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| Affiliation | Independent |
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| Name | Barbara E. Merrill |
| Address |
Appleton, Maine , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
Unknown
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| Contributor | BR_Green |
| Last Modifed | Paul
Nov 30, 2012 02:00am |
| Tags |
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| Info | Barbara Merrill is an independent minded state lawmaker from Appleton, Maine. In the legislature Merrill has earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative and a strong advocate of local control of local institutions, quality education and tough environmental laws. Merrill is one of Maine's most bipartisan lawmakers.
Barbara Merrill was born in an Army hospital in Frankfurt Germany. Her father, Charles Butler, graduated from West Point in 1950. Hours later, he married Joan Haskell and weeks later he was in Korea. For his heroic service on the Korean Peninsula Barbara's father received the Distinguished Service Cross, the highest honor awarded by the U. S. Army.
In her early years, Barbara and her military family traveled to three continents, and several states. Then, when Col. Butler began his second tour in Viet Nam, Barbara and her family settled back in Maine. Barbara's dad was killed by enemy fire in Viet Nam as she ended her freshman year at Waterville High school. The Army Reserve Center in Saco, Maine is named in honor of Charles Butler and his service to his country.
Barbara graduated from Waterville High School, the University of Maine, and the University of Maine Law School. After graduating from law school Barbara practiced for several years as a member of Verrill Dana, and now practices with her husband, attorney Phil Merrill. Barbara has been honored by the Maine Bar Association for her pro bono work.
Barbara and Phil have a son, Nick age 13, and an 11-year-old daughter, Jackie. When Barbara is not busy on matters of public policy, Barbara is on skates or skis, messing around in boats, cooking or out in her garden. Of her passion for gardening she says, "If I was a little better gardener, I might never have found myself up to my elbows in state government. At least if you garden in Maine, you learn how to deal with adversity."
Barbara with Nick & JackieBarbara's experience with state government goes back many years as she has represented non profits and businesses before the state legislature. This experience gave her a real understanding of how government works and eventually led to her becoming concerned with, "The growing fiscal irresponsibility of state government, the increased partisanship and the destructive synergy between them."
In 2004, these concerns prompted Barbara to set aside part of her practice and run for the legislature. She ran as a Democrat in a Republican district which includes the island town of Islesboro, the coastal town of Lincolnville along with the inland communities of Appleton, Hope, Liberty, Morrill, and Searsmont. Merrill visited almost every home in the district and won election with over 60 % of the vote.
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