maine Senate.
Even with the deaths of Doore and Tuttle, Democrats maintain a strong majority in the House of Representatives.
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